A restful holiday in Meningie

We are currently staying in our caravan at Lake Albert Caravan Park, which is on Lake Albert, the smaller lake in the Coorong area.    We are currently about 173 km drive from home, or less if you take a shorter route through the hills.    However, as the crow flies we are probably less than 100 km away from home, but there is an enormous lake, Lake Alexandrina, with the extension of Lake Albert, plus a few hills, between us and home.

The Coorong is a 140 km long coastal lagoon and estuarine wetland system located where the River Murray meets the Southern Ocean.    But more about that in a later blog.     This is an extremely significant area, and one which is often under threat.    It is worthwhile finding the area on Google Earth, to give some idea of the location.     That is if you live elsewhere in Australia or in another country.  

A late afternoon view of Lake Albert.  

We arrived here to find ourselves in the middle of a vintage caravan rally, some with old cars painted to match the caravans.

The rally included dressing up in period costume, competitions, live music, food and plenty of fun.   

The caravan in the photo below was a beautifully restored wooden caravan with a tent attachment.    The modern ones are still popular in Australia.

                                         

The tiny one next to us (no photo) was built in 1947.    Certainly Walter and I would not fit into it, height or length wise.

The blue caravan below was also tiny, with a car to match.   Most of the caravans were similar to the white caravan with the yellow stripe.

Another caravan and car duo, yellow this time.

The blue caravan, folded down, and ready to be towed away.   A slow trip home, I think.

And today, Monday, most of the caravans have left, with only a few dotted around the park.

I love the pathway running beside the caravan park, with its avenue of stubby gum trees.

The caravan park has lots of interesting pieces of sculpture, but I thought the pelican carved into a tree stump was the best.   Someone has left a bone on top.

Piper and I posing in front of a statue of an ostrich.   Now I know we have emus but obviously the original bird was an ostrich that was imported into the country.   Apparently a very small man (about the height of a seven year old) used to ride the ostrich, and spent his time robbing people, with rumours of a few murders too.    

Piper is relaxing beside me as I write this blog, no doubt dreaming of all the birds at the waters edge.   The ones she would love to chase, if only they would step ashore.    As she is on a lead, there would be no chance of doing any damage, but the thought is there.

Tomorrow we are going for a drive along the edge of the Coorong National Park.