Qld, The Pubs, Why Caravanning4 Comments

Follow the Sun, Day 6 – Nindigully

Itching for Hitching

Day 6, Friday 19/7/2019 Lightning Ridge – Nindigully, 6 – 18 Our fingers are cold but it is a glorious morning. Small red ant hills are dotted through the Mulga scrub. The road is quiet, a few wandering sheep and a lot of roadkill, all kangaroos. The crows are busy feasting on the carcasses. We cross into Queensland at Hebel and notice that the iconic pub now allows RV camping, good on ‘em. Around Dirranbandi there are Roos feeding on the roadside grass and a lot of roadkill. We pull up out front of the Nindigully Pub beside the Moonie … Continue reading Follow the Sun, Day 6 – Nindigully

NSW, Places6 Comments

Lounging in Lightning Ridge

Itching for Hitching

July 2019, Lightning Ridge, NSW Lounging around Lightning Ridge Quite possibly the best attractions in town are the “Three pubs in the scrub” which is a drive out to the Grawin opal fields and its iconic pubs , the “Car Door tours” which entails following the trails of coloured car doors hanging from trees to see the sights of the town and the “Chambers of the Black Hand” a hand hewn underground art gallery like no other. Having got down and dirty noodling for opal and enjoying these tours on our previous visit this time we’re here just for a … Continue reading Lounging in Lightning Ridge

Why Caravanning3 Comments

Follow the Sun Day 5 – Lightning Ridge

Itching for Hitching

Day 5, Thursday 18/7/2019 Lightning Ridge 8 – 18 A lay day lie in, aah heaven. We potter about and do a few chores, like filling the water tanks as we’ve got two freedom camps ahead of us. We buy a new bucket in town as the holey one is of little use, unless we want to call it a basket that is. Lightning Ridge is a funny town that you either love or hate and we love it, so much so that three years ago we spent a week here. It is best described as semi desert as little … Continue reading Follow the Sun Day 5 – Lightning Ridge

Freedom Camp, NSW2 Comments

Eumungerie Recreation Reserve

Itching for Hitching

July 2019, Eumungerie, NSW A kilometre or so to the east of the Newell Highway, Eumungerie is 30kms north of Dubbo. The reserve is well signposted and just beyond the pub. A spacious red dirt camp ground there is power, water, toilets and cold showers for $10 per van per night. The onsite caretakers are happy to provide a fire pit and firewood as well. The big plus is that it is well away from the noise of the highway. And of course there are kangaroos in the surrounding paddocks. Continue reading Eumungerie Recreation Reserve

Why Caravanning12 Comments

Follow the Sun Day 2

Itching for Hitching

Day 2 Monday 15/7/2019, Tocumwal to Mirrool, sunny 8 – 15 We slept really well last night, the van was cosy and warm, the morning is barely cold and there are rosellas outside. In town we have a coffee by the fire in Chrissie’s Book Cafe. Tocumwal is looking prosperous and the sun is warming. Yes, we did make the right decision to get away. Up the Newell Highway at Jerilderie, where bush ranger Ned Kelly once held the whole town to ransom, things aren’t looking as rosy. The street is neat and tidy but there are only a few … Continue reading Follow the Sun Day 2

Freedom Camp, NSW3 Comments

Tocumwal Town Beach

Itching for Hitching

July 2019, Tocumwal, NSW A delightful riverside freedom camp situated on a sandy bend of the Murray just behind and walking distance from the town. $10 per night per van gives you a water tap and clean toilets and traffic noise is slight. Courtesy buses are available for transport to the local pubs and clubs. Would we return? Definitely, as it’s an easy drive from Melbourne when heading north to the Newell Highway. And like so many Victorians we always like a spiritual fix of The Mighty Murray and especially in a town as charming as Tocumwal. The kangaroos are … Continue reading Tocumwal Town Beach

Why Caravanning14 Comments

Follow the Sun Day 1

Itching for Hitching

Day 1, Sunday 14/7/2019 Home to Tocumwal 5 degrees at home, 9 at Tocumwal, now that’s an improvement already. It feels like we’re escaping from a house filled with germs. Since we blew the engine on the Jeep and the car and caravan were towed back from Murray Bridge,SA thus aborting our long planned trip to Darwin, the car has been repaired but we both came down with a virus called Para Influenza. Not the flu that we had been vaccinated against but another strain, one that leaves you with only two abilities, sleeping and drinking soup. Not to mention … Continue reading Follow the Sun Day 1

Great Drives26 Comments

Up the Guts – Day 7 – Gutted

Itching for Hitching

Day 7 (though I should no longer count the days) Friday 21/6/19 Home in Melbourne Woody returns the hire car. We get word to say that the car and van have left Murray Bridge. We receive an email, a picture of a camel in the wild. Yes, they found one. Saturday 22/6/19 Still at home It’s a cold wintry morning and I decide to have some marmalade on toast. Oh bugger! The half jar of marmalade is in the van, on a truck, somewhere. We get a call to say that the truck has arrived in Melbourne but will be … Continue reading Up the Guts – Day 7 – Gutted