Month: September 2016

Qld4 Comments

Hebel

Itching for Hitching

The Hebel general store is famous for its pies but we are a little early. The old girl was built in 1897 and the wooden floors are worse than the road, where the floor has given way altogether there are large metal patches. Just to get to the counter in the rear to place your order one must walk up hill, then down and up again, one wonders if they’ve ever contemplated re stumping. We’re concerned about the shortcut road across to Nindigully but the waitress assures us that it is a bit rough and skinny but ok. Oh Good. Morning … Continue reading Hebel

Caravanning Hints6 Comments

To View or Not to View

Itching for Hitching

We camp beside the Barwon River near Walgett around lunch time. We have a nice view of the river. Views are not for our mate though she parks back down the track with the van in a clearing and facing north. That’s north to pick up the satellite signal and clear of overhanging gum trees. After much grumbling and cursing the signal is finally located and she retreats to her van. We spend the afternoon sitting beside our van catching up on the Saturday papers, reading quietly in the sun entertained by the distant sounds of a footy tragic shouting … Continue reading To View or Not to View

Caravan Parks, Farm Stays, Point of Interest, QldLeave a comment

A Lesson in Ovine Plurals

Itching for Hitching

At Jondaryan Woolshed on the Darling Downs of Queensland we don our winter woollies and gum boots and join a bunch of Japanese school kids, teenagers, for a sheep shearing demonstration using hand shears. The poor old sheep is being shorn for the first time and doesn’t utter a single baa. Interesting to us is that all discussion by the teachers is in English and there is a bit of English instruction bandied about “one lamb, two lambs, one sheep, two sheep, no S.” Then we learn that if a sheep is shorn with wet wool the wool will self … Continue reading A Lesson in Ovine Plurals

Overheard6 Comments

A Load of Bull Dust

Itching for Hitching

The red soil of the outback is known as bull dust. It’s red, it’s very fine and once it gets into your car, caravan or even a suitcase it’s almost impossible to clean out. ‘Caravanner’ drives the inland road through WA in the brand new van. He complains to the missus that it’s not dust proof like the old one before realising that he left the roof hatch open causing the dust to be sucked in through the vent at the bottom of the door and out through the roof. They’re still getting the dust out a year later. Continue reading A Load of Bull Dust

Caravanning Hints4 Comments

I’m Working on a Trilogy

Itching for Hitching

We left home without any fruit or vegetables as on our first night we would be going into a fruit fly free zone. After buying a pack of mushrooms in the country supermarket and then wondering what to do with them, some frozen chicken and a bottle of red became Coq au Vin. Continuing on the theme the next night was lamb ribs, pot roasted with Kecap Manis (Indonesian sweet soy sauce), balsamic vinegar, rosemary and olive oil. This was christened Lamb au Van. What next? Caravan Kofta perhaps? Continue reading I’m Working on a Trilogy