The Legend of the Elephant

October 31, 2015April 3, 2016 Itching for Hitching

We are spending a few days in the charming little town of Stratford in Victoria. As we wander along the Avon riverbank in the early morning chill of spring we find a small blue sculpture of an elephant and learn that it is a memorial to an elephant that was decapitated when the circus was driving under Stratford’s very low railway bridge back in 1950. Apparently he was too heavy to move so they buried him by the river. One wonders what became of the circus after it lost its star attraction. Continue reading The Legend of the Elephant

Events, Places, VicLeave a comment

Gimme That Ole Time Religion

October 28, 2015April 3, 2016 Itching for Hitching

We’re camped at the Girgarre Moosic Muster in the tiny town of Girgarre in Victoria. At 10:00am on Sunday we rush off to gospel singing in the supper room. Our friend Meredith has been rehearsing since yesterday and she is up on stage singing her heart out. Then a group of gospel musicians take to the stage and they lead us through some old standards. The old town hall is positively rocking. At every mention of God the guitarist rolls her eyes heavenward and the bloke sitting next to Brian punches his fist in the air. Yeehaa! And thus we just … Continue reading Gimme That Ole Time Religion

Vic, WildlifeLeave a comment

Duck!

October 26, 2015April 4, 2016 Itching for Hitching

At Portland in Victoria, we drive out to the aluminium smelter which is surrounded and powered by, wind turbines. It’s windy all right. There is a gannet rookery on Point Danger and it is a pleasant walk between the rain showers. The only sound is the surf and the whine of the wind turbines. Yes, they do whine. The birds are all clustered on the point and take turns to soar gracefully overhead. This rookery started with only a few pairs in 1996. There are now more than 6000 pairs here and on the small island offshore. Surprisingly right behind … Continue reading Duck!

Vic, When Things Just Go WrongLeave a comment

Winter in Victoria is Cold

October 25, 2015April 4, 2016 Itching for Hitching

We’re camping with friends Steve and Margot in Glen Cromie Park near Noojee in Victoria. Up in the hills of west Gippsland it is not unusual to be cold at night in the winter. And true to form overnight the temperature dropped below freezing. Fortunately we’re on a powered site and we can flick on the heater. But not so for Steve and Margot and they soon realise that they’ve left their heater at home. The morning is cold and brisk but beautiful so we drive into Warragul for a bit of shopping and a new heater. We return via … Continue reading Winter in Victoria is Cold