The wettest year for…years. Many of them. HEAPS of them. Queensland has seen it’s wettest month in the last 123 of them. Wet. Rainy. Grey. It sounds closer to Christmas weather back home than I would like, given the fact that we are in Australia. I love how all these “rumors” about the hot weather, boiling summer days, and sweaty, sunburned Christmases are all starting to seem like “hearsay” - like the rumors you tell your best mates back home in the states to make them jealous while the snowstorms roll in.
After our exciting jaunt in the hills, we decided that this past weekend we would “get away from it all” – leave town for the night, and escape to the sleepy little town of Victor to see some penguins, catch some sun, and maybe do a bit of snorkeling. We booked a room that boasted about its ocean views and the pictures looked impressive. So, when Friday came, we decided to fore-go the late-night movie so we could get an early start and catch the Saturday markets along the way.
Much to our incredible disappointment, we woke up to another morning of grey skies, thick moist air, and the promise of rain. We packed the car, swung by the bakery for breakfast, and hit the road.
The Willunga Market was our first stop. I have a strange soft spot for Weekend markets, and the Willunga Saturday Market is boasted to be, quite possibly, the best Market in South Australia. After a bit of directional upheaval, thanks to Adelaide’s lack of street sign postage, we found our way to this tiny little town on the outskirts of famed “McLaren Vale Wine Country”. When I saw the little white tents of the booths, I couldn’t wait to go see what Willunga had to offer. Aside from the typical fruits, veggies, honey, and breads, I was thrilled to try some Lavender Brownies, and Lavender Fudge – which is exactly what it sounds like. Brownies and Fudge infused with Lavender. Chad found them a bit too strange, but I couldn’t believe how tasty they were!! Perhaps when I find time to experiment with my cooking again I will have to seek out a recipe.
We also tried Dessert Limes – tiny itsy bitsy limes about the size of a pea. You pop the whole dang thing in your mouth and chew. About the tartest thing you can imagine as it pops against your cheek! I didn’t know that limes could possibly form in such a tiny package!
We rolled in to Victor Harbor about an hour later. Much to our dismay, as we parked the car in front of a pub with the intention of having a Butchers (“Browse” for those of you who have forgot lol), the refreshing drizzle transformed into a downpour. We must have browsed through every shop in town before turning up at the restaurant with a name out of Chad’s Dreams- Schnitzel Encounters. For those of you keeping track, mark another one that doesn’t live up to our good ol’ Seaview Chicken and Fish standard.
With no end to the storm in sight, we decided to check in to our room in hopes of catching the lightning rolling in over the ocean. We got our keys, were given directions to the room, and threw open our curtains to the most gorgeous view of… the building across the way- which was about 3 meters. Exasperated, we had no other choice but to nap.
Because of mine and Chad’s incredible indecisiveness when it comes to eating out, we rely on recommendations and reviews quite heavily. So when the hotel manager started going on about this great eatery that Chad and I had already decided on from its online reviews, we were thrilled to go. A quaint little place called the Beach House, with superb wood-fired pizzas. Coincidentally, a great place to eat in a storm – we watched the rain pour down in buckets, and heard the pitter-patter of rain on the tin-shed roof, and listened to the grumble of thunder rattle the windows. It wasn’t snorkeling, but I love me a good thunderstorm!!
We were all set to return to the hotel for a lazy night with a TV movie, when the cashier made a comment about the weather. “Well,” he said, looking at his watch “the pageant started off around 6, so just imagine how they’re goin’!”
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