Category: The Characters You Meet

NSW, The Characters You MeetLeave a comment

Cattlemen’s Cutlets

Itching for Hitching

It’s lunch time and we’ve stopped for a break. We’re actually making good time on a dash down the Newell Highway heading for Victoria. Heaven only knows why we are in such a hurry but I’m lured by a sign outside of the West Wyalong butcher advertising Cattlemen’s Cutlets. This is a term that we’re not familiar with but I can almost taste them sweet, juicy, crumbed cutlets, beef I guess not lamb. The two old butchers wander around the shop looking for the cutlets, none in the cabinet, none out the back, finally one declares “do you want ‘em … Continue reading Cattlemen’s Cutlets

The Characters You MeetLeave a comment

They’ll be fuming

Itching for Hitching

It’s a hot evening in Broken Hill and before dinner we have a drink with our near neighbours from down Geelong way, who have a classic old Millard van that they are towing with a Ford falcon. They are planning on taking it up to Darwin and back down the East coast. With one small snag, the Falcon doesn’t have a large enough petrol tank to make it between petrol stations on the Stuart Highway, so our new mate is airing out an old varnish can under the van, which he intends to fill with extra petrol, hmmm. Continue reading They’ll be fuming

Qld, The Characters You MeetLeave a comment

Customer service

Itching for Hitching

We’re in Georgetown on the Savannah Way it’s hot and remote and we’ve stopped for supplies. While we’re in the supermarket a young local woman is at the counter and they’re having problems with the EFTPOS. “You in a hurry?” says the owner. “Yes” says the young woman (she’s got a long drive to Cairns ahead of her, close to 400kms). “Too bad, so sad” says the owner “I’ve pulled the plug out you’ll just have to wait.” And wait we did. Continue reading Customer service

Qld, The Characters You Meet2 Comments

Social Media

Itching for Hitching

There is a great phone app called Wikicamps that has become the campers’ bible. Not only does it give details, pictures and prices of camp sites and caravan parks but folks can upload their personal comments. This is invaluable as you can get a good idea as to whether a great spot is perhaps a little too dusty in the dry season or perhaps over crowded at present. We leave the van out front and walk into the roadhouse / van park, which by the way is 150kms from anywhere in either direction. One of the ladies in charge shouts … Continue reading Social Media

Qld, The Characters You Meet, The PubsLeave a comment

The Chinese Are Sweeter

Itching for Hitching

There is a sign on the Cunningham Highway in Queensland and it points to the “Historic Maryvale Crown Hotel”. It’s a great old pub, two storey, rusted iron roof, a bit crooked, lots of wrought iron lacework and there are a couple of characters out the front drinking in the sun. They wave us in and how can we not stop, when there is a sign out front declaring that it is ‘un Australian’ to pass a pub without stopping for a beer.  Around the yard there is an axe and wood waiting to be chopped, rusted wheels and inside … Continue reading The Chinese Are Sweeter