Month: November 2015

Qld, The Road Less TravelledLeave a comment

The Gillies Range Road

Itching for Hitching

The Gillies Range Road in Queensland drops sharply from the Atherton Tableland to Gordonvale near Cairns down on the coast. We had travelled this road several times and had wondered why there was a sign announcing Top gate and another Bottom Gate. It is an extremely steep and winding road and when descending it has stunning views for the passenger but hopefully not the driver. The story goes that in the old days there were 612 hairpin bends. The road would be opened for one way traffic going up for 90 minutes, then traffic would be reversed for 90 minutes. If … Continue reading The Gillies Range Road

Taking Directions, VicLeave a comment

GPS

Itching for Hitching

With each trip we learn a little more and we decide that we need more in the way of maps than an outdated Atlas and two Camps Guides, oh and of course Google Maps on the iPhone. We now have our new Garmin GPS plugged in and it has been updated with the most recent maps as well as the Free Camps from the OZ Camps web site, which show as Points of Interest on the GPS. Wow there’s nothing stopping us now! She’s even directing us around our own suburb, this is a little disconcerting, “no, we are not … Continue reading GPS

Caravan Parks, QldLeave a comment

We’re a Little Tight in Bowen

Itching for Hitching

At Bowen we check into the tightest park we’ve ever stayed in. There are only centimetres to spare between each awning and the next van. Even though we have a drive through site (that’ll be $3 extra thanks) it takes quite a bit of juggling to squeeze in. Our neighbour pops in for a chat on our metre wide strip of grass and we are being bitten by midges. Tiny little black dots with a pin prick nip. “Oh” she says “they don’t really bite they just piss under your skin. Then in a few days all this liquid comes out … Continue reading We’re a Little Tight in Bowen

Qld, The PubsLeave a comment

Mulgildie Pub

Itching for Hitching

Coming down the Burnett Highway in Queensland, we discuss our craving for a pub roast and the fact that we haven’t seen a pub advertising cheap meals in a long time. Lo and behold at the next town the Mulgildie Pub has a board out for $10 roasts. We can’t get inside quick enough. The old wooden pub is painted bright green with quirky drawings everywhere. Inside it is a feast of art and craft for sale. The ladies loo has ducks painted on the seat and the men’s loo is a little scarier with barbed wire. We sit on … Continue reading Mulgildie Pub

When Things Just Go WrongLeave a comment

In a Bit of Hot water

Itching for Hitching

It is a perfectly warm night in Port Denison, WA. Perfect to have the windows and hatches open and we listen to the crash of the waves against the rock wall as we fall asleep. I wake at 6:00am to the sound of running water that sounds like someone has taken the bungs out of their boat. But it keeps on gushing and gushing, they would have sunk with that much water. I wake Woody to tell him that it must be raining, hard. We leap out of bed and into water! A hose fitting has sheared off the water … Continue reading In a Bit of Hot water

Freedom Camp, Top Spots, VicLeave a comment

Ayson’s Reserve

Itching for Hitching

We often camp at Ayson’s Reserve just outside of Elmore in Victoria. It is on the Campaspe River. Ayson’s is the original site of the Elmore Field Days before it became too large. It is perfectly flat with enough room for what looks like a hundred camps. There are toilets and a dump point. It is well grassed and maintained and stretches for about a kilometre along the river bank. This is a perfect spot to be in hot or cool weather. In summer you wake to the screech of cockatoos and the smell of hot dry bush. Which way … Continue reading Ayson’s Reserve

CB Radios, QldLeave a comment

QNP

Itching for Hitching

We’re travelling through Queensland in convoy with friends. Moura is a purpose built coal mining town, neat, tidy and quite spread out. As we leave town we pass the Queensland Nitrogen Plant. Being city slickers and wondering what this large plant is and what QNP stands for, we get to chatting over the UHF radio with our friends. Suddenly a voice comes on the air and explains. “It’s Nitro.”  We’ve all drawn a blank and asked “what’s Nitro?” “Fuckin’ fertiliser mate.” Says the voice. These UHF radios are really handy. Continue reading QNP

Vic, When Things Just Go WrongLeave a comment

Bushfires

Itching for Hitching

Never before had I considered proximity to an airport and a hospital to be important when caravanning. In February 2014 we were enjoying a caravan club weekend muster at the Park Lane Top Tourist caravan park in Traralgon, Vic. On the Friday a fire started in Yallourn North and we were entertained by the fire fighting helicopters and fixed wing aircraft buzzing overhead. On the Saturday we were hunkering down to a serious heat wave and by mid morning on Sunday the heat was extreme and a strong wind was rocking the caravans. There were fires at nearby Bruthen and … Continue reading Bushfires

Qld, Well Bugger Me!Leave a comment

Cheaper Than Bricks

Itching for Hitching

In the Queensland town of Barcaldine there is a corrugated iron Masonic Temple that has a weatherboard front. The boards are cleverly painted in a geometric pattern to resemble bricks. It is so good that you have to touch it to see which is actually the edge of the board and which is an illusion. They were certainly resourceful in these parts. Mind you I’ll bet I gave the locals a laugh standing there in the hot sun rubbing my hands over the front of their building. Continue reading Cheaper Than Bricks