Author: Itching for Hitching

I'm the author of "Itchingforhitching". I'm a ukulele playing food lover, coffee drinker and traveller. I may be retired but I'm working awfully hard at enjoying every inch of Australia.
Caravan Clubs9 Comments

Answering a Few Questions About Caravan Clubs

Itching for Hitching

So, what do caravan clubs do? Our particular club usually meets four times a year for a muster. Sometimes we may have a quick catch up at a local pub for lunch in between musters. Having plenty in common there’s always plenty to talk about. Members aren’t expected to attend every muster as being keen travellers there are always a few vans away on the road or someone travelling overseas. Where are the musters held? At caravan parks and for our group they are mostly in Victoria. Our group is growing in size so the facilities that we look for … Continue reading Answering a Few Questions About Caravan Clubs

Qld, The PubsLeave a comment

Railway Hotel, Ravenswood, Qld

Itching for Hitching

 Ravenswood is about 80kms south east of Charters Towers. There’s not much out here but cattle that wander about the road and dry creek beds. An enormous mullock heap is a dead give away that there’s mining going on though. Small mullock heaps and old brick chimneys dot the landscape and a handful of old buildings. A post office / general store, a museum, hall and two live pubs. We choose the a Railway Hotel, the pub that advertises the coldest beer in Qld and are not disappointed. Hey, they use glycol as a coolant which means a lot to … Continue reading Railway Hotel, Ravenswood, Qld

Places, WA8 Comments

Cruising on Lake Argyle

Itching for Hitching

Lake Argyle is the water catchment on the Ord River near Kununurra in Western Australia. Several tour companies offer sightseeing cruises on the lake. We cruise around the islands of the lake and see wallabies, fresh water crocodiles, even a baby one and golden orb spiders. The lake is about forty times the size of Sydney Harbour and if it ever reaches its capacity it will be about eighty times that of Sydney Harbour. Don’t tell the folks in Sydney. The boat has two 250hp Honda outboards on the back, the water is as smooth as glass and we glide … Continue reading Cruising on Lake Argyle

Qld, Signs of Life5 Comments

A Special Deal

Itching for Hitching

Now here’s a sign that only Australian readers will understand, so I apologise to my international readers. To try and explain this play on words is difficult but here goes….Our local meal of choice in country pubs is an Aussie corruption of a classic Italian Parmagiana, however we use chicken instead of veal these days. Clive Palmer is a mining magnate turned politician in the style of Donald Trump. Continue reading A Special Deal

When Things Just Go Wrong5 Comments

The Pole Carrier

Itching for Hitching

On our way to the West, we wake to the smell of the Aussie bush. After walking around town looking at the houses, shops and the river the three of us try to attach V’s new second hand pole carrier to the underside of her new van. Of course this may seem a simple task to most members of our caravan club but to us climbing Everest would have been easier. We take turns in rolling about under the chassis and groaning while Tilly leaps about giving dog assistance (not). Woody had left the clips from one end at home … Continue reading The Pole Carrier

Freedom Camp, Qld4 Comments

Theresa Creek Dam

Itching for Hitching

Twenty kilometres from Clermont in Central Queensland, the Theresa Creek Dam gives you a choice between the feel of being in the bush and that of a resort park. There is a general store that is run by the management that provides basic needs and light meals like Turkish toasties, burgers and fish & chips. The store is set in a garden and grassed area with playground facilities for children. It is an inviting spot for a morning coffee. There are sloping grassed sites close to the lakeshore with stunning views. Behind the store there is a flat well grassed area … Continue reading Theresa Creek Dam

The Pubs12 Comments

Why I Write About Pubs

Itching for Hitching

The Aussie bush pub is not just a hotel. It is a place where the community gathers. It is where marriages and births are celebrated and mates are farewelled. Where thirsts are slaked and sorrows drowned. Whether the industry is cane or cows, sorghum or sheep the locals meet at the pub. Walls are decorated with trophies and photos and faded advertisements for tractors. Rooms are occupied by insurance agents and miners who drank too late and couldn’t risk the drive home because of the ‘roos on the road. If you notice money on the ceiling it means that the … Continue reading Why I Write About Pubs

Farm Stays, NSW13 Comments

Fish are jumpin’ and the cotton is high

Itching for Hitching

Forty kms north of Hillston, NSW on the Kidman Way we turn onto a dirt road and pass cotton farms. There are several vans camped at the roadside rest area. We follow the road for 10kms to Billabourie Farm Stay. The family is not home so we choose our spots from several acres of grassy reserve overlooking the Lachlan River. There is no one else here and it is heavenly. A warm afternoon, willows dipping in the river. Water lilies flowering. All of the usual suspects flit about in the trees, cockatoos, galahs, small parrots, Willy wagtails and apostle birds. … Continue reading Fish are jumpin’ and the cotton is high

Qld, Wildlife4 Comments

Log, log!

Itching for Hitching

We toast the last rays of the sun as they glow on the offshore islands. Our neighbours tell us about their last caravan park and how much they enjoyed it. Even though one camper had been checking her photos and noticed a croc swimming across the picture. “No way” said the park manager “that’s a log”. The camper brought up the next photo and ‘the log’ was swimming past again this time in the opposite direction! Continue reading Log, log!

NSW, Places7 Comments

If you know Bourke…

Itching for Hitching

The ‘Back of Bourke’ so the saying goes. Bourke conjures up visions of a large dusty dry town, yet it is nothing like that at all. It is not a large town nor small but very green with bottle trees, palms and plenty of parks with lush lawns. The houses are varied in architecture but shady wide spreading verandahs are the order of the day. Best of all for caravanners there is a tall double bay truck wash to get rid of the red dust, the evidence of actually getting this far. The Bourke court house is grand and elaborate. … Continue reading If you know Bourke…