Category: The Characters You Meet

Qld, The Characters You Meet14 Comments

The Anthropologist

Itching for Hitching

We have an unexpected surprise at happy hour when two blokes tear into the camp in an old rusty ute with a couple of dogs in the back. Craig and David are locals and they enthral the boys with their stories of life around Quilpie and Charleville. David’s ancestors bought a mob of cattle in Melbourne and drove them northward following the rivers until they reached Quilpie. These days David has 255,000 acres at Quilpie and his son runs a helicopter mustering business. Seeing a good sized crowd around the fire, Craig of Aboriginal descent, suggests that he give a … Continue reading The Anthropologist

The Characters You Meet, Vic5 Comments

Digital Buzz

Itching for Hitching

We wait patiently for our fish and chips at the San Remo Fishermans Co-Op in Victoria. We can’t help but be impressed by the slick operation as the place is packed and baskets are dropping into the fryers one after the other. Oh no, are crayfish really $125kg! Growing up in a fishing town we used to pay 10 shillings each for them whenever unexpected guests dropped in. But that was the 1950’s before global markets. Outside the co-op the sun sparkles on the water, fishing trawlers are tied to the wharf and traffic plies the bridge to the island. … Continue reading Digital Buzz

Qld, The Characters You Meet2 Comments

Free Entertainment

Itching for Hitching

It’s Monday morning in Rainbow Beach in Qld and in front of us there is a rather noisy camp of people who we’ve noticed won’t walk to the toilet, they drive! And no, they’re not disabled, we’ve checked that out. This morning ‘the boss’, as we’ve begun to call him, is pacing back and forth talking loudly into his phone. I think that he wants to feel needed but isn’t, the staff are probably glad that he’s away with the family for a few days. We hear all about a concrete pour that went wrong last Friday because one of … Continue reading Free Entertainment

The Characters You Meet, Vic7 Comments

Homeless or Rich Beyond Belief?

Itching for Hitching

This post was inspired by a post that I read by author and blogger Jan Hawkins https://janhawkinsau.wordpress.com/2016/01/21/oldies-at-large-the-friends-you-make/ We were recently camped lazily beside a river in Victoria. The corellas chattered and called in the gum trees and sometimes a water fowl would hoot. Four owls slept in the tree above. There was little else to do but enjoy the summer warmth beside the river. Camped nearby was a gentleman who had decided to change his life on retirement. He left his boarding house as it was depressing him and purchased a good sound tent, a kayak and some fishing gear. … Continue reading Homeless or Rich Beyond Belief?

NT, The Characters You Meet2 Comments

It’s More Than Just Souvenirs

Itching for Hitching

It is the time of the year when we become a little more reflective, a little more caring of each other and grateful for life’s experiences. Sometimes we bring home something more than souvenirs from our travels. Last winter we were lucky enough to spend a few days in Katherine in the Northern Territory. The town had a warm friendly feel to it and the locals were welcoming to tourists. We were kept busy with all of the attractions that the area had to offer until I tripped and broke my ankle. While I was waiting in the Emergency Department … Continue reading It’s More Than Just Souvenirs

The Characters You Meet2 Comments

True Blue Aussies

Itching for Hitching

We’re at a service station in Bendigo, Vic two old codgers with long flowing beards and well developed paunches are filling their absolutely immaculate, head turning, bright red, FJ Holden. They both start whooping and hollering in greeting to a mini van driver. The sign on the side of the van says “Living leather 100% dead cow”. The van driver hops out he also has a long flowing beard and an artificial leg. “Watcha been up to?” they chorus “Aah scratching my arse. Where’d ya get that heap a shit?” says the van driver. Continue reading True Blue Aussies

Freedom Camp, National Park, Places, Point of Interest, SA, The Characters You Meet, Top Spots1 Comment

Pildappa Rock

Itching for Hitching

About 15kms off the Eyre Highway near the town of Minnipa in South Australia, Pildappa Rock stands high and proud above the wheat fields. The Eyre Peninsula is known for its granite monoliths and nearby Mt. Wudinna is 2nd largest to Uluru. Our mate finds a perfect campsite beside the wave face of the Rock and we constantly marvel at its size and the lichen stripes and patterns. Our other fellow campers are sprightly eighty year old retired Clarence Valley farmers in a camper trailer. We climb the rock and watch the sun set over the wheat fields. Our neighbour … Continue reading Pildappa Rock

Freedom Camp, The Characters You Meet, WALeave a comment

Barradale, WA

Itching for Hitching

This morning we had doubts about towing the van up the steep road to Vlamingh Head lighthouse. It turned out to be easier than it looked and well worthwhile. We camp for the night at the Barradale Rest Area which is beside the Yannarie River. It is a well appointed rest area and we are kept entertained watching the road trains as they approach the bridge. The highlight being when one prime mover tows another fully loaded four tray road train across the bridge, now that’s torque. He’d have no trouble getting up to the lighthouse. Our neighbour John and … Continue reading Barradale, WA

Qld, The Characters You MeetLeave a comment

The Flag Man

Itching for Hitching

We’re coming down the Burke Developmental Road out of Normanton and on our way to Cloncurry. There is very little traffic and we feel like we are in the middle of nowhere. The names of the roads out here sound desolate ‘developmental’ this and developmental that. We come upon a distant road crew and are stopped by the flag man. The flag man tells us that the wait will be quite long about 15 mins or so. He explains what they are doing, putting a layer of cement dust onto the road, this will ensure that the road stays intact … Continue reading The Flag Man

National Park, Places, The Characters You Meet, Top Spots, WA2 Comments

Big Brook Arboretum, Pemberton

Itching for Hitching

In Western Australia the National Parks have a system of camp hosts. Camp hosts are volunteers who stay on site for about six weeks at a time. Their task is to manage the camp and the fees and keep the amenities clean. The system works very well and the camp grounds are a credit to the camp hosts. When we arrive at Big Brook Arboretum it is being hosted by Jim and Flo. “It’s a Conservation Park so dogs are allowed”. Says Jim as he puts his arm around Flo. We sit around the campfire and celebrate Jim and Flo’s … Continue reading Big Brook Arboretum, Pemberton