It’s a long way to the top, Day 75 – Chillin’ in Charleville

January 19, 2021January 17, 2021 Itching for Hitching

Day 75 Tuesday Aug 19th 2014 Charleville It was a cool night but so good for sleeping. We have a lazy morning touring the town except for Double or Nuthin’ who goes off to tour the old US Air Force Base. It turns into a perfect day for a quiet lunch in the sun. We notice that the car’s front sensor has come adrift so it gets clipped to the nudge bar to be re seated when we get home. Shirley Temple and I book a night tour of the heavens at the Cosmos Centre but heaven forbid, it turns … Continue reading It’s a long way to the top, Day 75 – Chillin’ in Charleville

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It’s a long way to the top, Day 74 – Getting excited about wool scouring

January 18, 2021January 28, 2021 Itching for Hitching

Day 74 Monday Aug 18th 2014 Blackall to Charleville Mist rises off the Barcoo in the early morning and I can barely contain my excitement about being here. A visit to the Blackall Wool Scour which is Australia’s last steam … Continue reading It’s a long way to the top, Day 74 – Getting excited about wool scouring

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It’s a long way to the top, Day 73 – Barky & Blackall

January 17, 2021January 28, 2021 Itching for Hitching

Day 73 Sunday Aug 17th 2014 Longreach to Blackall We had another cold night, but it is dry. The rain has moved on and is now battering the east coast. The road to Barcaldine is littered with dead kangaroos. Barky … Continue reading It’s a long way to the top, Day 73 – Barky & Blackall

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It’s a long way to the top, Day 72 – Qantas Founders Museum

January 16, 2021January 28, 2021 Itching for Hitching

Day 72 Saturday Aug 16th 2014 Longreach The rain has stopped leaving the park a sea of puddles. We visit the Qantas Founders Museum and spend five hours. ‘The Spirit of Australia’ could not be a more apt slogan to … Continue reading It’s a long way to the top, Day 72 – Qantas Founders Museum

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It’s a long way to the top, Day 71 – Rain, glorious rain

January 15, 2021January 13, 2021 Itching for Hitching

Day 71 Friday Aug 15th 2014 Longreach We all bundle into the car and visit The Stockman’s Hall of Fame. It is an exceptional museum and an insight into the life of people on the land. It covers so many aspects of Australia’s history and it takes us half a day to see it all. It has rained steadily since last night. The red dust has turned to slippery, sticky mud. I can now see how the unmade roads around here quickly become impassable. Just turning around at the end of a residential street we churn up ruts in deep … Continue reading It’s a long way to the top, Day 71 – Rain, glorious rain

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It’s a long way to the top, Day 70 – Longreach

January 14, 2021January 13, 2021 Itching for Hitching

Day 70 Thursday Aug 14th 2014 Ilfracombe to Longreach We wake to a bright orange sunrise and the air smells of the bush. Within an hour the wind is howling from the east, dusty and unpleasant. We drive the grand … Continue reading It’s a long way to the top, Day 70 – Longreach

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It’s a long way to the top, Day 69 – The movable towns of Qld

January 13, 2021January 28, 2021 Itching for Hitching

Day 69 Wednesday Aug 13th 2014 Ilfracombe There are clouds gathering and rain is forecast but the locals are reluctant to talk about it. They’re in the midst of the worst drought in 100 years. The town has an artesian … Continue reading It’s a long way to the top, Day 69 – The movable towns of Qld

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It’s a long way to the top, Day 68 – The Machinery Mile

January 12, 2021January 28, 2021 Itching for Hitching

Day 68 Tuesday Aug 12th 2014 Ilfracombe It is cool and quite windy. It blew all night long and the TV reception was pixelated and impossible, but we’re not here for the TV. Although some folks are, and we’ve seen people pack up and leave because they can’t get any tellie! The Ilfracombe Historical Society has garnered tractors, trucks and heavy machinery from properties all over the district. Each one has been painted up in the original colours with a plaque telling of its history. This, in an unusual way gives the history of the area from a farming perspective. … Continue reading It’s a long way to the top, Day 68 – The Machinery Mile

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It’s a long way to the top, Day 67 – Ilfracombe

January 11, 2021January 29, 2021 Itching for Hitching

Day 67 Monday Aug 11th 2014 Winton to Ilfracombe The clouds haven’t been given back to us yet. The long straight road is flanked by the railway line and Mitchell grass to the horizon. The road is littered with kangaroo … Continue reading It’s a long way to the top, Day 67 – Ilfracombe

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It’s a long way to the top, Day 66 – Falling for Winton

January 10, 2021January 9, 2021 Itching for Hitching

Day 66 Sunday August 10th 2014 Winton The Winton Hotel is the oldest in town and there are saddles hanging above the bar. From pack horse saddles to racing saddles. The bright yellow Australian Hotel is cheery with tables on … Continue reading It’s a long way to the top, Day 66 – Falling for Winton