After our colossal day yesterday, we decided to try for a different tact today. That is, we rallied against the notion of awakening at a set time, courtesy of a headache inducing screeching alarm clock, for a much more unhurried stirring whenever it was that our bodies decided that sleep was overrated. This would have been an impeccable plan had I not forgotten to switch the confounded alarm function off, meaning that we were, regardless of our scheme to sleep in, woken unceremoniously at 9:00AM. Trolling around the van in the half dark, my eyes only half open, the alarm was silenced, before a further hour of slumber followed.

When we again stirred, this time at our own pace, we clambered out of bed to begin preparing our breakfast. With nothing much planned for the day, we decided to utilise our time on the preparation of a bacon and egg fry up. Featuring locally sourced smoked bacon, fresh soft as a cloud sourdough bread and farm fresh eggs, it was a breakfast befitting a king. Or if not a king, at least two very hungry travel weary caravanners such as ourselves.

Breakfast is served. Let’s tuck in.

It was a grand way in which to begin our day as even the weather was in our favour, a fantastically warming shimmer descending from the sun, through an essentially cloudless blue sky. The wind and rain we have experienced over the previous few days finally having given way to this extremely welcome change in climate.

It was about midday that we eventually worked up the energy to venture forth from the van park, leaving the dogs behind again today. Shopping was high on our agenda for this afternoon, and we felt it unfair for the babies to have to take up residence in the back of ‘The Beast’ for two days in a row.

We were headed firstly for the northern suburb of Elizabeth, whereupon we hoped to find a shopping centre with a Myer store. Bec had seen a top last night that she liked, but not in her size. She had been told that the Myer in Elizabeth might have what she sought, so off we went. Sure enough, we eventually located the shopping centre for which we were looking, although only after letting our good old friend ‘Shazza’ lead us almost literally up the garden path.

Our expedition to Myer was fruitless, when Bec decided that she didn’t particularly care for the garment that was the sole purpose of our trip out here. Not to worry, we decided to make the most of our time and have a quick look about the remainder of the centre anyway. It was fortunate that we did, as Bec managed to snare a free gift bag that was being handed out around the centre. Along with a few goodies it contained a raft of coupons for stores within the complex.

Nothing else took our fancy however, so we were soon enough hitting the road again, now heading across town to a market more towards the southern side of Adelaide. A visit to the Brickworks Market had always been planned for today, as it is only open on Fridays and weekends. Thus, today would be our sole opportunity to take in the wonders of the market.

Half an hour later, we were indeed taking in those wonders, in a case of wondering why we had bothered at all. Far from being the bustling extravagance of exotic aromas, colourful stalls, bedecked with all manner of fresh produce, elegant crafts and cheap market merchandise as advertised, it was a dreary, cold and dark shed, a couple of surviving stalls were dimly lit by bare bulbs hanging over the dusty stock. The majority of stalls were empty or hidden behind sturdily locked roller doors that looked as if much time has passed since they had last been shown their open position. There was no need to force our way through a throng of eager shoppers, as we were the singular onlookers within the cavernous hall. What could be a strikingly exciting complex has been relegated to a mere dustbowl, due to a multinational supermarket chain taking over only a portion of the property, but forcing a possible upcoming closure of the market. Thus, there are but a final few traders hanging onto their livelihood, hoping for a reversal in fortunes. From what we witnessed today though, I think the writing is on the wall and the end of the once successful Brickworks Market is coming to an unfortunate demise.

With little else left to do, ‘Shazza’ indicated that merely 10 minutes down the road was another huge shopping centre, so we tootled off to have a look around. ‘Shazza’ being ‘Shazza’ got her times a little muddled up however, and it was closer to 40 minutes before we were pulling into the car park at the shops. Another Myer store beckoned, although Bec still maintained that the blouse she had been considering was not to her liking after all. It mattered not however, as we spent the next hour or so taking in the myriad of other little shops. As much as we tried though, we again left empty handed save for a few groceries.

This turned out to be a rather misfortunate adventure however, as by the time we were ready to leave, we had left our run too late. We would now need to travel from the south of Adelaide to the north, all the while fighting a strenuous stream of peak hour traffic.

Add to the bumper to bumper, stop start traffic, a bunch of roadworks, around which ‘Shazza’ couldn’t fathom a route and what should have been a simple 25 minute jaunt turned into a hard fought mêlée of over an hour in duration. It wouldn’t have mattered so much, but by the time we rolled up at the van, the dogs had been on their own for almost 7 hours and some concern was being mooted about not only their welfare, but about the condition in which we may find the inside of the van.

As it transpired, we need not have worried about either, so then all that was required of us was to begin the tedious task of packing the van up ready for travel tomorrow and heating up some premade pizzas we’d brought back from the supermarket. So much for our theory of having a day of rest today, but we can in all sincerity admit to having undertaken just about as much retail therapy as what we can handle here in Adelaide, even if it was all for nothing.

On a final note for this evening, entries into the kilometre challenge shall close as of midnight on Saturday October the 5th. That gives you all one final chance tomorrow to email me with your estimation of the total number of kilometres we will have travelled over the course of our trip, start to finish. Check out the current list of guesses here at: The Tally So Far, and to one and all, good luck.

Until next time, stay safe, have fun and don’t forget to write.