Category: Places

Places, WA3 Comments

Chookinup Flats

Itching for Hitching

At Nannup in Western Australia’s tall timber of the south we miss our turn off so we just take the next available road which becomes quite interesting if not a little bumpy. We see hand written signs for “Chookinup”. Well I guess everything around here ends in UP anyway. Eventually we find a free range chicken farm with hundreds of chooks scratching about in the dirt. Their hen houses are old caravans! Which only goes to show, that not all caravans end their lives up on blocks at old seaside caravan parks with signs nailed on the front declaring “This’ll … Continue reading Chookinup Flats

Freedom Camp, Places, Vic5 Comments

Lake Lascelles

Itching for Hitching

South from Mildura,Vic we take the B200, the Henty Highway which is flanked with bright yellow canola. It only seems like minutes before we reach the hamlet of Hopetoun. For such a small town accommodation choices abound. There is a caravan park and then there is the lake, Lake Lascelles. A small perfectly round lake fringed with sandy beaches and shaded by red gums. We pay $20 for a powered and watered site on the grass fronting the lake. There is an adequate camp kitchen and ablution block. On the eastern shore there is free camping with gold coin donation … Continue reading Lake Lascelles

Places, Qld, The Characters You Meet3 Comments

Morven, Qld

Itching for Hitching

As we drive we are talking about how we’re becoming overwhelmed by all of the experiences that we’ve had on this, our trip through Western Qld and as we pull up at the Augathella Road junction we see a kangaroo just standing there watching the traffic. We round the next bend into the little town of Morven and there is a crowd of people sitting in the sun having morning tea. They all wave vigorously and as we pull over a pocket rocket in yellow called Dulcie runs up to my window. It happens to be the town’s “Longest Morning … Continue reading Morven, Qld

Places, Point of Interest, WA2 Comments

Port Hedland Seaman’s Mission Tour

Itching for Hitching

This is Australia’s busiest Seaman’s Mission with 70,000 seamen visiting the port annually. The chaplain conducts the tour and after learning about their work and what our tour cost gets used for we board their harbour boat and pick up and deliver crew all over the harbour. This is not a conventional port with piers and walkways so the Mission boat acts like a water taxi. In typical Pilbara fashion the statistics were mind boggling. It is Australia’s 2nd largest port. The world’s largest iron ore port and there are usually about 35 ships waiting out at sea to enter. … Continue reading Port Hedland Seaman’s Mission Tour

Places, Vic8 Comments

A Tale of Two Towns

Itching for Hitching

  We’re wandering along Victoria’s Bass Coast and drop in to reacquaint ourselves with Walkerville South. The road ends at the boat ramp and a sign declares that driving on the beach is not permitted here except for the launching of boats. For those not familiar with this area, the two tiny towns of Walkerville South and Walkerville North overlook Waratah Bay and are a mere few hundred metres apart. In years gone by the locals used to drive onto the sand and make a quick dash around the dividing headland at low tide. With driving on the beach no … Continue reading A Tale of Two Towns

Places, Vic5 Comments

Walking on the Seabed

Itching for Hitching

Each evening holidaymakers pick their way over the rippled sand flats sucked dry by the retreating tide. Heads down, people and ibis poke about on what was an hour ago the seabed. Soldier crabs toss and sift the sand searching for food. Gulls puff their feathers against the cool breeze while the setting sun bathes the whole scene a delicate gold. Me, all that I see is music to the soul and music written in the sand. Today’s post was inspired by this morning’s discussion with fellow blogger Miriam of OutanAbout. https://outanabout.wordpress.com/2016/02/10/wednesday-wondering/ Continue reading Walking on the Seabed

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

Freedom Camp, Places, Vic4 Comments

Worth More Than Gold, Walhalla

Itching for Hitching

Australia’s Great Dividing Range is the spine of eastern Australia. Stretching for 3,500 kms down the full length of the east coast before turning westwards and dividing most of Victoria as well as influencing the climate. “Ah the weather will improve once we’re over “The Divide.” As we often say, because it is much drier inland of ‘The Divide’. There’s a tiny town called Walhalla nestled in a steep valley in the southern slopes of the Great Divide in Gippsland in Victoria. There are only a handful of permanent residents, less than twenty according to Wikipedia. Yet in its gold … Continue reading Worth More Than Gold, Walhalla