I was sad to leave KI this morning as I sat on the deck of the ferry heading back to mainland Aus. I was also feeling a bit sore, having filled up the car with petrol, dropped it at the car hire place and run back to the port so as not to miss The Spirit of Kangaroo Island ferry.

I saw a couple of bottle nosed dolphins who swam alongside the ferry for a few mins but was not quick enough to get a photo. On mainland we hopped onto the coach and headed back to central Adelaide. On the way I could see smoke, helicopters and planes who were fighting a bush fire in Adelaide Hills. It was already 39 degs at 9pm and reached 45 later in the day. There was a good wind blowing too, which is not great when it comes to fires.

Our trip to the Barossa Valley was tedious to say the least. The only option (other than car hire/ taxi) was to get a taxi to the train station, slow stopping train to Gawler then coach to Tanunda. A day of travel... We left a Echo beach house at 7:50 and arrived at the Dove Cote 16:00. However, at Adelaide station Lesley had the best iced coffee ever, we stopped at Elizabeth on our train journey, at Gawler station we evidenced a fire (where some numpty had flicked a cigarette butt onto bark chippings...why they don't ban smoking on Total Fire Ban days is beyond me) and we drove passed the home of Jacobs Creek!

Our coach driver was lovely and dropped us at the info centre in Tanunda as we didn't know where our accommodation was. We got a map and headed down the high street with our bags, finding the Dove Cote on a road tucked just behind the main road. We followed the instructions to the key safe and were surprised that they didn't work... What we hadn't realised is that the house is split in two and we were trying to get into the wrong half!! After letting ourselves in whilst still giggling about our error, our noises changed to one of wonder as we investigated our curious accommodation. It had clearly been made up as a romantic getaway for two, complete with heart shaped chocolates on the double bed and candles around the bath! Not being on a romantic getaway we were pleased to see a slightly odd arrangement with a single bed on a mezz level, complete with dramatic curtain to section off the sleeping area! We discussed the interesting aspects of both the cottage layout and the Germanic decor before cracking open a bottle of pink fizz.

A stroll around the village proved to be a disappointment. Both of us had anticipated a hustle bustle of a place with a European style. Maybe because it was so hot, I don't know, but this place was like a ghost town. I got a few. Bits from the food store and we headed home passed Lutheran chapels (this place has 4 of them!) and the Ravens Parlour Bookstore.

When we got home I crashed out for at least 2 hours. When I woke I found that Donks had gone to her posh restaurant that she had so much wanted to visit (1918). I in the other hand whipped up a prawn stir fry and ate it whilst watching Ant and Dec. I hasten to add that TV here is limited and this really was the best option! I popped out briefly into the heat to take some sunset photos and to say hello to the resident doves. I had a spa bath, but put too much bubble bath in as I ended up with at least a 20cm layer of froth!