Category: The Characters You Meet

The Characters You Meet5 Comments

Little Egypt

Itching for Hitching

Being Saturday night there is a guitarist in the park and tables are scarce. A rather loud and slightly sozzled couple from down south move in on our somewhat squeezy table. Now grey nomads are normally a friendly lot but this was pushing things a bit far. He tells us that he knows music and has sung to 800 people. We’re thinking it must have been karaoke! She dances the Egyptian and flashes a bit of leg like one shouldn’t at an advanced age. Another table becomes available. We make a dash for it. Our group all breathe a sigh … Continue reading Little Egypt

The Characters You Meet4 Comments

Neighbours

Itching for Hitching

July 2016 We arrive back at camp to find that an unusual family have moved in next door. Somewhat pedantic, the father takes two hours to peg down two small nylon tents. The mother does everything else. I think we’re in for some entertainment here. Now let me explain these neighbours….the father speaks in a booming voice with over pronunciation, like a Shakespearian actor without a microphone. Number one son who is about 8 years old speaks the same. Number two son is about 6 years old and is considered inferior by #1. Mother rarely speaks except when #1 bellows … Continue reading Neighbours

The Characters You MeetLeave a comment

The Biker

Itching for Hitching

There is a charming young English biker fellow camped in a tent beside us in Bourke. His name is Andy and his motor bike has broken down. If that isn’t bad enough it is only the first day of his three week outback trip. To add to this he has only just joined NRMA and the rules state that he can’t ring for Roadside Assistance until Monday. He must be a member for 48 hours before requesting assistance. He’s hoping for a 160km lift down to Cobar as that is the nearest motorcycle repairer. Probably scariest of all is his … Continue reading The Biker

Qld, The Characters You Meet6 Comments

Civility Costs Nothing

Itching for Hitching

Last winter we had a forced stay in Yeppoon, Qld while we waited for a spare part for the car. Our RACV Total Care insurance covered the cost of a hire car while the Jeep was off the road. We caught the local bus out front of our caravan park at Mulambin and toured the suburbs of Yeppoon and all the way to Rockhampton airport ( a little over 40kms) where the hire car was waiting. Woody was right, the local bus was an interesting way to travel and the driver was teaching another driver the intricacies of the route. … Continue reading Civility Costs Nothing

The Characters You Meet, WA4 Comments

Who do you think you are?

Itching for Hitching

  Seeing that we had the car checked over in Perth, I drop into the Broome clinic for my own checkup, oldies must be mindful of these things. So why is she writing about that you say? Well it was fascinating. I fill out the form and it asks for my ethnicity. I think, well that’s unusual at home they normally only need to know whether one is Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander or Other. So I give it a bit of thought then squeeze Anglo Saxon into the small space and hope that it is sufficient. Which leaves me thinking that … Continue reading Who do you think you are?

The Characters You Meet5 Comments

The Southern Grey Nomad, a not so rare species

Itching for Hitching

It’s August 2016, late winter in AustraliaAnd the annual northern migration of the Southern Grey Nomad is well under way. Zig zagging across New South Wales and Queensland ever northward like peripatetic ants in search of a new favourite nesting place. A new nesting place for future winters that is. Even the perils of a rough Bass Strait crossing doesn’t daunt them. You see the Tasmanian Southern Grey Nomad is even hardier than the rest and won’t be put off by sea sickness or a hefty return fare. The South Australians of the species can be found searching for warmth … Continue reading The Southern Grey Nomad, a not so rare species