Australia with the Windahl family: Day 17 Birthday celebration halfway across Australia

We left Barossa Valley rather early in the morning after a wonderful, but rather short stay there. We were now heading for Kimba, South Australia, and kind of the main goal of the whole trip; the celebration of Mikaels 50th birthday. We stopped in Port Augusta for lunch, and then drove straight to Kimba. Or, after taking a wrong turn in one crossing at least, Mikael was leading our small caravan and we kind of thought he knew the way :)

Mikael back in Kimba

Post office in Kimba

Me being halfway across Australia

Going shopping for touristy things

The Big Galah

Rear view of the Big Galah

Arrived at Kimba Gateway hotel we got our rooms and went out for a small sightseeing. We looked at the wooden sculpture The Big Galah, representing a huge rose breasted cockatoo. Let's say it was interesting. We also went to the famous sign, saying Halfway across Australia, and to the painted silos. The motif and the work as such was in a way impressive, but in my opinion a bit too kitschy.

The painted silo in Kimba

In the evening we gathered in the pub, that had been refurbished a bit since Mikael was here last, but still a very nice place. We had a drink before dinner, and was joined by two Fitzgerald brothers: Brendan and Clem, a friend of Mikael that also visited Sweden and Ingarö; Lyn and Brendan's friend Chris. The dinner was really delicious, we had fried prawns, lamb cutlets and pavlova, and good wines with it. Mikael also had pavlova for his 21st birthday that was also celebrated in Kimba, but on the farm Myall Glin. I am thinking it may be a good idea to celebrate a birthday at The Stag's head in Portslade, Sussex, England. That is the pub I used to hang in around my 21st birthday. I must say I am so proud of my brother, he has always done brave things. When I went to England, he went to Australia. He took over the farm. He knows complicated things that I know nothing of, like growing crops or fixing machines. I am so happy he his my brother and now we have celebrated his birthday in a place I have only heard of for 30 years, and now finally got to see, Kimba. I am so glad he invited us to this journey, and it became reality. It was also wonderful to meet the Australian friends, I sat next to Clem, who was very interested in history and we talked about everything from sheep farming to 17th century Dutch expeditions to northern Australia. What an evening!