Flight (and travel plans) delayed
Awake and moving at 7 am, we had no need to rush. Our rental car was due back at 9 am and our flight to Adelaide was at 10:05 am. We showered, ate breakfast, and relaxed over morning puzzles, news, and social media.
Sometime before we needed to leave for the airport I had a notice from Qantas that our flight was delayed until 11 am. No matter. We were at the airport just before 9 am to drop the rental car. There was no one at the Thrifty counter so we dropped the keys through the hole in the counter. We had driven 561 km over the weekend but pickup and return times had required 3 days rental so we were still inside the 200 km per day allowance.
Checkin was not available so we sat and waited until it opened a little before 10 am. Once our bags were checked we bought coffees and sat some more. The flight from Adelaide arrived on its new schedule a little before 11 am and an announcement invited folk to move to the departure lounge. Soon after that the Qantas staff advised that the captain had asked us to wait. The next announcement advised that there was a mechanical problem that would require an engineer. They were going to fly one from Adelaide on a chartered flight.
Assuming they found an engineer quickly it seemed unlikely there would be action for at least an hour and then time for whatever fix might be required. We walked back out to the cafe area to wait.
We should have been collecting our Mighty Camper in Adelaide about then. I called them to say that we were stuck on Kangaroo Island but hoped to be there later today before they closed at 3 pm. Failing that we would be there to collect our camper tomorrow. We settled down to wait some more.
The news got worse. Around noon the Qantas staffer came around to announce that the engineer would be on a chartered flight arriving at 2 pm and we might hope to be away around 2:30 pm. She provided $15 vouchers for use at the cafe and we used those to buy ham and cheese toasties for lunch which Majella topped up with coffees.
I called Mighty again to confirm that we would not be there before they closed at 3 pm today but expected to be in tomorrow morning to collect our van. I then called the caravan park in Clare to tell them we would not be arriving to occupy our booked space tonight but expected to be there tomorrow.
Assuming that we would get to Adelaide sometime later today I began looking for accommodation for tonight. There were no rooms available in the airport hotel and no hotels or motels near the Mighty location. Instead I booked an apartment at The Oaks Glenelg. If we have to stay somewhere other than in the camper van it may as well be by the sea where can walk on the pier and find dinner.
Just after 2 pm there was an announcement that the charter flight with the engineer was arriving and we should all move into the departure lounge so there would be no delay once the plane was sorted. At 2:30 pm the door to the tarmac was opened in anticipation of boarding.
Ten minutes later we were aboard and seated. The engines started but our plane did not move for several minutes more; apparently there was air traffic to negotiate though we saw no other aircraft. When we did move we taxied out to the runway and to the far end before turning and taking to the air.
The walk from the plane to baggage claim in Adelaide was far enough that our bags arrived as we did. Out of curiosity as we waited to disembark I had searched for public transport options to Glenelg. There was a bus scheduled in a few minutes that terminated near our hotel. Majella had grabbed a trolley which I pushed with our bags to the stop. There was a short wait until our bus arrived and we boarded. I tapped my VISA card for the 2 hour regular fare but the driver asked Majella if she had a seniors card and told her she could ride free. I must look younger.
Our bus stopped about 100 metres short of the Oaks and we set off with our bags. We had not gone more than 20 metres when my phone rang. It was Emily with some news. After speaking with her we walked on. By 4:20 pm we were in our room and thinking about going for a walk without our bags.
The famous Glenelg pier was closed so we walked down the street with the tram tracks that ends at the pier. It took me a while to catch on that Majella had a purpose in mind, replacing the stylish but packable hat she had left on a train in Japan. She had bought that hat at a pharmacy in Adelaide on our 2018 trip so we visited several pharmacies as well as clothing stores on our way down one side of the street. On the way back along the other side we eventually found a pharmacy with a hat that met requirements. Deal done we continued walking back to the pier.
Majella was so pleased with her purchase that we had to celebrate. The Grand had an outdoor area with a view to the sunset over the water and we found seats there. She wanted a margarita but they were not doing those and she settled for a mojito instead. I had a glass of red as we sat to enjoy the fading light.
As the sun sank below the horizon we walked out closer to the beach for the last view. For dinner we returned to Fourth which we had seen along the street soon after Majella’s purchase. Its name derives from the current proprietors being the fourth generation in a family business. Majella had the Spencer Gulf Kingfish Ceviche (Kingfish Ceviche, Grapefruit & Coconut Cream Dressing, Shaved Fennel & Micro Herb) and I had the Lamb Backstrap (Grilled Lamb Backstrap, Miso Mayo Fried Chickpeas & Chimichurri). Both were excellent, tasty and not too large. We shared a side of Triple Cooked Vinegar Salt Chat Potatoes and I had a glass of shiraz.
We walked back up the street and along the foreshore to our room. We had not finished the day where we had planned but we had enjoyed the experience and our dinner was undoubtedly better than we might have prepared in the camper van. Tomorrow is a new day and we will be trying to get back on our planned schedule.
