25th August – Adelaide – via Victor Harbour – Coorong – to Kingston.

Left motel at 9 am. Overcast but sunny in patches – pleasant for travelling. Joined the freeway to McLaren Vale. Called at Visitor’s Centre and purchased some small jams, sauces, etc. for gifts. Wine tasting not open until 11 am today, so we didn’t delay as we had quite a way to go.

Continued on freeway to Victor Harbour. Country very attractive, wide, but rolling plains with lots of grain crops including canola in bloom. Victor Harbour quaint, old and interesting history. The on to Goolwa to see the sight of the Hindmarsh Is[land] bridge controversy. Bridge now in progress (not finished, of course). Took photo and pressed on to Strathalbyn where we stopped for lunch at the Victoria on the Park Hotel. Heritage front but extensions done about four years ago to create a very attractive bistro dining room and bar area (some within the original stable area). Scotch fillet with Diane sauce (gravy) and lovely salads with bread sticks, etc. (your choice of salads).

After lunch, pressed on to Murray Bridge and Tailem Bend and then to Wellington to see where the Murray flows into Lake Alexandrina – or where the ferry crosses the Murray just before the river mouth – no tracks out to the river mouth. However, we continued South to Meningie on Lake Albert and then over low swampy land to Coorong. All low flat swampy land but some farming along this stretch.

Entered the Coorong National Park along the Coorong, a long saline lagoon – much larger at points than we expected. Stopped at Jack’s Point to visit lookout and with the help of binoculars saw lots of breeding pelicans and their young. Weather still kind with occasional sun bursts but mainly overcast. Pressed on and arrived at Kingston at about 5:15. Stopped for some mineral water and paper at Kingston shops and then went to Caravan Park to settle into cabin for night.

Incidentals: Lunch, $20.85; Drinks & papers, $7; Jams, juices and spoon, $16.45