Possible trip to Adelaide

[Tomo]

G'day all,

 

This is not certain, but there could be a possibility of me doing a weekend trip to Adelaide around the 21st-23rd October for a Conference - wx dependant of course also. Depending on how many mates I can get as to what aircraft I will be taking, but I do have access to a C206, so that could be it if I get 5 or so. But that's not my question, the question is... what airfield should I look at landing at, and if so is there any place to park/tie down somewhere?

 

The conference we're attending is at Balaklava, but we would be getting picked up, so doesn't really matter where exactly.

 

 

[.Evan.]

Parafield Airport is the smaller GA airfield close to Adelaide. It's on the right side of town to head up to Balaklava.

 

Is there a local aerodrome closer though?

 

 

[Guest Andys@coffs]

Gawler. search for Adelaide Soaring club for all details. Parafield = private owned consortium=$$$$$, gawler = a beer or 2 in landing fees, same again overnight and depending on when you get there and leave possibility of fuel as well. Hire cars available in nearby gawler, taxis to gawler if noone around. Given many retired are into gliders if its a reasonable time of the day there will be someone around

 

Andy

 

 

[Gnarly Gnu]

The brand spanking new Clare valley strip of course!

 

Or Gawler but the Clare strip is a bit closer. Alternatively there should be plenty of empty paddocks around Balaklava ;-) Have a great time...

 

 

[Guest SAJabiruflyer]

.... or Goolwa where some really nice people hang about, they even have a vehicle you can hire and take a short drive to Balaklava.

 

 

[dunlopdangler]

Then you could also see if some kind soul would pick you up from the airstrip at Balaklava...from memory was also used as a gliding field..don't think they had fuel but you never know...

 

 

[Guest Vern]

You may wish to contact the Balaklava Gliding Club http://www.bgc.asn.au/ at Whitwarta 11 km from Balaklava who may be able help.

 

Vern

 

 

[dunlopdangler]

There you go...my grey matter isn't that grey afterall....Vern got the link for you

 

 

[Deskpilot]

.... or Goolwa where some really nice people hang about, they even have a vehicle you can hire and take a short drive to Balaklava.

"short drive" gee I wonder what you call a long drive. There again, Tomo would see God's country(State) in more detail.

 

Never been there but I reckon Clare as well.

 

 

[Gnarly Gnu]

SA is God's country eh? Hmm... this quote comes to mind:

 

Genesis 3 "....cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life; Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee" :cool_shades:

 

Haha don't worry about me, just missing Alaska.

 

 

[Guest SAJabiruflyer]

"short drive" gee I wonder what you call a long drive. There again, Tomo would see God's country(State) in more detail.Never been there but I reckon Clare as well.

Ha ha, yeah I was used to driving 600km every weekend, I figured 200km to Balaklava was easy. :peepwall:

 

 

[Tomo]

Awesome, thanks guys. I've seen the Balaklava strip marked on the WAC chart, but didn't know much about it, that link is full of good information. It'll probably be the place of landing if I do the trip since it's basically right where I want to be! :thumb_up:

 

Will let you know if I'm doing the trip, would love too!

 

 

[Jabiru Phil]

Tomo.

 

I flew to Balak some time ago. There was a caretakers living on site. He kept an eye on the plane.

 

Also Balak weather is usually much better than Adelaide and no serious LSA

 

Accommodation would be the main worry unless you already have in hand.

 

Phil.

 

 

[Tomo]

Thanks Phil, sounds like a good place then!

 

Accom is all sorted if I get there

 

 

[Guest SAJabiruflyer]

What if it's one of those "Have to be there" situations. I'd fly commercial or drive ;)

 

 

[Tomo]

Indeed Brett, what do they say - "Time to spare, go by air"

 

It's not crucial if I can't get there, but would be good fun to fly myself :big_grin:

 

 

[kaz3g]

Ha ha, yeah I was used to driving 600km every weekend, I figured 200km to Balaklava was easy. :peepwall:

Reminds me of something happened to me coming back from Alice a few years ago.

 

Actually, it was 1988 and I had been working with the Bicentennial Celebrations mob on their cattle drive. Had a great time and was a tad sad to be leaving. There was big farewell of the participants at the old airport as we all headed off on our respective ways. I confess I had a few Bundies to soften the blow along with all the rest.

 

Boarding the aircraft was a bit of a hoot as I struggled up the gangway with a Syd Hill poley on one shoulder and my stockwhip and bridle on the other (Qantas was making the most of their sponsorship and gave us a free carry-on baggage allowance to cover these). I was a bit chirpy when I sat down next to this enormous Texan and his diminutive wife who had just been to see the Rock.

 

He had on a spotless 10 gallon white hat while I was wearing a very beaten Akubra with the Droving Australia brand burned into the side above the brim. After a brief discussion on the merits of our respective head pieces, he asked about the droving thing and the country we had been in. I had actually done a muster of the former Muckatty Station north of Tennant Creek with the crew and a bunch of school kids who were along for the experience. I explained it wasn't a big place but probably covered around 800 square miles. From there the discussion went to the station I formerly owned in WA, the conversation lubricated by the incessant supply of those tiny bottles of Bundy they have on big aircraft.

 

Tex was after my hat.. at least that's my story! He told me all about places in Texas -- God's own country -- how big they are and how they grow bigger beasts than anything he had seen in Oz. A couple of guys from the drive were lounging back in their seats nearby half asleep but with an ear cocked to monitor the Southernor's drawl and an eye undoubtedly focused on his wife's most attractive parts. From cattle we naturally got onto horses.

 

Well, the Quarter Horse was apparently the best in the world. I suggested the Whaler/Australian Stock Horse would beat one hands down for endurance and told him how I had just ridden several hundred miles in less than a fortnight while working cattle into the mustering yards. Tex was not to be outdone.

 

He put all his effort into upholding the honour of Texas, its size and its bloodstock and told me (and half the plane) about how he rode his favourite horse for weeks on end and even then didn't get to the far boundary of his property.

 

One of the older fellas still sprawled in his seat, tipped his hat back and laconically offered.... "I had a horse like that once but I shot it".

 

I don't even remember stopping to change planes in Adelaide!

 

 

[Guest SAJabiruflyer]

Reminds me of something happened to me coming back from Alice a few years ago.....

 

I don't even remember stopping to change planes in Adelaide!

Great story, thanks for sharing! Reminds ME of that old joke about Kerry Packer and a Texan in the Casino with the Texan prattling on about how big his farm was, how much money he had.. and Kerry Packer saying "i'll toss ya for it"