Month: February 2016

Places, WA4 Comments

Of Time and Tide

Itching for Hitching

The historic Derby wharf stretches out into King Sound in an arc. This was a cattle export wharf in the early days and our van park backs onto what was once the legendary cattle route to the wharf. The causeway across the mud flats that joins the town to the wharf is about a kilometre long and once held a railway line. We arrive at high tide and the pier is busy with fishermen casting lines and tossing crab nets. The wharf cafe is gearing up for curry night. The mangroves are almost submerged in murky water. This place must … Continue reading Of Time and Tide

Caravanning Hints2 Comments

Easyburn Flatpack Fireplace

Itching for Hitching

We have a mate who talks to dogs. They follow him about as though he is the pied piper, so much so that he is now known at happy hours as Daz The Dog Whisperer. Any way DTDW bought an Easyburn flat pack fireplace and with a flick of a match and a puff of smoke he had us humans flocking to his campfire too. It’s a beauty! It is so good in fact that we ordered one online from the manufacturer http://www.easyburn.com.au in Wauchope in NSW. It weighs 7kg and all of the pieces (6 sides and 2 floor … Continue reading Easyburn Flatpack Fireplace

Qld, Showgrounds, When Things Just Go Wrong7 Comments

Where are we?

Itching for Hitching

The showgrounds market is just packing up for the day and the place appears to be somewhat disorganized. There are a lot of horse stables that, by the amount of fresh manure must be in regular use. The van parking area is in a fenced paddock off to one side and there must be thirty vans of all shapes and sizes, but mostly large. Beside us we have a magnificent Winnebago with slide outs and probably worth half a million dollars. On the other side is a somewhat messy van with an old bloke sitting in the sun on a straight backed … Continue reading Where are we?

Freedom Camp, Qld4 Comments

Rocky Creek

Itching for Hitching

“You are here today because of where we were yesterday”… inscription in the Rocky Creek War Memorial Park. Rocky Creek War Memorial Park near Tolga on the Atherton Tableland in Queensland is huge and when we arrive it has about sixty vans in the free camp area but there is room for many more. This is our third visit to this park and out of respect I make a point of reading every single memorial plaque. I learn that not only was this bush park once the site of a 5000 bed military hospital, but there were 2000 staff and … Continue reading Rocky Creek

When Things Just Go Wrong4 Comments

Don’t Mention the ‘L’ Word

Itching for Hitching

Woody’s brother has been staying with us for a few days. That’s Woody the Elder. Being an old caravanner he’s been sleeping on our van for old time’s sake, whilst visiting. During breakfast the other morning he wanders in and casually says “You know you’ve got a leak.” Not “You know you’ve gotta leak…” But “You know you’ve got a leak.” Mid mouthful of muesli I’ve dropped the spoon and we’ve all headed for the door. Overnight it had rained, no pelted with rain, for hours. Woody the Elder being from the tropics probably thought it was just heavy mist … Continue reading Don’t Mention the ‘L’ Word

Qld, The Pubs3 Comments

Club Hotel, Croydon, Qld

Itching for Hitching

Croydon is in the Gulf Country, the Gulf of Carpentaria and yep, you can call that the outback. The GPS tells us that we’re 3.3kms from Croydon but where the hell is it? We emerge from the scrub to find half a dozen wide dusty streets. This is a gold mining town whose heyday ended at the outbreak of the First World War. It now has a few houses, a pub, a take away/ store, an historic general store, a police station and the shire council. In fact the council has to provide all of the other services that are … Continue reading Club Hotel, Croydon, Qld

Vic, Well Bugger Me!7 Comments

Moments in Time

Itching for Hitching

Up early to catch the autumn sunrise on the beach at Marengo, near Apollo Bay, Vic. It’s chilly and invigorating and certainly long pants weather. The rock shelf is tessellated and very flat. I find a family’s names carved in the rock and dated 1913 and what looks like a return visit of the same family in 1936. I can’t stop thinking about them. Who are they? Continue reading Moments in Time

Why Caravanning3 Comments

10 Reasons to Try Caravanning in Retirement

Itching for Hitching

Outdoors. Fresh air, open skies and the chance to camp in the most amazing places, dare I say it again, beside stunning beaches and wild rivers. A simpler life. With little to do other than enjoy your surroundings. Housework is reduced to minutes and mowing the lawn is replaced with sweeping the mat. Shucks that’s hard, not. Relaxation. Throw in a line and catch a fish, get immersed in a good book, raise a toast to a desert sunset and watch in awe of nature’s star show at night. Food tastes better in the outdoors. It’s a fact, just like … Continue reading 10 Reasons to Try Caravanning in Retirement