Back to Diary	26th June 1988	OZ 27th
Halls Gap to Adelaide	Glad we decided to stay the night at Halls Gap in the Grampians because this morning we had two big reds boxing each other for a long time in the fog amongst cows in field outside our window (video). We hit the road at 9:40AM and could hardly see out window. Being windy and cold we decided to forego the rock scrambling at Reid's Outlook (video)and instead we took in Mackenzie Falls which turned out to be a half an hour hike down a steep path with many falls until we got to the main one (video). Very scenic and impressive (patch). I think the kids probably enjoyed the kangaroos at Zumsteins. It is a camping area where the k's have become accustomed to being hand fed. So that is what we did. Imagine being surrounded by animals as big as you - you better have enough bread to go around. They can get to be a bit demanding (video) Once out of the hills we hit the plains where we were able to do about 140Kmp(80 mph) on perfect roads that were straight as an arrow for 4½ hrs. Stopped at Dimboola for picnic lunch and climb about a huge locomotive engine in Apex Park. David found it exciting to be able to explore and try the working parts (video). Spent a couple hours in Little Desert Park looking for birds and kangaroos along a river and did a nature walk (Pomponderoo Hill) that explained how plants regenerate only after a fire (video). Ended a very long day reaching Adelaide and the Heasleys. Murray (NZer graying and thinner but still the lovable character) and I had lived together in Fiji in 1970. Have seen each other on and off over the years. Last time was in 1985. But it had been 10 years since we had met his wife, Inemoa (from Tonga and hasn't changed) and we had never seen his son and daughter. We felt right at home immediately with them. Mana treated us as if he had known us all his life and wanted to skite. David was put up with him and Ne bunked with Tia. Gail and I used the office which had a bed specially bought for our use. The house is in a very old part of town and is over 100 years old itself. VERY high ceilings to maintain some sort of coolness in the hot summers. We were there in the winter and found it pleasant.
Back to Diary		OZ 27th