David Around the World: December 16, 2014 Off to Adelaide Airport, Slow Drive through Barossa Valley, Cairns

Today is my last day in Adelaide/Barossa Valley and my little vineyard cottage. Early this morning I was up around 3AM and walked out to the back deck and saw the thousands of stars that were parceling in the sky. I realized these are stars I would never see in the Northern Hemisphere. I can usually go out on my back deck in Oklahoma and can immediately find the North Star, Cassiopeia, Big and Little Dipper. But in the Southern Hemisphere everything is new in the sky for me. I spent about 30 minutes just sitting in the wicker lounge chair looking up at the sky and was lucky enough to see two shooting stars. p
Well I never did go back to sleep so I just stayed up, backed, showered and headed out for my 11AM flight at 5:30 AM. Just before I left I also turn on the telly to find out how the stand-off in Sydney is going. They were just announcing about that two innocent victims and the gunman were dead. Such a tragedy in one of the most wonderful cities in the world. It's just heartbreaking. Then I hear about a report where over 130 school children had been murdered in their classrooms in Pakistan by the Taliban. What is wrong with people!
I decided to take a longer route back to Adelaide that sent me through the backroads of Barossa Valley, along a route called Eden and Torrens Valley Roads. The morning sun was just appearing over the hills of the valley as I left Angaston. The first hour was a drive I will never forget with rolling hills of vineyards, fields of sheep and cattle, small streams lingering along with me down the highway. But mostly it was the old age eucalyptus trees that had grown so large they stretched over the roadway resulting in a beautiful tunneled canopy that went on for miles. It's one of those experiences that you can't stop. take pictures and try to get people to understand, so I hope my words give you the pleasure I had on this first hour of my drive.
The two lane asphalt road lead me through small hamlets that had just a few stone and brick homes along the way. The towns seem to be losing a little of their charm because some of the smaller vineyards that kept these places alive seem to be starting to vanish.
The second hour of my trip found me on very winding roads that took me up and down the green hills of continuing stretches of vineyards, but now I'm seeing large beautiful lakes and streams. The water is very blue and shimmering from the newly rising sun, that is reflecting off the tops of these steams/lakes. I also start seeing more evergreens that remind me of the same types that I remember passing on my way up to Mt. Fuji in Japan a few weeks ago.
Once I came to a town that had the first traffic light that I had seen in the last two hours, I knew my wonderful drive was coming to an end.
It took me about 2 1/2 hours to trek the back roads of Barossa and Adelaide, but it was time that I will always be able to lock away in my mind. I had to think back and remember my guide Lucky that I had on my safari in Kenya. He reminded me that the pictures left in your mind will always be the ones that you will remember for a lifetime.
I'm now in the city and traffic is heavy, since it is about 8AM, and people are heading to the CBD (Central Business District). I thought I was doing pretty well and inching my way to the airport, south of Adelaide (I'm on the north northside). But when I started seeing that I was going against traffic, I knew something was wrong. I pull off the road turning on my wipers thinking it was my turn signal. I look at my map and I have traveled about 5 miles away from my original plan. So, I plot another route and even with the 3-4 roundabouts that I maneuver expertly, I start seeing the airport icon on the street signs.
I pull into the airport thoroughfare and find the rental car return sign. I missed it. So I have to do a pass through the airport and try again to find the turnoff for rental car return. This time I make the turn and wonder why I didn't see it the first time. I gather my two big heavy bags, my cheap roller carry-on and my heavy backpack. I check the car in and walk the few hundred yards to the check-in counter. Since I'm flying Virgin Australia and Delta is a partner airline, I'm able to check through the executive check-in line again...no waiting. I again get to go to the executive lounge, since I'm early by just an hour and half today.
The flight boards and the one hour flight is very uneventful. I will be going to Cairns via Sydney, so it should be interested to sense the mood with all that has been going on in Sydney the last 48 hours. I arrive at the airport and it is a bit quietter that usual. People are gathered around the few televisions that are in the bars and restaurants at the airport, trying to get the latest news. The gunman apparently was a known entity in the community, having been arrested several times and was actually out on bail due to the alleged planning of the murder of his ex-wife. I wonder why this guy was even on the streets!.
I walk over to my gate and people are already boarding for Cairns. This flight is about three hours and I use the new inflight entertainment systems that is used through your own tablet or phone. What a great idea. I watch a few reruns of House of Cards,,,for the third time.
As we are descending into Cairns I notice the green hills that seem to encapsulate the city. Also I notice the number of streams that lead into the city from the waters of the Pacific Ocean. Cairns is a beach resort and this time of year (summer) it is very warm. The pilot announces that it is 36 Celsius degrees, about 95 Fahrenheit.
The airport in Cairns is very open, much like the small airports of the Caribbean. I gather my bags easily and I pick up a cab at the taxi queue. We head to the Hilton. The hotel is located right on the main river that leads into the Pacific Ocean. There are several sailboats, tour liners and large cargo ships going both ways on the waterway.
I check into my room and find I've been given a beautiful view of the river that leads out to the Pacific Ocean with the very tall green hills in the background. The view reminds me of the Halekalani Hotel near Diamond Head in Hawaii. I'm a bit tired since I've been up since 3AM this morning. I go down to the lobby cafe, grab a salad and soup. I almost nodded off at the table waiting for my bill to sign.