Category: Vic

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

Freedom Camp, Vic3 Comments

Never Look a Gift Pub in the Mouth

Itching for Hitching

The wee town of Port Albert is a fisherman’s paradise. The free camp is actually a parking area for cars, boat trailers and RV’s right on the sea front adjoining the boat ramp. There is supposedly parking space for six RV’s. So a bunch of us new arrivals all stand around debating how and where we are supposed to park. We later find the parking instructions and yes we have parked our vans incorrectly, but it isn’t busy and we aren’t blocking anyone. We should have parked the van on the lawn with the car on the asphalt. The town … Continue reading Never Look a Gift Pub in the Mouth

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?

Hobbies, VicLeave a comment

Genealogy on the Road

Itching for Hitching

This post has been inspired by a story that I read that was written by a gentleman by the name of Leland who writes a blog called My Mixed Blog https://lghoelson.wordpress.com. Leland’s particular story that inspired me was ‘Family Dinner Out’ in which a long departed Great Grandfather appears at a family dinner. I too wonder what my ancestors would think of how we lead our lives today. Ancestors who arrived in this country with little more than the clothes on their backs and walked hundreds of miles to the goldfields in search of gold, just enough gold to ensure … Continue reading Genealogy on the Road

Events, Vic1 Comment

Girgarre Moosic Muster

Itching for Hitching

The tiny town of Girgarre in Victoria is situated in an area known for its dairying. Many years ago its Girgarre Butter was a household name in Victoria. But times change and ten years ago Victorian primary industry was crippled by the worst drought in living memory. The residents of Girgarre gathered together to brainstorm a solution to save their town from ruin. Someone suggested a Farmer’s Market and music was also suggested. The market went ahead and some musicians came to perform on hay bales in the park. Turning the clock forward, last weekend 1500 people converged on Girgarre. … Continue reading Girgarre Moosic Muster

Places, VicLeave a comment

A True Comfort Station

Itching for Hitching

Warracknabeal in Victoria is quite a large country town in the barley belt. There are impressive hotels and the shops are busy. The intersections are adorned with statues of dogs and sheep and bags of grain. I stumble across a Ladies Rest Room that has once been a shop and now provides a haven from the hustle and bustle. There are sitting rooms furnished with inviting antique armchairs and couches. There are mirrors and sideboards and flowers in vases. For the mums there are full baby change facilities and a sink and a basic kitchen to boil a jug or … Continue reading A True Comfort Station

Vic, When Things Just Go Wrong4 Comments

What Seniors Get Up To In Cars These Days

Itching for Hitching

We’re heading to Mildura in Victoria’s northwest. By lunchtime we leave the Sunraysia Highway at Ouyen, because we want to try the Mallee Bakery’s famous award winning vanilla slices. The pies are excellent but the “snot blocks” are pillows of ecstasy and gooilly delicious but bloody difficult to eat whilst driving. Brian has large globs of soft white icing dripping from his fingers and a mouth filled with crunchy pastry as he asks me to mop up the custard that has landed in big dollops in his lap. All too soon I realise that I’m tickling his unmentionables while wiping … Continue reading What Seniors Get Up To In Cars These Days

Vic, When Things Just Go Wrong6 Comments

You Should Try Caravanning…

Itching for Hitching

We had been trying hard to convince our friends to retire and try caravanning because we knew that they love the bush and we’d often camped together over the years. Not to be outdone by an earlier episode at Healesville when the water main burst we decided to try again and invited them to meet us in Mildura. “There was a light breeze but it was a lovely evening to sit on the riverbank. The fire worked well and the leg of lamb smelled good as it cooked on the Weber. We warned our friends that caravanners like to go … Continue reading You Should Try Caravanning…

Freedom Camp, Places, Top Spots, Vic2 Comments

Nug Nug, Vic

Itching for Hitching

Just a short 10kms south of Myrtleford in the Ovens Valley there is a delightful bush camp called Nug Nug. Managed and well maintained by local residents there is lush green grass and both native and specimen trees beside the gurgling Buffalo River. There are toilets, a BBQ and power and river water are on tap. A small daily fee is charged. Myrtleford is a great base for exploring the Ovens Valley and there is no shortage of local produce. It may have a funny name but Nug Nug is a place where you end up staying much longer than … Continue reading Nug Nug, Vic