Adelaide, Potoroos and a Joey February 24

Tuesday, February 24  Adelaide

Up very early and we departed the Indian-Pacific train at 7:00.  We went immediately to the enormous Adelaide Market which was just opening up:

We were pointed to a couple of different places which would be good for breakfast, both of which were very busy.  I ordered a “complete breakfast” and here’s what came:

Two scrambled eggs on two very thick slices of rye toast, a giant pile of bacon, two large sausages underneath the bacon, and a whole tomato which had been split and cooked.  It was breakfast for four.  I ate breakfast for one.

By now the market was open and busy, and we toured it.  The fruit and vegetable stands were lovely, but it was the meat markets which really caught our attention:

 And finally, Western New York

We then toured this lovely city of 2+ million people.  On the walking portion we passed the Migration Museum, and stopped to view a number of poignant plaques which were mounted on the museum walls while we heard some of the horrific stories they represented.  Here’s one:

 We then drove around the city; the entire city is surrounded by very large contiguous parks, a ring of green which is enormous and well-used.  It couldn’t be lovelier.  We then went to the extensive Botanic Gardens, had lunch there, and then had a docent-led tour emphasizing the use the Aboriginal people made of plant materials.  It was absolutely fascinating.  The core plant material they used came from the eucalyptus tree, and they used every part of it extensively:

We saw something I don’t think we have at home, a Tree-roosting Duck:

Finally we went to our hotel, checked in, and had a lecture on the city of Adelaide, its history and population, and an introduction to Kangaroo Island where we go on Wednesday.  At 6:00, still up and going, we went to the Cleland Wildlife Park, a game reserve located in a much larger national park about a half-hour out of town and up on a hillside.  We had a barbeque dinner there while the sun set, and then, at dusk, had a game walk to see nocturnal animals.  As it was quite dark, these photos are not as good as those I’ve taken in the day, but we had a wonderful walk.  The Potoroo is a small marsupial (sort of looks like a large rat).  Here’s one with a joey (baby) in the pouch.  The joey was the size of a fingernail when born:

 There are both resident and visiting kangaroos:

Tasmanian Devils:

And, of course, there are koalas.  There are resident ones and visitors who come and go.  Here’s an awake (!) visiting koala in a eucalyptus tree:

 Tomorrow off to Kangaroo Island.  Wake up will be at 5:00 AM.  We’re exhausted!