Blogs from Coorong National Park, South Australia, Australia, Oceania

With a hot day looming and another big ride ahead of us, we were rudely awoken by a chorus of avian minstrels. Lets see, squawking ducks, shrill seagulls and petulant peacocks were all partners in crime in waking us up. Unimpressed with their "bird behaviour", we headed to the shower block, and spent an eternity under the luxurious hot water. Returning to camp, it was time to take stock of the bike situation. Today would be the start of our second week on the road since we left home. It seems like months since we farewelled family and friends. Time seems to be in a much slower dimension when cycling long tour. Today we would be travelling the Coorong, a 145 kilometre stretch of salt plains from Kingston to Meningie. It would be a good idea ... read more

Great night at The Granites, but we woke to drizzle and an overcast day which persisted for most of the morning which was unfortunate as we were to travel alongside the Coorong on our way to Meningie. This area is very fragile and suffered enormously during the drought and it was great to see how quickly it has changed with the Murray flowing again and the Murray mouth opened. Birdlife was similar to what we saw last year at Lake Eyre, seemingly every type of water bird, including large flocks of Pelicans, (Storm Bird was filmed here all those years ago), through to birds of prey. Half way to Meningie we came to Salt Creek, a campground and combined store/petrol station, so it was in for a coffee stop. What a great little stop it was, ... read more

From Mt Gambier we drove back to the coastline, and visited all the little towns along there - Beachport, Robe, Kingston SE. Taking a photo opportunity at the big Lobster at Kingston of course. Although they were all very beautiful, they weren’t unlike what we’d already seen, and also very expensive - even the National Parks. So we kept driving and ‘accidentally’ discovered a hidden Gem on the Coorong. ‘Coorong Wilderness Lodge’ makes it sound really posh, but the prices were good so it’s here we stay. Driving into the place we encountered many more emus scuttling here there and everywhere in front of the car, and we had a couple hanging around as we were setting up … cute (except for when they look at you like they’re going to poke your eyes out with ... read more

DAY 136 Waking up to a warm morning in the Coorong National Park, the sun was strong and we enjoyed lying in bed and soaking up this sunshine. We had a busy morning sorting a few things out and wandering around this wilderness of a camp site. There were a few campers here, one or two have gone already, We admired the views of the flats. I drove up to the loo’s, they were too far away to walk! They are long drop loos as well, yuck, but at least there are loos here and I have to say that these are some of the cleanest long drop loos I have come across.. When I came back we had a light breakfast of tea and cereal. Packed away the tent and repacked the trailer. Wandering down ... read more