Thursday, March 29th, Day 18

There is a foolish corner in the brain of the wisest man. -Aristotle, philosopher (384-322 BCE)

McLaren Vale Escarpment

Hello Gail and Jack!

Trust you are both well. Having a blast here in Oz. Up at 7:30am this morning to find Trevor already in the kitchen. I was just preparing my latte (an early morning "homage" to friend Ragin' who always wants to stop for coffee while riding!), when Flamin' joined us. Takes a bit longer for milk to be ready and I was waiting for beaker of it to be frothed by nifty mini-whirlygig, (Whirlygig, another regular cyclist, is always in mind, in spirit if not body!), gizmo attachment that is part of the unit and Flamin' asked me why I was standing around as my beverage of choice was obviously ready. I elucidated the situation but she insisted I was wrong until Trevor gently mentioned that what I said was in fact true. Undeterred, she bulled me out of the way and proceeded to put a fresh cartridge in the dispenser and pushed the button to start the infusion process. Of course, she had neglected to put a bodum under the nozzle so jets of java were fireworking everywhere, Tina's freshly swabbed kitchen floor, (after previous wonderful evening's 65th bash for Trevor), awash now with a tsunami of the finest dark roast! Somehow this was all my fault. The Sisterhood, Always Right, Never at Fault!!! No wonder Trevor was up early, hoping to rid #17 Fairview Park of the Cannuckleheads!

The Goils, with all their newspaper and magazine iPod apps have been keeping The Travelling Gong show reasonably well informed of events back home. Not that their devices would ever be charged if I didn't keep them plugged in whenever we have an accessible power source, particularly when not staying with friends like TNT. Wonder if you'll hear about Sarge's latest RCMP gaff in the Canadian/American media. He was arrested for drunk and disorderly behaviour at Trevor's 65th birthday bash last evening by one John Parry, a retired senior SAPOL, (South Australian Police), officer with over 40 years service for arguing with him about the best way to drive to Mornington Peninsula. He handcuffed Sarge and locked him in the shed at the bottom of the garden to sleep off his overhang! If the Brown snakes or red-backs don't get him, we'll head to McLaren Vale around 10:00am this morning!

Hello Goils!

Trust you are both well. Gather you two might be reminded just how expensive it is to live, Ayn with Los Horridos back at home for a week, Chloe without her parents to foot the food bill!

We left TNT's place at around 11:00am and due to heavy city traffic, exacerbated by road work, didn't actually make it to McLaren Vale until just after noon. Checked into our caravan park, unloaded car and then went into town to scope bike rentals. I decided to pay $40 for my bike so that I could ride this afternoon and all day tomorrow. Flamin' and Sarge will pick up their bikes tonight at 6:00pm, just before Oxygen Cycle closes so that they can ride around 7:30am tomorrow morning when it is cooler. Minimum $15 for three hours, $5/hour thereafter. Not sure when their meter will start ticking. They wanted to go to the beach for an hour or so, (Apparently the best "unclad" beach in all Australia is not far from McLaren Vale!), and then return to pick up Cora Lee and do some wine tasting. She was content to sit by pool and read and rest her foot.

I rode the short distance from town to our caravan park and changed into cycling gear and then headed south to smaller town of Willunga along the hiraz Trail, a simply marvellous dedicated, bitumen bike path, through outskirts of McLaren Vale and then vineyards. Gorgeous views of the hills surrounding the valley floor. Very green here, more so than further north in Clar and Barossa. Once I hit Willunga, 7K, I cycled up and down the main street and then retraced my steps back towards McLaren Vale, doing a short dipsy-doodle to the right along an aunpaved road for about half a kilometer. According to a posted map it was another bicycle/walking route but I didn't pursue it once it met a busy road. (Will take a look at some of the maps we picked up at the Tourist Info Centre we stopped at upon arriving in town when I'm back from ride and see if it offers a longer route.)

Back past caravan park and then on to the Tourist Info Centre, where I am currently sending this message from, using the free WiFi, sipping an iced late! Unfortunately, our caravan park doesn't have Internet access so will have to drown my sorows in local hootch! Once I've sent a few more messages I plan to cycle a bit further north, again following the Shiraz Trail for a bit and then will branch off to the west to take a look at Moana Sands Beack. Apparently, there is an esplande there, with a separate bike path, alongside, so it might be a pleasant ride tomorrow morning with your parents. Not sure what plans are for dinner. Gang may have scoped a restaurant from talking to locals while tasting. Otherwise, we often pick up something at butcher's and green grocer's and prepare our own meal in kitchen and/or communal bbq. Latter is most enjoyable as you have a chance to meet other people and no corkage for wine we drink!

Fondestos and Cheers, Dad!

HI D,

didn't save message, but i'm pretty sure it was Bill Lester but oh well???

will call Branko, haven't yet, whats the deal with bag of stuff for him??? beer is for him and there is something for someone else??

have not been able to catch Bernie so no news on the cheque. love you

Hi Maggie and Chloe!

Thanks for the positive criticism but "Dear Reader" is a convention that early writers of the novel employed and I like it! Phone number for Branko is in address book on phone under Ragin. Ask him about printing from laptops as I'd like that function to work. Don't know any Bill Linster. Could it be Dempster of Gross? Is message still in voice mail? Also, please ask Bernie, across the hall, if he knows anything about our cheque for $750 for Strata Council. Your Mother put it throught the mail slot in room down hallway from us before we left but cheque has not yet been cleared by bank. Let us know as soon as you can.

Had a wonderful time in the Clare Valley, Dear Reader!


Hi again Prince Valiant!

Can hardly wait for the Cross-Canada Diaries! Will be a rand trip with Princess Megan. Will she ride in the vack seat and wave at the locals as you pass through North Bay, Sudbury, Blind River, Marathon and the like? Hello to Clan Darrow, Big Bad Dennster, Roger the Dodger, et al!!! All the best with your studies for finals. Buona Fortuna with exams you take. Cheers, Patrizzio!

Hello Ron!

Enjoyed the Edmonton snowscape! Quite a marked difference from SA! (Couldn't open your zip file on my iPad but will try to do so when next I have access on a laptop. All the best. Cheers, Patrizzio!

Hi Michelle!

Greetings from wine country, about an hour south of Adelaide! Obviously, we won't be at the Alumni event as Corinne and I left Vancouver on March 5th for a week in Hong Kong, then on to Sydney for a week. Met close friends in Melbourne and have been travelling with them ever since, in a rented car. Will make our way to Brisbane and then fly from there to Cairns, then Darwin and then back to Sydney. On May 11th we fly to Japan for three weeks before returning to Vancouver on May 31st. Trust you are well. Best wishes to others at the gathering. Hope all goes well. Cheers, Patrick!

Hi Patrick:

Oh, I do enjoy these missives from the travelling duo. Sigh. I'm also very jealous.
Have a wonderful time, say G'day for me, and dip a toe in a jellyfish-risky place just because life is short.
Cheers to Corinne! And I'll forward along to the executive committee with alacrity. Michelle
Avulse yourselves from your inebriated ways!

Hello Ron!

Enjoyed the Edmonton snowscape! Quite a marked difference from SA! (ouldn't open your zip file on my iPad but will try to do so when next I have access on a laptop.) We left TNT's place at around 11:00am and due to heavy city traffic, exacerbated by road work, didn't actually make it to McLaren Vale until just after noon. Checked into our caravan park, unloaded car and then went into town to scope bike rentals. I decided to pay $40 for my bike so that I could ride this afternoon and all day tomorrow. Flamin' and Sarge will pick up their bikes tonight at 6:00pm, just before Oxygen Cycle closes so that they can ride around 7:30am tomorrow morning when it is cooler. Minimum $15 for three hours, $5/hour thereafter. Not sure when their meter will start ticking. They wanted to go to the beach for an hour or so, (Apparently the best "unclad" beach in all Australia is not far from McLaren Vale!), and then return to pick up Cora Lee and do some wine tasting. She was content to sit by pool and read and rest her foot.

I rode the short distance from town to our caravan park and changed into cycling gear and then headed south to smaller town of Willunga along the hiraz Trail, a simply marvellous dedicated, bitumen bike path, through outskirts of McLaren Vale and then vineyards. Gorgeous views of the hills surrounding the valley floor. Very green here, more so than further north in Clar and Barossa. Once I hit Willunga, 7K, I cycled up and down the main street and then retraced my steps back towards McLaren Vale, doing a short dipsy-doodle to the right along an aunpaved road for about half a kilometer. According to a posted map it was another bicycle/walking route but I didn't pursue it once it met a busy road. (Will take a look at some of the maps we picked up at the Tourist Info Centre we stopped at upon arriving in town when I'm back from ride and see if it offers a longer route.) Back past caravan park and then on to the Tourist Info Centre, where I am currently sending this message from, using the free WiFi, sipping an iced late! Unfortunately, our caravan park doesn't have Internet access so will have to drown my sorows in local hootch!

Once I've sent a few more messages I plan to cycle a bit further north, again following the Shiraz Trail for a bit and then will branch off to the west to take a look at Moana Sands Beack. Apparently, there is an esplande there, with a separate bike path, alongside, so it might be a pleasant ride tomorrow morning with your parents. Not sure what plans are for dinner. Gang may have scoped a restaurant from talking to locals while tasting. Otherwise, we often pick up something at butcher's and green grocer's and prepare our own meal in kitchen and/or communal bbq. Latter is most enjoyable as you have a chance to meet other people and no corkage for wine we drink!



Discovered, upon return, that Goils had picked up a variety of cheeses and spreads and crackers so we nibbled on those as we sipped: Sevenhill 2011 Inigo Chenin Blanc, 12.5%, Claymore 20011 Joshua Tree Riesling, 11.5%, (This was only white I tasted as my loyal friends had finished the CB by the time I was back from my ride!); Sevenhill 2010 Inigo Grenache, 15.5%. We opened the latter to fortify ourselves for the half hour walk into town and to The Barn, the spot the Threesome had made a reservation for dinner that afternoon.

We left the cabin at 7:00am, taking a shortcut through the grounds, (Sarge had scoped it earlier), to connect with the Shiraz Trail and followed it into town and then along main street to restaurant itself. Wonderfully comfortable space and not too busy so we joined about five other sets of diners outside, on the covered patio. I took a look at the extensive collection of local wines but it was my considered opinion that the two wines we'd muled were just as interesting and far more reasonably priced, in spite of $10/btl corkage fee, than most of the offerings we might consider. Group concurred and we started with a Maxwell 2010 Adelaide Hills Chardonnay, 13.5%. I hadn't tasted it so I was more than delighted with its balance and flavour, lemon and melon and just the right touch of minerality. I had a green salad with balsamic dressing before the kangaroo filet. Both were simple but simply delicious. The Tim Adams 2008 Reserve Cabernet Malbec, 14.5%, paired poifectly with Skippy. For dessert we shared two lemon curd tarts. Paying our bill, we thanked our attentive and friendly waiter, a student at U of Adelaide, and walked slowly home. Sky was filled with stars but nights-cape was not nearly as spectacular as one we'd been dazzled by in Clare. Still, impressive.

Back in the cabin, Sarge poured the Grenache for The Sisterhood and we attempted to do battle with the Edradour, putting a fair dint in its 56.2% full metal jacket body armour before everyone repaired to bed to read. Since there was a line-up for the bathroom I did a few dishes before brushing and flossing. By the time I was ready to follow Inspector Villani through sweltering summer days, (bush fires burn across the state), on the mean streets of Melbourne, Coriandre was well away in Dreamsville, near the border of Snoresville, so I read a few chapters to the symphonic snores until I was bludgeoned to sleep by the not so gentle strains of her stentorian snorts and whistles!

To be continued....

All the best. Cheers, Patrizzio!

P,

Thanks for the pics. What a handsome crew – how did you ever get into the country?

The suit against Hungie is underway and will prove to be a piece of cake. Everyone at VLT, especially Captain Marvel, has already signed up. It is turning into a Hungie class action suit. Even Ray is willing to testify to his malevolence – and that is only part of the suit.

Big Al may be able to weld the frame so I have room for optimism on that front.

Mark is hiding somewhere. Te NRBC is poised to meet at Moe`s on the 15^th. Let me know if you will be Skypable then.

Avulse yourselves from your inebriated ways. You are making us righteous moss-heads even greener.

Fond regards to you C and all the crew. W

 Hi Elly:

We just left Adelaide and arrived in McLaren Vale. We leave here on Sat and head toward Sydney. Looking forward to being at your place on Mon the 9th of April.  Wayne

G'day Wayne

The mention of Adelaide brings back some memories having been born their in the last century. Nice place visit wouldn't want to live there. How's all the driving going ? Are the back seat passengers behaving themselves ?

Yes all is in readiness for your arrival on the 9th, I've organised slaughtered of the fatted lamb in anticipation. In addition rose petals will be scattered on the driveway to herald your arrival. The beer is cold and red wine is warm.

Safe driving, Tony 


Hi all.

Here is some information I am passing along to those of you on our
group e-mail address. These issues were discussed at our lunch yesterday.

Nadine

1. Basil.
Here is the blog giving updates re Basil: http://basilupdate.blogspot.com

2. Reminder.
Our group e-mail address was set up for all of us to use as needed:
lib-emeritus@interchange.ubc.ca

3. UBC Association of Professors Emeriti.
Here is their web address: www.ubcemeriti.org

You can use this address to access their newsletters. There are
about 6 per year. As I mentioned at the lunch, the Association has
an influence on benefits that we get from UBC so you might want to
check their newsletters regularly if you don't already receive them
as a member.

4. Basil's message read at the lunch.

Here is the text:

Dear Colleagues:

I'm sorry I can't be with you today and thankful to my reader [Bill
Watson] for lending me his voice. There are a few things that I have
been reviewing in my mind and which I am overdue in conveying to you.

In the sixties and seventies the library underwent a period of rapid
growth that we all experienced in individual ways. Only at a
distance can we see how our collective efforts combined to create a
research library worthy of the name "University Library"; the
emphasis being on the root word "universe".

Being closely involved in these developments, lost in detail, you may
not have been aware of the scale of your joint efforts, under several
intertwining themes.

First, collections, that in two decades doubled, passed a million
volumes and went on to double again. For a time, we were blessed
with financial resources that allowed us to buy whatever we liked and
to say "yes" to any faculty request. The end result was one of the
finest academic collections on the continent, built on millions of
your individual choices.

Second, yours was the generation that introduced the library to the
computer, and vice versa. In the sixties rudimentary applications
began to appear. These were aimed at managing routine tasks, such as
circulation. Remember those huge blue terminals, the wide floppy
printouts, all in capitals, the clangorous keypunch room, the
sequestered mainframe computer with its spinning tapes? Decades on
we had desktop computers and information retrieval. We all had to
learn about systems and to guide their development. You were part of
the so-called information revolution, though you may not have known
it when it was happening.

Third, you were involved in the dispersal of collections and public
services, bringing them closer to users in a campus ever-expanding
southward. Two decades of construction resulted in a network of
thirteen or so branches and divisions, and I can't remember how many
reading rooms. From a distant perspective we can now see that this
was a simple reflection of the growth and fragmentation of knowledge
itself. Again, all this was your work.

Fourth, and finally, you stepped into the shoes of UBC's first
generation of librarians, such capable pioneers as Dorothy Jefferd,
Eleanor Mercer, Mabel Lanning, Roland Lanning, Anne Smith. Starting
around 1960 we began to recruit specialist librarians, individuals
who were versed in foreign languages, trained in specific subject
fields, possessed of specialized skills. I try to visualize all of
you, librarians, library assistants, archivists, systems analysts,
programmers, gathered together in one place, probably the size of a
hanger, and I am staggered by the breadth and depth of knowledge you
represent. You are a national treasure.

I hope you enjoy a deep sense of satisfaction when you contemplate
your contributions to the developments I have outlined. I can tell
you that I am very proud and beyond fortunate to have worked with
you. It was my good luck to have stumbled into librarianship at what
proved to be a very exciting, challenging and rewarding time. May
you all be able to say the same on behalf of yourselves.

Thank you for being such wonderful colleagues.

Warmest regards, Basil, March 2012

Wed, March 28th, Day 17, Trev's 65th Birthday!!!

We are like tenant farmers chopping down the fence around our house for fuel when we should be using Nature's inexhaustible sources of energy -- sun, wind and tide. ... I'd put my money on the sun and solar energy. What a source of power! I hope we don't have to wait until oil and coal run out before we tackle that. -Thomas Edison, inventor (1847-1931)

Hello, all –

If anyone attending the retirees’ lunch would like to sign a group card

for Basil, I will try to find a suitable one (no commercial message) and

bring it along.

Nadine advises that rime may be limited for this, especially between
1 p.m. and the end of the program, but it does seem worth doing.

Looking forward to seeing you there – Elsie

Hello, Elsie and All:

By all means, do bring along a well-being card for Basil. 

I and many others will want to sign it and pass along our best wishes to him.

Basil was instrumental for so many of us beeing involved in the UBC Library .

As usual, I have no idea what Basil's health issues are , but I would like to convey my best wishes to him.

I think the card should be placed ahead of all other programs and signed by as many of us as possible.

thank you for thinking of this.

Sincerely, Paul Thiele

!
Good morning from Adelaide, Beckster! Literally just made myself my own latte with nifty Nespresso machine at Tina's/Trevor's. Flamin' and Sarge are off to the gym with Trevor shortly. I plan to swim at Tea Tree Gully pool later. Fab  50 metre swimming complex with a number of smaller pools for swim lessons, etc. Hardly anybody else there when I have been swimming so feel like The Millionaires with my own personal lifeguard! Fondestos and Cheers to you and Kid Chelene, Patrizzio!

Cheers Pat.
 
Had Dinner with the Darrows this previous Thursday. It was Roger the Dodger's 51st birthday. Big Den was telling stories of you after I mentioned your current travels with my parents.
All are well on the east coast. Two weeks tomorrow I leave for the home front. Should be a great trip. Princess Megan will join me in Montreal for the trip. We should arrive back n BC in close proximity to your return. Will have the diaries prepared. -PV


> Hello from France,
> 
> On Thursday morning we left Arras and headed north to Vimy
> Vimy was an imposing, austere, and even eerie monument.
> The site is maintained by the Canadian government,
> and the tour guides are all Canadian university students.
> We saw the monument, and the tunnels used to take the
> soldiers to the front line trenches.
> 
> Our next stop was Ypres.  Ypres (or Ieper) is an old Belgian city
>  with a huge WW I memorial gate for falle
> British Empire soldiers.  Every night at 20:00 thhey have a last
> post ceremony - they have done this daily since WW I.
> 
> After the ceremony, we went for supper at a Belgian pub, then
> headed back to the hotel for some wine, etc.
> We finished the day with a 2010 Col de la Remiere Coteaux
> du Languedoc (Yummy) and some Calvados.
> 
> Friday was a lot of driving through picturesque French countryside.
> We made it to  Rouen around 1:30 and saw the magnificent old (1170)
> cathederal and the medieval half-timbered buildingds.
> Lots of gargoyles in this town.
> 
> Booked into our hotel in Ouistreham, and then went to Juno Beach.
> Walked around a bit and then went back to the hotel for dinner.
> Lonely Planet considered La Mare O Poissons to be the only place in Ouistreham
> worth eating at. I  had scallops as an appetizer (Jo-Anne had prawns) and we
> both had a roasted fish as a main.  Dessert was apple in pastry with
> Calvados and home-made ice cream.   All in all, it was a fabulous meal.
> Don and Ruyun had the same main, but Ruyun had oysters as an appetizer
> and a chocolate cake dessert.
> 
> Completely sated, we retired to our room for a post-prandial Calvados and
> a glass of Chateau Champs de Lucas 2009 Bordeaux..
> 
> Saturday started with breakfast at the hotel, and after packing up, we
> headed back to Juno Beach to see the museum.  It is a very worthwhile
> stop.
> 
> After the museum, we went to Bayeaux, where we walked around the cathedral.
> We had a quick lunch stop, and then saw the famous Bayeaux tapestry.
> It is amazing!!!  A nearly 1000 year old piece of cloth in near perfect
> condition - and it is nearly 70 metres long!!!!
> 
> We left Bayeaux and went to Mont St. Michel - an always amazing sight.
> We looked around the old town and the abbey, and then looked for a place
> to eat.  Then it was pup-out time.
> 
> Today we headed to Chartres via an old medieval city called Fargeau (?).
> This place should be more known than it is, as it is well worth a visit.
> 
> We reaches Chartres, and after checking into our hotel, (and having some wine -
> a La Tour Coste 2009 Chateauneuf-du-Pape) went to the
> magnificent cathedral.  We stayed for evening vespers, and the crossed
> the square to get food.
> 
> Tomorrow we are on to Fontainbleau.
> 
> -Colin


Hello Kids!

Wonderful to hear from ryou and hear about your most fascinating travels in France. Sarge is more than envious as he wanted to visit the Vimy and Juno Beach when we were in Paris in 2010 but hadn't the time.

Tuesday, March 27th, Day 16

It has been said that a pretty face is a passport. But it's not, it's a visa, and it runs out fast. -Julie Burchill, writer and journalist (b. 1959) 

A Jobian SnowGram

Hello Kids!

Wonderful to hear from Prince Valiant that he missed The Diaries! 

Did just a smidgeon over 3 miles yesterday, 5K. Trevor picked me up at 3:30pm, 29C! Best wishes from Flamin'/Sarge and Cora Lee to one and all Fondestos and Cheers, Il Conduttore!!!

Dear Patrick,

Are you now done with Australia and to Japan now!
Enjoy and love to hear your updates! Daniel


Hi Daniel!

Trust all is well with you. Have been having a blast everywhere, ever since
leaving Hong Kong.


Card for Basil at Wednesday Lunch!

Hi Elsie!

Greetings from Adelaide! Obviously, I won't be at the lunch but if you could sign the card for Basil, on my behalf, that would be much appreciated. Corinne and I left Vancouver on March 5th for a week in Hong Kong, then on to Sysdney for a week. Met close friends in Melbourne and have been travelling with them ever since, in a rented car. Will make our way to Brisbane and then fly from there to Cairns, then Darwin and then back to Sydney. On May 11th we fly to Japan for three weeks before returning to Vancouver on May 31st. Trust you are well. Best wishes to others at the luncheon. Thanks and Cheers, Patrick!

Hi Big Al! Great to hear from you an know that your new venture is going so well, along with working with former friends. Computer assisted design, etc., is exciting. Great that you are taking advantage of this exciting technology. I trust you'll be the New Millionaires by the time we return. The ShapeOmetre should be in full production by the time we are back in Vancouver!!! Will let you know our details for Brisbane as soon as I confirm with rest of gang. I think, however, that we may well have enough overlap to get together, depending on your work schedule, of course. Anyway, hope it doees work out. Literally just made myself my own latte with nifty Nespresso machine at Tina's/Trevor's. Flamin' and Sarge are off to the gym with Trevor shortly. I plan to swim at Tea Tree Gully pool later. Fab 50 metre swimming complex with a number of smaller pools for swim lessons, etc. Hardly anybody else there when I have been swimming so feel like The Millionaires with my own personal lifeguard! Did four miles there last Saturday and then 2.5.33 miles yesterday! Trevor's 65th today so big family/friends party this afternoon/evening so should be fun. Teens is a wonderful cook so food will be something else. Plenty of terrific hootch from our recent tastings so looking forward to sharing our discoveries. Hi Maggie and Chloe! Any word from Ragin'? Hi Raymond! Great to hear from you but sorry to hear about your colds. Trust you are both over them by now. Say hello to Mick and Polly when you next see them. Hope that you are able to ride in next little while. You are right, with all the eating and drinking, I'll be last one climbing Heather! Glad garden is coming along. Sorry we'll miss blssoms. Your books sound fascinating. You can't have much time to read between "farming" and hosting friends! Good luck with oven. Always something to go wrong when you least expect it! Hi Kjell and Jane! Pleased to hear you are both well. I take it you are looking at property on Vancouver Island. Is that correct? Never heard of Gray Fox but price is right idf you like it. Funnily enough, we paln to visit a winery in McLarenn Vale called Fox Creek, one of our favourites. Will leave for there tomorrow morning, for two nights before making for Mornington Peninsula.

Did just a smidgeon over 3 miles today, 5K. Trevor picked me up at 3:30pm, 29C! Time to change before guests arive. Best wishes form Flamin'/Sarge adn Cora Lee to you both. I guess you will be returning to Sweden shortly. Safe journey. Cheers, Patrizzio!!!


Hi Kasimir and Boithday Goil, to be!

Pleased to hear you are both wel and enjoying the Lives of the Rich and Famous at Harrison Hot Springs! Take a vidoe of party and we'll watch it upon our return!  Best wishes from Cora Lee to you both. Hello to Barry G. when nex you pummel him on court! Cheers, Il Conductore!!!!

Hello Whirlissimo!

Wonderful to hear from you but deeply saddened to learn of all your many and trying woes. My sun-drenched heart goes out to you for all your considerable troubles. For moss removal, I will post some bottled sunshine, apply liberally to affected areas, take a dram of malt and call me in the morning!!! The 'Oribble Hungie Syndrome is a bit more difficult to deal with as we have our own VLT mole along. (Did you manage to play in tourney?) Best wishes form Flamin'/Sarge and Cora Lee to Kerry, Tia Maria and you. I guess you will be filing a suit against Captain Marvel. Perhaps Sandy, Ragin's ex could represent your class action! How is Marcus Aurelius? NRBC? Fondestos and Cheers, Il Conduttore!

PS: I'm sending this as well as one from my iPad, with snap attached. Let me know if you receive it five times!!!

Monday, March 26th, Day 15

There is a foolish corner in the brain of the wisest man. -Aristotle, philosopher (384-322 BCE)

March 26th, Clare Valley, Day 2:

Up at 7:30am, a lazy sleep-in to have a fab breakfast of sausages and scrambled eggs, hot cross buns and toast, java/tea. After doing dishes while gang read the morning papers, we decided to ride the Riesling Trail. Flamin' walked up to  Reception and learned we could rent bikes for half a day, $20/four hours. Sarge drove Cora Lee into town so she could explore and shop. By the time he was back we were almost ready to go. Ironically, we had all left our padded cycling shorts and gloves in Adelaide! This being the case, I "layered", putting on a pair of briefs under my swim suit, then another pair of loose, light shorts. Bikes were almost brand new and quite comfortable, except that the handlebars were not as high as both Flamin' and I would have liked.

Once we'd adjusted the seat height, we  set off, crossing the highway just outside the  entrance to the caravan park to gain access to the Riesling Trail itself. Most pleasant ride, to Auburn, 21K south of where we started. On the track bed of a former railway, it runs through vineyards and fields of sheep and/or cows. Crossed a number of country lanes with posted signs indicating distances to varies wineries. Most of the grade is downhill so we whizzed along, happy as larks to be riding through such picturesque countryside, under such marvellous conditions, few clouds in blue sky and cool, refreshing breeze.

Just ten minutes and an hour later we were in Auburn. Stopped at the IGA there for water for F/S, lemon-lime soda for me. Back out of town, making for Clare, Grade more of an issue now, probably 5% between Auburn, Leasingham and Watervale, slightly less, 2-3 percent, between Watervale and Penwortham. Then a bit steeper as we climbed between attractive, narrow rock cuts, (Needling Flamin' that Brown snakes would be sunning themselves on the large flat surfaces, warmed by the sun, ready to leap onto her as she rode past! She is always on about snakes and spiders so we are helping her overcome her hysteria, Dear Reader!), towards Sevenhill, the crest, then leveling off, with a slight downhill to CCP. To make matters more difficult, we were fighting the dreaded head wind all the way back, shades of riding to Iona, Dear Peleton Riders of the Purple Outback!

Continued on into Clare itself, pulling up in front of Wild Saffron where Flamin' was intent on a latte, a la Ragin' and Jim Brownlee! Bad enough that my feet had already touched the ground twice already so I said goodbye and made for Wendouree Road on the off chance that there might be someone about a the "Appointment Only" winery there. No such luck so I snapped a few pics and then returned to CCP. Home with 50.33K on the mental odometre, Dear Reader, with additional dipsy doodle to winery, (48K roundtrip Clare to Auburn), to find gang already in pool, Sarge slugging back a Knapp!

More than a refreshing dip, pool was chilly at first, and then a quick change into dry togs and then to Seven Hills, originally a Jesuit monastery:

2008 St Aloysius Riesling, 12.5%, $29.
2011 Inigo Riesling, 11.5%, $19
2009 Inigo Semillon, 12.5%, $19
2011 Inigo Chenin Blanc, 12.5%, $19
2010 Inigo Verdelho, 13.0%,that'shere
2010 Four Buckets, (Shiraz, Touriga, Grenache), 15%, $15.95
2010 College Red, (Touriga, Shiraz), $12
2010 Inigo Barbera, 13.5%, $19
2010 Inigo Merlot, 14.5%, $19
2009 Inigo Shiraz, 15.5%, $19
2010 Inigo Cabernet Sauvignon, 15%, $19
Liqueur Verdelho, 500ml, $19
Liqueur Tokay, 500ml, $19
Jesuit Fine Old Tawny, 500ml, $19

I took the 2010 Four Buckets blend as it is remarkable value and perfect for Trevor's coming 65th birthday gathering. On to Paulett Wines, down the same road we'd first been on in 1991 when we visited Martindale Hall, the magnificent Georgian-style mansion, circa 1880, featured as the school in Picnic at Hanging Rock.(The actual rock formation is fairly close to where we stayed near Bendigo and we had a picnic there in 2006!), a winery we'd not tasted at before. According to James Halliday their 2005 Riesling is the best Riesling in the world! At any rate, gorgeous view over the Polish, (Settled by Poles in the 1850's or so, hence the name.), River Valley.

Chatted with the wife of the winemaker, the original owners, as we tasted and she passed along many interesting facts about the area as we sipped:

2011 Polish Hill River Riesling, 11%, $22
2010 Antonina Riesling, 12%, $45
2011 PHR Sauvignon Blanc, 11%, $22
2011 Stone Cutting Chardonnay, unoaked, 12%, $10
2006 Stone Cutting Red Blend, 13.5%, $10
2007 PHR Cabernet Merlot, 14.9%, $24
2008 PHR Shiraz, 14%, $24
2007 Andreas Shiraz, 14.5%, $60

I took the PHR Shiraz as I was delighted by the peppery finish. Not a real fan of aged Rieslings so Mr Halliday's accolades were lost on me. Last stop intended to visit Crabtree, (It was going on 4:30pm and most wineries close at 5:00pm), nearbye,  but missed turn to end up at Claymore. Best mistake we ever made, Dear Reader. "Trying to make the right mistake", says Robbie Roberston and we all agree.
Line -up poured by a lively woman, Chrissy Van der Jude:

Joshua Tree Clare Valley Riesling, 2011, $18, 12.8%
Purple Rain Sauvignon Blanc, 2011, $18,
Lucille Late Harvest Riesling, 2001, $18,
Whole Lotta Love Rose, 2011, (Clare Valley Grenache/Shiraz), $18, 14.0%
You'll Never Walk Alone, 2009, (Clare Valley Grenache, Mataro, Shiraz), $18, 14.5%
London Calling Merlot, 2009, $20,
Holy Grail Clare Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, 2009, $20, 14.0%
Walk on the Wild Side Clare Valley Shiraz, 2009, $20, 14.0%
Dark Side of the Moon Clare Valley Shiraz, 2010, $25, 14.8%
Nirvana Clare Valley Reserve Shiraz, 2009, $45, 15.5%

We had more than a blast. This was one of those times when serendipty really comes into play. Would probably not have stopped at the winery, given so many to choose from, but having done so, we were rewarded beyond belief. Wines were elegant, complex and fruti forward so much to my particular liking. Cora Lee's foot was tired by time we had done a bit of tasting, (She had walked back to CCP from Clare, about 3K while we were biking.), so she sat in a comfy armchair, foot elevated, and Chrissy came from behind counter to pour her each new tasting as she reclined in more than regal splendour!

We still had a number of bottles to sample and it was already after 5:00pm but Chrissy wasn't fussed at all. We kept right on until the last, Nirvana, was sampled. I bought one and Flamin' opted for the Dark Side. Cora Lee said their thanks and goodbyes and made for the car. Just as we were about to leave,
Chrissy stoppe dus and asked if we'd like to take the opened bottles. Couldn't believe our great good fortune as she gave us all the overlefts, (nine bottles, three whites, six reds, all more than half full, many two thirds), of the tasty line-up as we were the last customers of the day and she said she would otherwise pour them out. Sarge and Cora Lee were grizzling about us taking so long but soon changed their turn when we told them what had happened.

Even before Chrissy had presented us with almost a full case of wine, we had invited her for dinner back at CCP. SHe said she might join us for a drink but that she probably wouldn't stay for the meal. At any rate, we thanked her again and headed into Clare. I went into green grocers for salad fixings while The Goils made for the buthcer's for sausages and kekbabs. Sarge turned car around and waited, kerbside. By 6:20apm we were back in our cabin and starting preparations for dinner, toasting each other with the Claymore whites we'd been given.

I was in the proces sof making a tomatoe/bocconcini/basil salad when Chrissy arrived. She and rest of gang sat on deck for a drink of red and then they all repaired to bbq area to cook the meat. I had the spuds and salad ready by the time they had done everything to perfection and we sat down inside. While grilling they had convinced Chrissy to stay for dinner and we enjoyed geting to know her. She is from Adelaide originally and worked for South Australia Tourism, here in the Clare, for a number of years, so she could fiill us in on local politic, etc. She lives about 15K northof Clare where she rents a small house. She rents out her place in Adelaide and makes money as the rents in countryside are far cheaper than in the city,as one might imagine.

She visited Vancouver a number of years ago as one of her sisters was working as a nurse in Emergency at St Paul's. Lovely, lovely lady and she certainly made our time in Clare that much more enjoyable. She has invited us to stay if we ever return and we, of course, have invited her to stay in Vancouver. After we enjoyed the dessert which Teens had sent with us, (Anne's pecan pie and Tina's gluten-free chocolate cake), Chrissy said goodnight and goodbye. It was a working day for her on the morrow and we wanted to head back to Adelaide after breakfast ourselves as we had been invited to Anne's and Don's for dinner that evening. Gang made for bed and I tidied up kitchen while waiitng for bathroom. Managed two chapters of Truth before both Cora Lee and I were ready to turn out light. My leg muscles were pleasingly sore so I was dreaming about The Riesling Trail not long after my head hit pillow!

Pat,

    All this wining and dining will give the rest of the peleton a chance when you get back. It does sound like a very good time.

    Blossoms starting to come out in Vancouver encouraged by a very pleasant weekend. Sylvia and I managed a very productive weekend in the garden tidying up and seeds and plants set out. Sylvia heard 2 little kids remarking that it looked like a farm but also that it looked very nice.

    We had a dinner invitation to the Carters' on Sunday but declined as we both had colds and didn't want to pass the germs along. Perhaps next week.

    George and I haven't been able to get our timing right for a ride, so I haven't ridden since you left but back in the gym today for an easy workout and back into tutoring today as schools return after the Spring Break.

    Enjoyed Into the Silence and learned a lot from it. Just finished Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand, the story of a top class miler, Louis Zamporini who suffered terribly during war time. Have a look at him on Wiki if you have the time. Born 1917, and still alive in spite of incredible hardships.

    A friend from my early years in Hartlepool will be here Wednesday and Thursday en route to Mexico and other friends from Bermuda will also be here Wednesday for dinner. Unfortunately the oven has packed in so we may have to cook on the BBQ if we are not able to get the repairs in time.

Ray

Hi Raymond!

Great to hear from you but sorry to hear about your colds. Trust you are both over them by now. Say hello to Mick and Polly when you next see them. Hope that you are able to ride in next little while. You are right, with all the eating and drinking, I'll be last one climbing Heather! Glad garden is coming along. Sorry we'll miss blssoms.  Your books sound fascinating. You can't have much time to read between "farming" and hosting friends! Good luck with oven. Always something to go wrong when you least expect it!

Time to have a bite to eat before Trevor chauffeurs me to pool. If I could get him to swim for me, (but I would get benefit), while I work on the Diaries, that would be best of all possible worlds!  Hello to you and Sylvia from gang. Cheers, Patrizzio

Sunday, March 25th, Day 14

What really flatters a man is that you think him worth flattering. -George Bernard Shaw, writer, Nobel laureate (1856-1950)

Dear Writer, sounds like your having a great time drinking and drinking and then eating.
But the whole Dear Reader bit is too repetitive, a little constructive criticism for you!!!

Love to you and Nana, teens/trevor and F/S

Hey D,
I need Branko's number for that stuff in the laundry room.
Also a Bill Lister? or Linster called was worried you were not well, can you email him and asure him your fine and on vaca xx

Hi Maggie and Chloe!

Thanks for the positive criticism but "Dear Reader" is a convention that early writers of the novel employed and I like it! Phone number for Branko is in address book on phone under Ragin. Ask him about printing from laptops as I'd like that function to work. Don't know any Bill Linster. Could it be Dempster of Gross? Is message still in voice mail? Also, please ask Bernie, across the hall, if he knows anything about our cheque for $750 for Strata Council. Your Mother put it throught the mail slot in room down hallway from us before we left but cheque has not yet been cleared by bank. Let us know as soon as you can.

Had a wonderful time in the Clare Valley, Dear Reader!

Left Adelaide on Sunday morning, March 25th:

Up at 6:10am to treat myself to a double Nespresso while I recorded yesterday's outing to the Barossa and then last night's dinner. Gang surfaced around 8:00am and proceeded to have cereal and yoghurt and read Sunday papers while I feasted on a steaming bowls of overlefts, a combo of last evening's kartofellage, rice and Skippy, yumsters, zapped by an ever solicitous waitress, Teens, fag stuck in the corner of her mouth, dropping ash on my food! After breakies, showers all around for those not already abluted and then small overnight bags for two night stay.

Waved goodbye to THERMOMIX Woman at a few minutes after 10:00am and guided by Teens' Garmin Goils, on loan for this part of road trip, on to the Main North Road, not far from Fairview Park which will take us almost directly to Clare. Gorgeous day, already 19C, and climbing, a few puffy clouds in an otherwise bright, blue sky. Sarge driving with  certainly more than usual concern for posted speed limits. North of turnoff to  Gawler, wheat-fields on both sides of the highway. AC on as day is heating up! ETA in Clare about 11:00am. Will stop at first winery or Tourist Centre for a map, given that yesterday's incompetent navigator neglected to bring one we picked up in Adelaide, two days ago. Rest of entourage bit our tongues as Nana Nincompoop shamefacedly offered up an abject apology! Group levied a fine, an expensive bottle of Riesling, (Clare is renowned for this varietal), for dinner tonight! Strict discipline must be enforced otherwise Chaos rears its ugly head, Dear Reader!

Captain Sarge on cruise control as we zipped northward. Little traffic so we should be right on schedule. Pretty rolling hills dotted with stands or wind breaks of gums. Terrain quite similar to approach to Sierra Foothills from Berkeley.  About 11:30am we stopped in town as The Goils needed a chemist's and I had to seek out an ATM. Few minutes later, both errands accomplished, (even mailed a number of postcards I'd finished that morning), we made for Jim Barry Wines. Had forgotten exactly where it was, relative to centre of town so had to seek directions at the Clare Country Club. Picked up a wine map there and were soon parking in the shade of the parking lot in front on winery.

Only customers so we had Andrew all to ourselves and he led us through a most pleasant tasting: Lodge Hill 2011 Riesling; Florita 2011 Riesling, Silly Mid On 2010 Sauvignon Blanc/Semillon, for the whites. I liked both the name and the taste of the latter, (Have seen it occasionally in Vancouver), and then we were on to the reds: Three LIttle Pigs  2010 Cabbage/Shiraz/Malbec; the iconic Cover Drive, 2009 cabbage, (Traditional favourite back home but only $19 here, as opposed to roughly $27-$29 back at Cambie.); Lodge Hill 2010 Shiraz; and then two top-enders, the 2006 McRae Wood Shiraz, $50, and the 2005 "Pb", Jim Barry's "considered personal best for a given year, All the more expensive wines kept in a super duper argon dispenser, the theory being that the inert gas keeps an open bottle of wine from oxidizing and drinkable.

Tasty platter of bread, cheese and olives so the tasting was very agreeable, pater with Andrew convivial. Thanking our knowledgeable and gracious host, after I decided upon the Silly Mid On and two bright orange corkscrews, (Needed at least one in case we ever encountered a cork in this wine land of Stelven caps, Dear Reader!), emblazoned with the winery's name, back to the car to return towards town and stop at Knappstein, another winery we'd first visited in 1991. Again, only tasters and Tony took care of us, pouring two Rieslings, a Chenin Blanc and a number of Cab/Merlot blends and a couple Shirazes. Winery also has a brewery associated with the operation so Sarge picked up a four-pack of the Reserve Lager, 5.6%.I didn't like it as much as the APA from Harcourt Valley but it was pleasant enough. Tony convinced Sarge to take the Insider, 12%, a blend of Riesling and Gewurtztraminer, made especially for export, on sale for $12 as opposed to the one we tasted, 100% Clare Riesling, for $22. (We had it back at our cabin in the Clare Caravan Park, before dinner, and was disappointed as it was a touch too sweet and insipid. You pays yer money and takes yer chances, Dear Reader! 

The Sisterhood were feeling peckish after this so we stopped in town and looked for a place for lunch. They rejected what Sarge and I thought was a reasonably acceptable greasy spoon, (not all that many places open for lunch on Sunday afternoon, surprisingly, given the fact that Clare is a very popular tourist spot), for a hotel pub, the Bentley. We ordered our food just before a large group arrived and repaired to the outdoor patio to chat and plan afternoon's tasting while we waited for our food. Sarge had opted for a pizza while the rest of us chose Caesar salads with toppings of choice. Our tasty salads came reasonably quickly but Sarge's fare still hadn't been served by time we were finished! Waitress came by to apologize for delay, claiming "a spot of trouble with oven"! I decided to return to car to work on the Diaries. Had only managed a paragraph or two when my travelling companions returned, Sarge clutching a take-away box. Apparently first pizza was burned and its replacement was undercooked!

We had decided that we would see if we could check into our cabin although it was only 3:00pm and we understood that 5:00pm was time posted when we made reservation. Flamin' went into office when we pulled into CCP, (We had stayed there in 1991 and again in 2000 and had been more than happy with "Budget Accommodation", as phrased in the Clare Valley Visitor Guide, Dear Reader!), returning with two large tote bags, the linen and towels for the single beds, intended for Cora Lee and El Conductore, relegated to the cramped bunk beds in the tiny second closet bedroom, El Capitaine Sarge and his hyperactive First Mate claiming the luxury, sheer luxury, Dear Reader, of the Queen bed in the cavernous bedroom!

We unloaded the car and made Cabin 17 home before we driving back towards town to stop at Kirrihill, but two minutes away. I had picked up a bottle of their 2009 Clare Valley Shiraz, 15.5%, and found it rather good so was keen to actually visit the winery itself. It is situated below a very good restaurant bar and bistro, Artisan's Table, (Coriandre and I had enjoyed a fabulous meal there in 2000, delicious Skippy of some sort!), but the place is closed after lunch on Sunday until Wednesday so we were out of luck in terms of being able to eat there. Nevertheless, the tasting was all that i had hoped it would be. Of the five whites: 2011 Slate Creek Vineyard, Clare Riesling, 12%, 2011 Barton Sprigs Vineyard Adealide Hills Sauvignon Blance, 12.5%, 2010 Serendipity Vineyard Adelaide Hills Pinot Grigio, $13% , 2011 Adealide Hills Chardonnay, 12.5% and the 2011 Moscato, 10.6%, (absolutely delightful and refreshing, made from Frontignac), I was very taken with the subtle flavours and crisp minerality of the Riesling, the flagship varietal of the Clare Valley.

The four reds were all rather tasty: 2010 Clare Valley Cabbage, 14.5%, 2010 Clare Valley Shiraz, 14.5%, not as intense as the 2009 expression I alluded to above. However, the Kirrihill SIngle Vineyard Series, 2009 Tullymore Vineyard Clare Valley Shiraz, 14.5% and the 2009 Tullymore Vineyard Clare Cabbage, 14.5%, recently released, were remarkable and priced at $20, simply astounding value for price. We picked up a bottle of each and thanked our friendly pourer. Back to car and up along Wendouree Road to drive by Wendouree Cellars, a boutique winery we'd stumbled upon in 1991. Snce then they have stopped cellar door sales as there is a waiting list to get on their mailing list! I thought that we might be able to taste/buy if anyone was there but not a sign of life so we proceeded to Tim Adams Wines where once again we were sole customers.

Another broad range, three whites: 2011 Riesling, 10%, 2008 Reserve Riesling, 12%,  2011 Pinot Gris, 2009 Semillon, 12% and I was drawn to the latter with its full flavour and lingering finish. The reds were most impressive, inasmuch as they were all at least three or four years old. Apparently Tim Adams, the winemaker, has been working towards this goal, aged releases, ever since he started the winery. Consequently, as a direct result, I'm sure, I found the reds we tasted far more to my liking than on previous visits: 2008 The Fergus, 14.5%; 2008 Reserve Tempranillo 13.5%; 2006 Cabernet Malbec, 14.5%; 2008 Reserve Cabernet Malbec; 2009 Shiraz, 14.5% and the 2009 Aberfeldy Shiraz, 14.5%. I found the Tempranillo a bit on the light side but nonetheless quite pleasant with a pleasing dusty finish. The 2006 Cabbage/Malbec was a stunner and light years ahead, as far as I was concerned of the 2008 RCM, which was still reasonably tannic, as one might expect, but surprisingly didn't have as much fruit as the earlier vintage. The Botrytis Riesling, 10.5% was a delicious sticky. More than happy to take two bottles of the 2006 Cab Malbec before thanking the lady behind the counter and making for the The Last Word, the only place within easy walking distance of the CCP, to book a table for 7:30pm. That done we popped Flamin' back at our cabin as she was feeling a bit tired and wanted to take a nap.

We headed to south towards Skillogalee Wines near Sevenhill. I had not been overly impressed with their wine on any of the visits we'd made so directed Sarge to the next winery down the road, Jeanneret Wines. I do believe Cora Lee and I might have tasted there before but can't be sure as many of the small places start to blend together after awhile, Dear Reader. One of the first times there were actually other people ahead of us. Oliver poured as we chatted with three bikers from the Clare Bone Conference. (We had noted this convention was in town when we stopped at the Clare Country Club for directions.),  two Yanks, one from Manhattan, the other from Connecticut, and an Ozzie from Adelaide, all medical researchers, and couple from Sydney, the  wife had lived in Kits for a year or so, a teacher. We had a ball with everyone as we made our way through the tasting line-up. Others were ahead of us so they chose their wine and left. Chap from Manhattan insisted that he would not have to pay duty on the wine he brought back as since he had paid tax on it locally, he would not be required to pay again. Sarge and I could not convince him otherwise so we wished him luck and waved goodbye.

Following is array we tasted:

Big Fine Girl 2011 Riesling, 12%, $19
Watervale 2011 Riesling, 12.3%, $25
Big Fine Girl 2009 Riesling, 12.7%, $19
Doozie 2009 Reserve Riesling 12.9%, $40
Oakey Dokey 2007 Chardonnay, 14%, $19
Mosquito 2011 Moscato, 6.5%, $19, delicioso
Dilly Dally 2009 Merlot, 14.6%, $1
Leo's Garden 2009 Cab Sauv, Cab Franc, Merlot, 14.5%, $23
Rank & File 2009 Shiraz, 15.0%, $23
Denis 2008 Reserve Shiraz, 16.3%, $60

Picked up the Denis for a treat when there are just the four of us!!!Back home to nap/read/shower and then we strolled to the Last Word for dinner. Food was okay but not particularly exciting as I felt it would be when we made booking. No other real options as there are not very many interesting restaurants in Clare, unlike Barossa, surprisingly enough. However, they offered gluten-free pasta so The Sisterhood ordered penne, meat for Coriandre, seafood for Flamin'. I had fish and chips, fried not battered, and Sarge went with the prawns. Pleasant chat with a couple, from Hobart, at next table, in town to deal with a store, (similar chain to Toys R Us, Ozzie quasi-equivalent), that is closing. Apparently owner underwent a sex change, (male to female), shortly after he bought franchise and business, once very profitable, collapsed. We all surmised it had something to do with emotional and physical turmoil associated with gender change.
 
Back home, our way illuminated by flashlight from Flamin's iPhone app, quite sufficient to make out all the Brown snakes and Red-back spiders waiting to bite her! The night sky was simply breathtaking, the Milky Way a resplendidly beautiful necklace amid all  the other stellar gems, magnificent, sparkling diamonds against the inky, velvet black of the southern sky. Home to watch Kenny, a DVD lent to us by Teens. Flamin' and Sarge did not like it at all but Cora Lee and I found it hilarious, sad and touching by turns. The story of a chap who works for a Port-O-Potty company, it shows both his work and family life. Set somewhere in Victoria likely near Geelong by some of the road signs, it features various rock concerts, festivals and the Melbourne Cup, along with a junket to Nashville where Kenny is sent to a "Pumpers" trade show. En route he unstops one of the toilets aboard and becomes friends with a stewardess as a result! A must see as far as we were concerned! Fondestos and Much Warm Love, Dad!

Hi Patrice,

Glad to hear you and the gang are having a good time. Sounds like fun to be
exploring other than the bad navigation issues!.
All is well here, I've been working on a show the last week and a half and
have been busy designing a giant air ratchet as we call it to "yank" a pair
of giant doors off their hinges. It has been good to get back and see some
of the old gang as I had missed a lot of people. I have been getting a bit
of ribbing because I took last Monday off and have been in and out of the
shop on various personal and business errands. I was clear up front that I
would need to do this as I did not intend on letting the progress I have
made on running my fledgling manufacturing business go by the wayside and I
would need to make time for business related activities. I have also a bit
of flack for spending a lot of time on the computer , the reason however
that I have been doing that is that I have designed the air ratchet with my
sophisticated solid works 3D modelling computer program which those knuckle
draggers don't use and are still old school technicians. I have built it on
the computer and am having the various components water jet cut at a nearby
shop, I have told my Neanderthal like co workers that the proof is in the
pudding and come Tuesday the various pre engineered components will arrive
at the shop and can then be assembled quickly and precisely!. Fortunately my
friend and our collective boss has taken the same computer course and likes
my high tech approach .He has the patience and I shall not disappoint him!

The weather here Yesterday today and today is beautiful and feels like
spring is finally here! I haven't been out on the bike for some time so I
think I will try and get out for a run down to the river today as it looks
like the rain returns for a while on Tuesday. I'm taking tomorrow off of the
show so I might find some time to get out then too hopefully. I will be
meeting up with Marcus Aurelius' tomorrow as we are going to transplant a
chestnut tree that Jesse planted in kindergarten and is now about ten feet
tall. they have a new community garden in the works at Windsor school and
this will be it's first addition.

Looks like I will be heading down to Brisbane on April 14th so I'm not sure
but I think you said you were leaving there on the 15th, we may be ships in
the night but hopefully we can connect even if only for a short visit so we
can say we were there together. keep having fun and keep in touch, I will
let you know when I'm coming as i get more info.

Take care, Al

Hi Big Al!

Great to hear from you an know that your new venture is going so well, along with working with former friends. Computer assisted design, etc., is exciting. Great that you are taking advantage of this exciting technology. I trust you'll be the New Millionaires by the time we return. The ShapeOmetre should be in full production by the time we are back in Vancouver!!!

Will let you know our details for Brisbane as soon as I confirm with rest of gang. I think, however, that we may well have enough overlap to get together, depending on your work schedule, of course. Anyway, hope it doees work out. Cheers, Il Conduttore!

Hi Pat,

and thank you so much for the report I read every line of.

As always, you seem to have a strenuous time, roughing it through the
bush of wineries I have never heard of.

For myself, I have to recommend a variety which made Jane ecstatic
with joy yesterday as we took supper in the camper van off the
Sea-to-Sky Highway, enjoying the setting sun: a 2010 unblended Shiraz
from the renowned Gray Fox Vineyards in California; 750 mL, 12,5 %,
CAD 6,49. Very nice picture of a fox on the bottle!

Otherwise everything has been very undramatic around here. We went to
Campbell River ten days ago and had a nice four-day stay with Jane's
sister, Anne, and brother-in-law, Ross. Stayed the first night with a
friend of Jane's in Courtenay, reconnected next day with "our" local
real estate agent, and went for a second tour of orientation.
Celebrated Anne's 55th birthday. Went snow-shoeing up Mount Washington
one day.

Just before we left, one of the "legendary" Swedish kids, Matilda,
came down from the Peruvian mountains and filled Jane's flat with all
kinds of luggage, including a full hockey equipment she had stored at
Jane's dad's place, before taking off to see friends in Vernon and
Calgary. Obviously, she is coming back here by the end of this week,
to go on home to Sweden on 2 April, after four years in Canada and
Latin America replicating her parents' adventures 30 years ago. Her
"boyfriend" Per (who was eventually dumped by Matilda) visited Jane
early December, and then evaporated, leaving not a trace or any
information as to where he was heading. We are just hoping he is OK.

Now, off for a bike ride. First one since we went. Been hiking and
running a few times, but much too seldom.

All the best to you and the other courageous explorers, Kjell (and Jane)

Hi Kjell and Jane!

Pleased to hear you are both well. I take it you are looking at property on Vancouver Island. Is that correct? Never heard of Gray Fox but price is right idf you like it. Funnily enough, we paln to visit a winery in McLarenn Vale called Fox Creek, one of our favourites. Will leave for there tomorrow morning, for two nights befoer making for Mornington Peninsula.

Did just a smidgeon over 3 miles today, 5K. Trevor picked me up at 3:30pm, 29C! Time to change before guests arive. Best wishes form Flamin'/Sarge adn Cora Lee to you both. I guess you will be returning to Sweden shortly. Safe journey. Cheers, Patrizzio!!!

Saturday, March 24th, Day 13

In the common words we use every day, souls of past races, the thoughts and feelings of individual men stand around us, not dead, but frozen into their attitudes like the courtiers in the garden of the Sleeping Beauty. -Owen Barfield, author (1898-1997)

Downtown Adelaide

Hi Maggie and Chloe!

Thanks for report on Mom. Unfortunately, here, Trevor's Dad is not all that well. He will probably have to go to a care facility in the not so distant future.

Yesterday, after Trevor collected me from the pool, we came back home and had a bite to eat. Jade was there and this was the first time I'd met her. She is a real cutie. Around 2:30pm Trevor went to collect Maya at school and half an hour later Teens drove us to the the girls' home where they had to put on their gym clothes. We met Trevor there and then he left to pick up rest of crew, who had been downtown since late morning, so Cora Lee wouldn't have to walk any further than necessary. We were all invited to the end of term performance at CirKids, the Adelaide gymnastics organization where the sisters have been taking classes for past few years, bit like Arts Umbrella on GI.

Gang were there when we arrived and Maya and Jade went to rehearse while we visited. Bree and Mark, TNT's daughter-in-law and son, arrived from work shortly thereafter and we introduced them to F/S and visited until it was showtime. We were asked to remove our shoes as show was in gym. Audience arranged itself in front of of makeshift stage area. Three classes performed, youngest to oldest and it was a hoot. Basically, a Christmas Pageant scene, as you can imagine. Basically each group and each child and or pair of children, performed an example of a move appropriate for their age level and order of difficulty: tumbling, walking on a beam, trapeze work and even a magic show. Latter was a chortler as lad was a Merlin the Magician as played by Mr Bean, given his skill level! Nevertheless, great good fun and all the adoring parents/grandparents/friends applauded each and every performance or performer in spite of hilarious mistakes and tumbles. Of course, all the kids had a ball. Some, a bit shy, were helped along by more confident friends. One or two, of course, almost needed The Hook to get them out of the limelight!

Chatted with everyone after the show was over. Will see girls and their parents next Wednesday for Trevor's 65th. Said goodbye and made for downtown, in two cars, The Sisterhood in one, The Brotherhood in the other, to park near the Central Market, Adelaide's version of GIM, and wander for a few minutes. Tina made a reservation at Star of Siam, a Thai place, while we shopped for a few items for meals for our stay in Clare Valley. We re-grouped at restaurant and enjoyed a more than delicous meal. Everyone ordered a different dish and we shared the plates:

Cora Lee, #9: Snow Pea Salad, salad of blanched snow peas and minced chicken tossed with shallot, roasted coconut and mild, spicy lemon dressing
Flamin' #16: Pad Ka-Pao, stir fried chicken with chilli, onion, spring onion and fresh basil
Patrizzio #17: Pad-Khing, stir fried beef with fresh ginger, onion, spring onion and capiscum
Trevor #19: Pandan Chicken, pieces of boneless chicken wrapped with aromatic pandan leaf, deep fried until the skin is crispy, served with sweet chilli sauce
Sarge #21: Pepper and Garlic Chilli Pork, marinated pork, pan fried with pepper, spices, crispy garlic flakes and chilli
Tina #31: Pad-Thai, fried rice noodles Thai style witj prawn, peanuts, bean sprouts, bean curd and chives

Sarge and Trev had Singha beer while rest of us sipped glasses of Totino, Adelaide Hills, Pinot Grigio. Food was simply wonderful, service remarkable and friendly so we were more than pleased. Paid our bill and made for home, lads quizzing Trevor about Super Cars, V8's, one step down from FI in Australia. Home before The Sisterhood to monitor email while lads pounded beer. When The Sisterhood returned Teens whipped up a raspberry/banana sorbet, (700.33 grams of ice), in the Nuclear THERMOMIX in about 10 minutes. Divine! Dessert ectasy! Gang were knackered from day downtown so made for their respective beds while I digitated on the FDiaries, desperately tryying to bring them-up-to-date. Quite about 10:30pm, brushed and flossed and then repaired to bed to read a few more chapters of Truth. Quite absorbed by Inspector Villani and his remarkable cast of Melbourne nasties.

DRAFT:

Up at 6:30am to digitate with a cup of java to wake me up until Flamin' joined me about half an hour later

Grant Burge:

7:65 7:60

Charles Melton:

Met Charlie as we were leaving! Richelieu, 100% Mataro

Rockford: too many mini-bus tours

Turkey Flats:

Butcher's Block White, two bottles

Into Tanunda for lunch at Artesan of Barossa. Cora Lee bulled her way into front seat to navigate so we have little hope of ever finding the restaurant! Having a tour of the suburbs of the burg as Cora Lee tries to find where we are. How anyone would allow Coriandre tothe navigate is beyond belief. This is called The Wine Country Weight e tWatchers thReduction Diet: Lose kilos while you search for a place to off The
Navigator!

Finally found the tasting room/restaurant and were quite delighted with situation. Enjoyed the tastings while we waited for the Ploughman's Lunch Platters to be served. Met two couples at the tasting counter I hope we can arrange house exchanges with.

Now in search of Two Hands

Hi Maggster and Chloe!

Up at 6:30am yesterday morning to make my java and digitate for an hour or so before rest of crew appeared. We were planning to go to Barossa but needed to wait until an electrician came to  do a bit of work Trevor had arranged to have done. Before power was shut off we all managed to have breakfast, (toast, bacon, overlefts warmed up in microwave, more java/tea), and shower. Teens had left shortly after 8:00am to attend a meeting/luncheon of the Home Economics Association of Australia, most recently Past President, but very involved on Executive for last 15 years. Once electrician was finished and paid for his work, (He was completely soaked by the time he had completed wiring as it just poured buckets while he was outside, working on a panel.), we bundled into the car and set off, just after 10:00am, Trevor navigating from the back seat, (The Sisterhood were fussed, completely unreasonably and unrealisitically, as is their usual wont, complaining that Trevor should have been riding shotgun. I wanted dashboard plug to allow me to iPad my way to wine country, Dear Reader!), Sarge driving through the drizzle.

Took the scenic back route to Gawler, a way Cora Lee and I had never traversed before, and were soon in Lyndock, about 10:30am. Wanted to stop first at Charles Cimicky as it is such an attractive winery with terrific  wine but were very disappointed to learn that it was closed! Then decided that we would visit Rockford Wines on Krondorf Road but frustrated again as place was closed! Undeterred, we proceeded, in an easterly direction, to Grant Burge at Krondorf which we discovered, to our communal delight, was open at 10:00am. Only customers there so we had a great time. Wines were not as high-end as those offered at their main tasting facility off Barossa Valley Highway but we enjoyed ourselves witht the very friendly woman behind the counter and scored two reds, on sale: a Reserve Cabernet, Merlot Petit Verdot, 2009, 14%, for $7.65 and  a Reserve Barossa Shiraz, 2009, 14.5%, $7.60 respectively. Trevor had a coffee while we tippled.

Charles Melton

Back into car to make for Rockford Wines, another of our favourites. It was open by time we pulled up but Tasting Room was chock-a-block with people from two or three mini-buses so we decided not to wait and fight for counter space. Not far to Charles Melton, just a few minutes down the same road, where, once again, we had the Tasting Room to ourselves. Great set-up as one sits at a long table in director's chairs. There was a cosy fire going so The Sisterhood basked in front of it, the morning still being cool althought the rain had stopped. Charming woman who poured was very friendly and we sat back and experienced the ful range of their most highly regarded wines, all reds. I splurged and purchased a bottle of Richelieu, 100% Grenache, $58.90, pepper extraordinaire, in a velvet jacket, just because! Thanking our delightful host, we returned to the car and happened to bump into  the owner/winemaker, Charlie Melton, himself. Very personable, very friendly and we chatted for a few minutes. He knows John Clerides of Marquis in Vancouver, (I've seen a number of his offerings there.), so we had a bit of a connection. He  was wearing a wine-stained golf shirt as crush was still on, although almost finished.

Next stop, Turkey Flats, again, not far away, so we headed there and were rewarded with an almost empty Tasting Room. I really like their Butcher's Block White, (Marsanne, Rousanne and Viognier blend), so bought two bottles. Proceeded to taste their entire line-up so quite enjoyed being back. By the time we had finished tasting. (I was last to leave, Dear Reader!), gang wanted to have lunch.
Into Tanunda for lunch at Artisans of Barossa. Cora Lee had bulled her Shiraz fuelled way into front seat to navigate so we had little hope of ever finding the restaurant! Had a tour of the residential part of the town as Cora Lee tried to find where we were, muttering all the while about how it was not her fault that we were lost. How anyone would allow Coriandre to navigate is simply beyond belief, Dear Reader. This process, once embarked upon is known as The Wine Country Weight Watchers Reduction Diet: Lose kilos while you search The Barossa Loop for a place to have a bite to eat!!!
Eventually, a few moments shy of a full-scale mutiny, (Even Sarge was starting to lose patience and this is saying something!), more by good luch than proper management we found the aforementioned tasting room/restaurant and were quite delighted with situation. The establishment pours for seven different wineries and we did enjoy tasting while we waited for the Ploughman's Lunch Platters The Goils had ordered, upon arrival, to be served. Met two couples at the tasting counter so we chatted about possible future house exchanges, trading business cards at this stage. Lunch was very tasty, a selelction of cheeses, cold cuts, pickles and fresh bread/crackers with a number of different spreads, and rocket salad, plain but with a lovely dressing.

Tummies satisfied we returned to the counter and worked our way through the reds, even tasting a local Durif, D.R.S., 2009, from Spinifex, a varietal I've not encountered outside Rutherglen. Quite happy with range and quality of wine on offer, I decided upon The Dust Kicker 2009 Shiraz, 14.2%, from Schwarz, a blend of Shiraz and Mataro. Had never tasted product from this winery but was quite impressed with their product.

Good humour restored, returned to the car, (Trevor had taken over driving responsibilities after we left Melton), and went in search of Two Hands, a winery we'd never visited on earlier trips but whose offerings we'd been more than pleased to be introduced to in a wine bar in Salamanca, in Hobart, in 2006 when there with Lurch and Grogg. Furthermore, Grogmeister had invited Sarge and I to a wonderful tasting at the Broadway International Wine Shop, on Broadway near MacDonald, a few years ago, when their wines  alone had been featured. Wonderful, wonderful stuff so was rather excited to see winery itself.

Very nicely appointed tasting room, more of a small cafe arrangement where one sits at individual tables and pourer serves you each different wine. An amazing array, from top to bottom, from lower entry whites, The Wolf, 2011 Eden Valley Riesling, $25, right through to their most expensive red, Ares, 2009 Barossa Valley/McLaren Vale Shiraz, weighing in at $165 a bottle. Couldn't have asked for a better tasting, ambience, quality of wine and charming personality of young woman shackled with serving us! Hard to believe that it was only her second day on the job. SHe didn't know absolutely everything about the wines but was extremely confident and helpful, most gracious and accommodating whenever she needed to ask others for information to answer some of our questions. Tasting fee, ($5 per person was donated to a charity), included two small plates of bread, olive oil and prosciutto, so we nibbled as we sipped. Extremely civilized, Dear Reader.

I ended up with a bottle of the Gnarly Dudes, 2010 Shiraz, 14.8%, although I would dearly loved to have had a case of the stunningly rich, complex Barney's Block, 2009 Single Vineyard McLaren Vale Shiraz, $100! We thanked Ebony, our tremendous server, and regrouped at the car. Last call was to be at Hensche as it was, more or less, on the way home. Sarge directed well and we were soon at the gate, only to find it was closed!  Hard to believe as in 2006, when last here, winery was closed for a private function! Not overy disappointed as all the tasters were feeling pretty relaxed, so relaxed in fact that the entire back seat snored all the way home!

Carted our case into the house to find Teens busy with the Thermomix, preparing dinner, mouth-watering smells wafting from the oven. Gang chatted or read while I digitated unti about 6:30pm when Don, Tina's brother, and Anne, his wife, arrived. Lovely to see tham again. They both look extremely well and after introductions we visited, catching up and telling them abut our trip to date. A more than sumptuous dinner was served, in the formal Dining Room, Dear Reader, and we sat down to exquisite fare, all home-made from Tina's kitchen: Pappadums, puffed in microwave;  Raita, cucumber, yoghurt and garlic; Potatoe Aloo, potatoes, peas and spices; Basmati rice with cumin; and the piece de resitance, Kangaroo, (Skippy), red curry! Meat was tender, tender, tasty, tasty, tasty! Anne had made a pecan pie for dessert and it was topped with a special South Ausralian ice-cream called Golden North, honey ice-cream! Rolled our way into living room to sit around charming fireplace and sipped Two Hands A Day Late a Buck Short, a dessert wine we'd bought for Tina, Rutherglen/Barossa Valley Muscat,17.8%, a poifect finish to the remarkable meal. Talked about how to head east when time comes as well as Anne's/Don's olive grove, The Farm. They have invited us to dinner at their place next Tuesday so Flamin' and Sarge will see it. Everyone was feeling a bit drowsy by 10:30pm so we said goodnight to Anne and Don, helped with a cbt of clean-up and then repaired to our separate bedrooms.

Managed a few chapters of Truth before Cora Lee's gentle snores and my drooping eyelids sent me to Land of Nod!

Off to go get Robbie Romu for some Pizza Farina.....

Patrick and Corinne,

While we're disappointed you won't be in town for Andrea's big event at VRC, we're glad you're having a great time in Australia with no shortage of good wine!

We're also glad to hear that Corinne is on the mend.  I also went through a course of antibiotics after an incision, and it's great when we get these little episodes behind us.  I hope nurse Dunn is providing the requisite domestic, culinary and transport support services.  Take good care of yourself, Corinne!

Andrea and I also took a little trip - two days worth - to Harrison Hot Springs.  We stayed at a bed and breakfast that was once the home of a lumber baron and when he died at 102, his surviving children turned it into a resort with a surrounding golf course.  Because it is still off-season, we got a good deal on rates but were also the only ones in the whole house which made it feel rather exclusive.  On the trip home, we stocked up on smoked salmon and hazelnut butter from the local country stores. 

Today was the NDP Leadership Convention, and just in case it's not reported in the Sydney Daily Digest, the new Leader of the Opposition is Thomas Mulcair, previous Quebec Liberal cabinet member who quit on a matter of principle and became Jack Layton's Quebec deputy. 

But enough of politics - I would hate to spoil your simple cherry tomatoe/bocconcini salad with grilled chicken breast, brushed with sweet chili sauce!

Have a great trip and we'll think of you here on April 14 when we toast the boithday goil!

Warmest regards, Larry and Andrea

Hi Kasimir and Boithday Goil, to be!

Pleased to hear you are both well and enjoying the Lives of the Rich and Famous at Harrison Hot Springs! Take a video of party and we'll watch it upon our return!  Did just a smidgeon over 3 miles today, 5K. Trevor picked me up at 3:30pm, 29C! Time to change before guests arrive. Best wishes from Cora Lee to you both. Hello to Barry G. when nex you pummel him on court! Cheers, Il Conductore!!!!

Hi Lasses and Lads:

Sorry for group mailing but time is of the essence! Trust everyone is well!!!