Moose on the Loose: Bye Sydney, Hello Adelaide

On our last night in Sydney we endulged in a fast food splurge at Betty's Burgers. Scott's mom's name was Betty, so it was a natural choice. There were two restaurants nearby - one down the hill three blocks and one up hill one block and over two blocks. We went up (easier to come down after dinner).

Our menu = deluxe burgers, a shared mini crock of fries,

a thick chocolate shake and a Fat Yak!

We saw this on the menu when doing research online and had to try. It's a pale ale, made by a brewery in Melbourne (we might just have to go check that out next month). We particularly liked the label on the side... BIG & BOLD, BUT APPROACHABLE.

For our trip to the airport we did our first every Uber ride. (I know, you youngsters are laughing, but this was monumental.) There was initial panic when we got a message our driver was running 25 minutes late, but Uber stepped in and rerouted a driver making a nearby drop off and we actually left 2 minutes before our desired pick up time.

We are getting good about organizing for rides... everything ready (including the scooter folded up for transport),

I wasn't too sure about the whole process when we went west and then north, when I knew the airport was south of us. It turned out that the driver was aiming for one of the thruways that has limited access points.

Morning commute traffic was at its peak so it took a bit to get out of the CBD.

Sitting at one stop light, I saw this guy in shorts (on a workday) drinking coffee sitting all alone on the sidewalk. The other tables were in the sun, so he chose to drag table and chair into the shade about 25 feet up the sidewalk.

It's kind of a statement about Sydney... multi-cultural population who enjoys simple pleasures done in their own way. Note how he ended up next to a sign telling everyone to become an everyday athlete.

Got to the airport in plenty of time since we weren't sure what Australian domestic flight check in and security would be. Piece of cake. Scott even said he enjoyed the pat down!

Of course since we were early, our plane was late. The incoming flight from Melbourne didn't get there until after our flight was originally supposed to leave. Qantas has some big rules about lithium batteries. We had to get permission from the main office to bring the scooter battery. We watched as a Qantas engineer removed the lithium batteries from two "smart" suitcases.

When we arrived in Adelaide and they announced the time, we were in for a surprise. They are one half hour behind Sydney. I think that's the first time I have ever experienced a half-time zone change.

The flight attendant had told us she hoped to have the scooter brought to the front of the airplane for us. Turns out they emptied the plane from both the front exit and the rear door, so being in row 20 we were the last ones on the plane. They still hadn't found it when we got to the front. We got up to the gate in time to see it coming out of the cargo hold. (Qantas needs some lessons from Alaska Air about gate checking mobility aids!!!) Their excuse was it was in the front hold and they started unloading fromt he rear.

We stepped out of the airport into a HEAT WAVE!!!! The official high was 37 C. (To convert that to F, multiply by 1.8 and then add 32... that works out to 98.6 F,)

Our apartment for the next week is in Glenelg, a beach suburb of Adelaide. We dropped the bags, headed for the grocery store (in the heat) and holed up in the air conditioning until the sun started seting into the sea. We are at the south edge of the continent... and the apartment faces the sun. It is supposed to be 40 (over 100) tomorrow, and maybe Friday before rain moves in. We will take it easy.