The Vacation Day 11 - Kangaroo Island Part 2

The next morning we had a new bus driver, Ron Buick. After he found out we were from America he told us how he was related to the founder of the Buick company. A great great great something or other. Unfortunately, he said his American relatives seem to have forgotten to send the money home.

Our first stop of the day was the Emu oil distillery, which made, you got it emu oil. Actually, the main product was eucalyptus oil which is supposed to be good as an antiseptic, cough syrup, paint remover, and millions of other uses. It also makes soap smell very nice, if a bit medicinal. While there we got cornered by the very talktive owner who had very strong opinions on American politics, Bush, and the war. He kept talking to us all the way onto the bus. Lots of fun but we started holding the tour up. Ron stepped in and told him to let us go. He finally conceded, but yelled goodbye to us as we pulled away. Ron said he was a good guy but never knew when to shut up. And he said on the side, that he was perfectly allowed to say such a thing because the man was his cousin! Lots of folks on Kangaroo Island were related, almost like the island was a giant family compound.

On to Remarkable Rocks, that were really remarkable. Naming conventions are not very original in Australia. If it was a landmark it was Great something or other or Remarkable something else. If it was a building it was So and So's building. They've got so many really cool big things that I guess after a while they became desensitized. The Rocks were very cool. Huge formations that had been carved by water and wind. We spent some fun time climbing around like we were kids on a jungle gym and taking pictures, and then we were off.

We made a stop at the tourists center for tea and Andy and I each tried a ViceCream. There was a big stink over these ice cream novelties a little before we came. The flavors were things like Kahluha and Screwdrivers, and Cranberry and Vodka. The opponents argued that these would make kids think alcohol was fun, and addict them to it at an early age. The makers argued that it wouldn't and hasn't rum raisin been a popular flavor for dedcades? So of course we had to try some. We both had a cranberry vodka, which just tasted like cranberry because vodka doesn't taste like much, epecially in an ice cream bar.

Last stop was the Sheep Dairy. It was funny watching the sheep come in to be milked. Apparently each sheep had their own assigned spot. Self-assigned according to the dairy worker. If they couldn't get in their spot they'd go back out and wait until the next batch was let in. Very stubborn animals, sheep. The cheeses were fantastic, making me wish we could have brought some home.

After the dairy it was a long drive to the ferry, then an hour ferry ride to another bus back to Adelaide, then a taxi ride to the hotel, from the previous hotel where we'd left the bags. Then collapsing on the bed to sleep.