Absolutely exhausted after a long drive home from the southeastern part of the state and thrown into a panic about a sooner than anticipated deadline for my grades to be submitted, so we’ll keep it simple today.
A Free Family is just back from a long weekend spent here…
…which is about 350 km down the coast from Adelaide. I was really looking forward to the drive – a chance to see more of Australia. I saw a lot. A lot of this…
Boy Z came down with a touch of a stomach bug which meant that he expelled his stomach contents a couple of times in our new car. This resulted in much wringing of hands and gnashing of teeth and scenes like this…
Between the funk of vomit coming from the back seat and the stench of the 150km long Coorong – which I’m fairly certain is the Aboriginal word for stagnant, fetid, shit smelling lagoon* – our new car now notably lacks that new car smell.
But the long, smelly drive was worth it. I got to see the pink lakes of the Murraylands (which are apparently an ecological disaster, but still cool)…
…what I’m pretty sure were fairy penguins on the wild Southern Ocean…
…and a much needed dose of time alone with my two favorite people in the world.
It was such a nice trip, in fact, that the bad news I discovered upon our return just didn’t matter that much. Boy Z took it a little harder…
….but then both Courtney and, by proxy, her Yellow Jackets are admitted haters of children.
—————————————
* The Coorong was the source of the best mullet I’ve ever tasted, so it’s not all bad.
I’m not a huge Dave Matthews’ Band fan, but it is damn good driving music. This live version of “Crush” is from The Central Park Concerts available from 
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by SSG
01 Dec 2008 at 21:59
jealous. is it still cold though? dr o’c and weeZ look all wrapped up!
i want holidays and fun times. bah.
by admin
01 Dec 2008 at 22:09
Yeah it was chilly. Don’t know when it’s meant to warm up in this country. Hot my ass.
by headbang8
01 Dec 2008 at 22:10
Now THAT’S why you moved to South Australia.
The Coorong used to be rich and lush with wildlife, but global warming has (literally) fouled it up by putting insufficient water through the tidal lakes to flush them. Today, the Murray is one of the few rivers in the world that doesn’t actually have a mouth.
I imagine, though, Dr. O’C remembered the Coorong from her youth, when it teemed with birds and fish, and was a pretty good place to camp, swim, and drink beer.
The scenery will grow on you. There’s a certain calm to the almost-desert landscape which I treasure. What’s more, Europeans and Japanese are shocked to find that there actually is such a thing as a deserted beach.
Also, you’ll get used to the miles of driving needed to get anywhere in Australia, the hours prolonged by strictly-enforced nanny-state speed limits.
Somewhere in the back of my head, I’ve not filed AFM under the heading “enjoys a tipple”. Certainly not by the elite tippling standards maintained in our mutual circle of friends.
Nonetheless, even teetotalling and with baby Z. in tow, weekends in the food and wine country of South Australia are a treat. A leisurely drive and overnight stay in Martindale Hall, and dinner at Mintaro Mews, would help you celebrate Christmas nicely.
And the animal-loving Z probably needs to go to Kangaroo Island soon. Though if he’s prone to travel sickness, the ferry ride will be puke-a-licious.
by headbang8
01 Dec 2008 at 22:11
By the way, what was that about hot asses? You got my attention, there.
by admin
01 Dec 2008 at 22:19
Headbang – I actually really liked the landscape, in much the same way that you wrote about and deserted beaches are just fantastic. What’s shocking is that the Coorong is fucked because of misuse of a limited amount of freshwater, but the park we stayed at literally watered their grass all day long – on a rainy day – in the devastated Murraylands. I’ve got little sympathy for these people.
As you know, there’s more to the wine country than wine. In addition to the mullet I had some spectactular locally grown olives. Will check out your recs.
by The Unbearable Banishment
01 Dec 2008 at 23:55
What beautiful pics! My recent vacation in Cleveland had more of an industrial feel to it, although both daughters survived 9+ hours of driving each way without hurling. You saw penguins. We saw crows.
by arizaphale
02 Dec 2008 at 00:22
Stomach bug or car sickness? Either way, not fun. The open spaces you’ve captured so well here are the reason I came back to Oz. Is it Robe Beach? I remember the Coorong when it was a stunning wilderness area. Bloody water wasters should be shot >:-( [I'll just go and top up the swimming pool. I'ts bound to get hot around here sometime soon.]
by mongoliangirl
02 Dec 2008 at 00:56
From the link – “Come to the Coorong and uncover it’s mystical charms.” Sounds like you did that and more.
by courtney
02 Dec 2008 at 01:09
I like your pictures so much that I’m not even going to mention what a sore loser you are. Oops.
by The Dean
02 Dec 2008 at 03:34
Try 700 miles (1200+ km) with three children through the rain and snow. Oh, I had to leave Athens, as well.
The game was a level III shitshow, especially the third quarter. Be happy you were on a beach with loved ones.
Glad you had fun.
by NATUI
02 Dec 2008 at 07:37
I’m glad you guys were out for the weekend and got to see such amazing scenery. The vomit thing sucks, or blows, rather. At least you got some good pics. That photos of the Doc and Z on the beach is spectacular.
by Nathan B.
02 Dec 2008 at 08:22
FWIW, the Mizzou/KU game was a kick in the crotch too…was that wheat growing in that pic or just shit-lagoon grass?
by admin
02 Dec 2008 at 09:06
Unbearable – It’s what you make of it and your traveling companions, isn’t it?
Ariza – Definitely a stomach bug, he does fine in the car normally. Yep, Robe – very nice.
Mongola – Fortunately we were a bit further down the coast from the shit lagoon.
Courtney – Just because you had to get Dawson to play for your crap team doesn’t make me a sore loser.
The Dean – Glad I missed it. Sorry you didn’t.
NATUI – Fortunately the vomiting ended and we could enjoy the weekend.
Nathan – Yeah, I saw the Mizzou loss as an afterthought. At least they could still technically win the Big 12. I’ll be cheering for them.
It’s all pasture land, so I’m pretty sure just shit grass.
by maggie, dammit
02 Dec 2008 at 12:59
Oh, man. We’ve recreated the vomit-in-the-car scene so many, many times.
Welcome back!
by father muskrat
02 Dec 2008 at 13:12
This is why when we travel together as a family, I rent a car. This time, it was a Buick Lucerne. I can’t think of a better vehicle in which to place my spawn’s vomit than a Buick, however, Thanksgiving was a holiday in which no vomit would spill. I’ve reserved a Grand Cherokee for Christmas. We’ll see how it goes.
by father muskrat
02 Dec 2008 at 13:48
You’re about to get a bunch of pings and referrals. I passed an award your way! Before you get annoyed, I do it better and cleaner than the other guys (like Maverick should’ve done).
by suzer
02 Dec 2008 at 15:21
The best mullet you’ve ever tasted?
by Jennifer
02 Dec 2008 at 16:13
Amazing scenery! Pink Lakes look much more interesting than the Great Salt Lake, which also smells quite foul. BTW–can you get Nature’s Miracle there? Totally wipes out the smell of children’s and pets’ bodily fluids. Our little darling has thrown up on our bed and in her carseat. The odor vanished on contact with whatever is in that solution. Jamie–if you’re reading–back me up on the miracles of Nature’s Miracle! (I should get kickbacks from them.)
by runsdeep
02 Dec 2008 at 16:16
that there penguin. Looks like a cormorant to me. At least it wasn’t a seagull.
Do you get cockatoos down there?
by admin
02 Dec 2008 at 17:46
Runs Deep – Leave it to an Oxford Old Boy to be the pedant. Penguin, cormorant, potato, pot-ah-to.
Wasn’t sure about my birding i.d., but then I’m a botanist. And not a very good one at that.
by SSG
02 Dec 2008 at 19:41
haha too funny. afreeman what’s with you getting awards all over the shop? mentalist. PS I went to send you loadsa galazy caramels but they were way heavy and the postwoman said they would melt so I took them out. d’oh
by runsdeep
02 Dec 2008 at 20:18
cocksucker
by admin
02 Dec 2008 at 20:26
Your mother.
by mickey
03 Dec 2008 at 02:14
Freakin’ beautiful. You keep up the photo posts and you’ll be getting visitors to Oz.
by Jessica K
03 Dec 2008 at 04:49
I know you didn’t ask for advice, but there’s a spray called “Nature’s Miracle” that gets out all kinds of kid stink: pee, puke, and poo. It doesn’t have a funky cover-up smell either. I don’t know if you can get it there or not, but I get it at the pet store.
I’m glad you had such a nice break. We didn’t watch much of the game either… Jeff has watched less football this year than ever. Most of the games have just been too painful!
by Coal Miner's Granddaughter
03 Dec 2008 at 06:09
So very glad you had a wonderful weekend – UGA loss aside. Beautiful pictures, darlin’!
by admin
03 Dec 2008 at 08:58
Maggie – I’m sure we’ll have many more.
Father Muskrat – Good call, puking in a rented American car.
Suzer – The best.
Jennifer – I’ll check out Nature’s Miracle, because we’re clearly going to need something and the backseat still smells a bit like vomit.
SSG – They didn’t melt last time. Tight Scot.
Mickey – It’s got a certain somethin’ somethin’ doesn’t it?
JK – Wow, two Nature’s Miracle recommendations! Definitely going to check it out!
CMGD – Cheers! As the locals say.
by SSG
03 Dec 2008 at 22:41
THCS.
Will send them separetly then. Smells like your mother.
by SSG
03 Dec 2008 at 22:41
know you love it when i mispell thinngs
by Toasty
04 Dec 2008 at 12:15
That is so beautiful, not the vomit, the scenery! And spending that kind of quality time with your family. I am jealous. I would love to get away with just my little fam.
by Jill/Twipply Skwood
05 Dec 2008 at 10:13
Those are way prettier than my beach pictures!!!! Adorable baby too!
I wonder if you have to mix up that Nature’s Miracle stuff? I used to buy this kind that you had to mix up & use within a couple hours of mixing. It was an enzyme that said it actually ATE the puke, so of course the smell went away because the puke was all eaten up by enzymes.
by bluestreak
07 Dec 2008 at 02:54
ahhh, envy, that´s what I feel. Well, except for the vomit part.
Funny, I feel exactly the same way about Dave Matthews.