Adelaide

Sunday 25th January 

Jean writes: 

The motel has a pool, but it doesn't open until ten o'clock and that's too late for us active people!

We had breakfast at our room as we were able to buy provisions yesterday and, cheapskates that we are, we're trying to save on expenses!

We took advantage of the proximity of the bus stop to use public transport in to the city.  The original idea had been to see some of the local attractions - museum, art gallery, cathedral, botanic gardens.  Surprise, surprise though - sport won us over and we decided to watch the culmination of the cycling competition, the Tour Down Under!

The pre-race attractions involved larger-than-life models on cycles atop a series of cars - including Batman and a kangaroo!

I had thought we'd struggle finding a decent viewpoint, but we wandered up and down the length of the circuit and found good positions throughout the race, despite a very large crowd out to enjoy the cycling and the sun.

...... even at the end.

We'll have to visit Adelaide again though, as there are some lovely buildings to see and investigate, and water features too.

Thought we'd take our evening meal alfresco, but (not wishing to make others envious!) there's a slight breeze, so it'll be indoors, watching the tennis!

Dave writes:

No menace to Dennis

By pure chance our one full day in Adelaide coincides with the exciting final day of the Tour Down Under, international cycling's biggest event in the Southern Hemisphere. 

Big crowds line the streets for the 20 laps round the city centre with overall victory in the week-long event going to young Australian Rohan Dennis. 

He's seen as a likely successor to compatriot Cadel Evans, a former Tour de France winner but shortly to retire.

Both men avoided a big pile-up on the penultimate lap to finish safely in the leading bunch with splendidly named Dutchman Wouter Wippert nicking the stage finale by half a bike's length. 

Great spectacle and a joy also to be able to wander freely in the city's central area which was closed to normal traffic for the day. 

And later at the tennis in Melbourne there was more joy for Australia when Nick Kyrgios came from two sets down to beat Italy's Andreas Seppi, the man who in the last round knocked out Roger Federer.