More Bay to Birdwood

There were over 1200 vehicles and I clicked away until my 2 Gb memory card was full; about 400 photos. Here are a few to show the variety of vehicles taking part in the rally.










Military vehicles










Utility vehicles










Large and small










Beautifully restored and not quite .....

Bay to Birdwood

Yesterday was the annual Bay to Birdwood car rally. Cars travel from West Beach, through Glenelg (The Bay) to finish at The National Motor Museum at Birdwood; a distance of 72 km.

As the procession of about 1200 vehicles travelled the route they were admired and cheered on by an estimated 100,000 or more people. This year's event was open to vintage (pre December 1955) vehicles.










These photos were taken on Anzac Highway which links Glenelg and Adelaide City.

Save the Murray Rally

Several hundred protesters gathered in Adelaide's Victoria Square today for a rally to save the River Murray. One of the key focuses of the rally was the Lower Lakes system. Experts say that 60 gigalitres is needed now to save the lakes from 'dying'. They say that water is available upstream and should be released.










Click here to see the effects of the lack of water in one of my earlier posts.

A380 visits Adelaide

Today the world's biggest commercial aircraft recently acquired by Qantas landed in Adelaide for the first time. Thousands of people took up vantage points at and near the airport to get a glimpse of the big 'bird'.

It was one of a series of training and promotional flights around Australia before it commences its first commercial service between Melbourne and Los Angeles on 20 October.

Lit up again

Adelaide University's Bonython Hall was also illuminated to raise awareness for breast cancer research. This building was featured on this blog earlier this year during the Festival of Arts when it was 'painted' with light the Northern Lights display.

Coincidentally another advocate for raising awareness and funds for cancer made the news here yesterday. Lance Armstrong is set to return to professional cycle racing next year and is going to enter in South Australia's Tour Down Under in January.

Illumination for Breast Cancer Research

This is the Hawke Building at the City West campus of the University of South Australia (UniSA).

Adelaide's three universities are participating in a global campaign to raise awareness for breast cancer research. Across Australia 14 universities illuminated some of their buildings in glowing pink; an initiative of the National Breast Cancer Foundation.

Here is an extract from an email sent to UniSA staff by Professor Peter Høj (Vice Chancellor and President)

"The National Breast Cancer Foundation is the leading community-funded national organisation in Australia raising money for research into the prevention, detection and treatment of breast cancer.

Australian Universities are being illuminated to represent the critical role of research in increasing our understanding of breast cancer.

I am proud that UniSA is taking part in this international campaign that draws public attention to the vital role research plays in developing cures, prevention strategies and treatments for devastating diseases such as breast cancer. This is one scenario where money matters - strong investment in the research undertaken at universities and other institutions will help diminish the impact of this terrible disease."

Here is a link to the National Breast Cancer Foundation's website - http://www.nbcf.org.au/

ABC Wednesdays - J for Jacaranda

Jacarandas in bloom are very attractive indeed; I took this photo last November in a suburb near mine. The Jacaranda is native to sub-tropical areas in South America; but as you can see it flourishes here.

To find out more about ABC Wednesdays and see other participants' contributions go to the ABC Wednesdays' site or to see direct links to their own sites go here.

Olympics Happy Homecoming

After the procession along King William Street the Olympic athletes were presented on a stage in Victoria Square.

Speeches were made thanking the athletes, the sponsors and the supporters, and several South Australian Olympians were interviewed.

The athletes then happily obliged their supporters by signing autographs.

Happy Homecoming Parade

Last week Australia officially welcomed home the athletics that represented us in the Olympics. Parades were held in major cities around the country and Thursday was our turn.

Headed by the South Australian Police Band, the procession proceeded along King William Street to Victoria Square.

Lion dance and moon lantern parade

Phu Dong Lion Dancers provided a lively bit of entertainment. There are two very fit and athletic young men inside the 'lion'.

This was closely followed by schools & community groups parading their beautiful hand-made lanterns through the park.

Taiko Drumming

The Atsui-No-Taiko Japanese Drumming ensemble held a Taiko drumming workshop in progress at the Moon Lantern Festival; interesting and fun.

Later in the evening they performed on stage.

Buddhist Blessing in the Rotunda

Another event at the Moon Lantern Festival was a Buddhist blessing in the Rotunda. The ceremony was led by monks from the South Australian Zhu-Lin Temple.

After the blessing there was a procession of the worshippers through the park.

OzAsia Festival

This was the setting for the Moon Lantern Festival; Elder Park, on the banks of the River Torrens. At this event the OzAsia Festival, which runs from 14th to 28th September, was officially opened. During this fortnight a variety of performances are scheduled in venues throughout the City; a cultural exchange with some of our regional neighbours.

Dressed in traditional dress from Vietnam these girls delighted the audience with their performance.

ABC Wednesdays - I for Indian Rhythms

Indian Rhythms (tabla, singing & harmonium) with Jay Dabgar & Sunny Invrageed Singh was one of the stage acts at the Moon Lantern Festival last Sunday. The free event held on the banks of the River Torrens was the official opening of the 2008 OzAsia Festival. I will be posting more about this event over the next few days.

Adelaide is a cosmopolitan city and has migrants from many countries. Currently Indians are the second largest group of immigrants settling in South Australia, providing skilled workers in many areas.

To find out more about ABC Wednesdays and see other participants' contributions go to the ABC Wednesdays' site or to see direct links to their own sites go here.

A frosty morning

Brrr.. it was a very cold night; I nearly froze - my sleeping bag was totally inadequate. The joys of camping! This shot was taken at the Mt Pleasant Caravan Park.

On the road again

Last week I joined a group of 12 other touring cyclists on a week of riding and camping in the Adelaide Hills. We were blessed with beautiful spring weather apart from one very cold night and a sprinkle of rain on one other.

Finale

The Royal Adelaide Show is over for another year; patrons were treated to a fireworks and laser display at the end of the program in the main arena.

Song and dance

At the Show there are two stages featuring a variety of non stop free entertainment. One act I saw was Frequency One, a highly entertaining trio. Their performance was vibrant; energetic dance routines and fabulous vocal harmonies.

Pigs Do Fly

Caught in mid air; as a finale to Tom Vandeleur's pig racing show, one of his pigs takes a dive into a pool and then races down a ramp.

These pigs complete their 45 metre race in about 6 seconds; on my calculations that's 27 km/hr!

The Big Dipper

One of the most popular spots at the Show, especially with the younger folk, is the Rides and Carnival area. New to the Show this year is a loop coaster.

ABC Wednesdays - H for Horses

This week I have been featuring activities at the Royal Adelaide Show which I attended on Friday. Throughout the day in the main arena were some horse trials and show jumping; here is a horse and rider competing in a cross country event.

This is a rather special horse; a Clydesdale which is part of the Coopers Brewery Clydesdale Team. They can often be seen in the streets of Adelaide pulling a cart, reminiscent of the times when Thomas Cooper delivered his beers to Adelaide households using a cart pulled by Clydesdales. Now the Clydesdale tradition continues on for promotional purposes and a public relations exercise.

To find out more about ABC Wednesdays and see other participants' contributions go to the ABC Wednesdays' site or to see direct links to their own sites go here.

Bush craft

One pavilion had "historic" displays; spinning and weaving, making horse shoes, manual sheep sheering and lots more. This "old timer" is making bush furniture and his mate is showing how they lit fires before matches were invented; all very interesting (and entertaining).