The day of the storm has finally arrived. This morning at Mount Gambier though the sun was shining and it was a glorious day for the Law family to go exploring. Our first stop once the car was packed and the cabin key returned was the amazing Mount Gambier Library.
I am seriously jealous of the Library Manager Vicki, she took a big risk moving from the Barossa to Mount Gambier a little while back but right now she is at the head of what I must admit really is the very best public library in South Australia. And it all comes down to the one percenters... There is a table set aside for a public jigsaw puzzle, there is an IT training suite actually set up for public IT training (not just a room called the training room), another community meeting room was running sewing machine lessons, the staff that I met were so gosh darn friendly and the Children's Area... WOW!!! The whole area was so well designed, looked so awesome and seven years on still looked welcoming and fun. My kids loved it and I must admit I loved it too... Then of course there is the lovely café with the ammmmmaaaaaazzzzzzziiiiiiinnnnnnnngggggg caffeine smell as you enter and the delicious and delectable delights (all homemade) that can be devoured.
Leaving (green with envy) the library we then headed for the Mount Gambier shopping centre (identical to the Market Place in Murray Bridge as it was also setup by Woolworths). It was sad to see a Masters hardware store there as this company will soon be gone for good. Everything else about this Market Place was pumping busy. Perhaps the rent for shops is cheaper or perhaps just more people shop there because there seemed to be no empty shops what so ever. This is what Murray Bridge could and should look and feel like. Mount Gambier gave us the impression it was a town alive, busy and definitely kicking. My fav thing was the frog in the library where kids borrowed their things... It even croaked every now and then...
From Mount Gambier we then hit the road again on the way to Naracoorte with a surprising stop over in Penola. Not for anything to do with Saint Mary McKillop but for a quirky little zany train 'museum' called Penolaraya. Words cannot describe this experience but please make sure you take the time to drop in on Princess Rose for an hour or two you will never ever EVER forget...
After we left Penolaraya with five smiles on five faces we headed back onto the road for the short stretch between Penola and our next home away from home. As we pulled into Naracoorte three things then happened. Firstly we are in Trev's (my wife's favourite shop) and the power goes out (shopping in the dark was great family fun), then the heavens opened up but only produced annoying drizzle and finally my darling wife told me of the passing of sports commentator Max Walker. A sad afternoon all round... Welcome to Naracoorte!!
Now we sit in the darkness listening to the fury of the storm, fed and satisfied on cold meat and salad sandwiches (makes me wish Naracoorte had a McCue's bakery too) hoping that the power will come back on as promised at 4am but happy I am with the girl I love and our amazing kids. Tomorrow we have playgrounds, caves and other amazing places to explore. Just as long as the rains pass us by... Bring on an early night and yet another day of fun tomorrow.
And just quickly... Farewell Max! Your nose and mustachio will know no equal. Your commentary however...
The Law clan is not done traveling yet... Still more to see and more to discover...
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