SOSA Day twelve

So sadly, we've had our last full day. Putting aside thoughts of returning to a wintry London we were up early to board the catamaran, Temptation, for a morning of dolphin spotting.

Thankfully, given my experience on the shark boat (!), the sea was flat calm and it was a beautiful day to be out. We sailed south along the coast keeping an eye out for dolphins and didn't have to wait long. A shout of "Swimmers ready" was called, and then, "Swimmers in" and we launched ourselves off the back of the boat. This was an SAS-type operation where you had to slide quickly and quietly into the water while the boat was still moving and travel down a rope in the water while it was being pulled through your hands: strangely exciting! From there we started snorkelling, all the while being pulled through the water. The dolphins came right up to the boat and swam past the line of swimmers. We got in the water five or six times, and although I didn't get to see much underwater, it was amazing to see their grey fins approach in the water, at the speed at which they swam by.

The boat docked at Holdfast Marina, right next to Glenelg, what better to do than head to the beach?! We had a good wander around Glenelg, which has been developed for the beachgoers ? loads of alfresco restaurants; beachside games and rides (including camels!) and a water park. But really we wanted to work on our last-day tans so Henry and I got down to some serious some sun-worshipping, interspersed with a little bit of sea kayaking. A hard life I know!

At the last possible moment we dragged ourselves back into town just in time to make the start of the Tour Down Under ? Australia?s answer to the Tour de France and Lance Armstrong's return to professional racing. The town centre was mobbed as thousands of people watched the cyclists whizz along the city's roads. It was really cool to see Adelaide so alive. It should have been hard to top last night?s entertainment ? the moonlight cinema (complete with beanbags and picnic) under the stars in the Botanic Gardens ? but tonight was just as much fun. After the race we headed to one of Adelaide's famous pizzerias, and then to buzzing Rundle Street to soak up the party atmosphere. And that is all I remember ? only kidding ? although it certainly was a good night.

So now I'm sitting, black coffee in hand, on the balcony of the hostel. I've had a jam-packed, awesome couple of weeks and I don't want to come home. Every cloud, as they say, has a silver lining and we're off to catch the new Qantas A380 from Sydney. Is it geeky to be excited about that?!

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