“Roo shooters and caravans not allowed” says the sign at the car wash in Mt Isa, Queensland. In Winton we notice 4WD’s rigged with rows of stainless steel hooks on the back. When out walking in the early morning Woody … Continue reading What Have We Done Wrong?
As I flip through the weekend paper from the urgency of Page One to the relaxed Magazine lift out one topic is discussed over and over, drones. Drones for the military, drones for agriculture, drones for real estate sales, drones … Continue reading Look, up in the sky, it’s a bird, it’s a …
Camped at Rollingstone, Qld we can clearly see the Balgal Beach fish cafe from our caravan window and it’s only a few hundred metres away, how good is that? We can see its lights blinking temptingly as we close our blinds at night. But it’s not good at all because it’s a fourteen kilometre drive to get there. Huh, 14kms? Well, thanks to the crocodile who just happens to live in the creek… between us and the cafe. Continue reading Fish and Chips Anyone?
We spend most of the afternoon in the ‘phone’ shop with much heated discussion about data usage. We are told by said staff that we should make our communications using the free WIFI at McDonald’s. Well doh! We’ve been on the road 3 weeks and the only icons we’ve seen on the horizon are grain silos not golden arches …..I guess they just don’t understand the life of grey nomads. Utterly frustrated we make it back to our camp for happy hour and meet a great bunch of travellers who also spend very little of their time in large towns. Continue reading Free WIFI?
We were wandering about Central Queensland when I heard a story on ABC National about the mating habits of brush turkeys. Brush turkeys are those curious native chooks that inhabit coastal NSW and Qld. The interviewee went on to describe that the nesting mound is made from several tonnes of leaf mulch piled up by the male bird to attract a mate. The guy with the best pile of leaf litter gets the girl basically. A few days later we are watching clay target shooting in Roma and I ask one of the club members mothers what the odd shaped hill … Continue reading A Turkey Shoot?
Morgan sits high on the banks of the Murray in South Australia and is quite spectacular with views over the wide expanse of river where it turns south towards the sea. This was once a busy river port and as well as historic warehouses there is an old brick morgue perched on the riverbank. Apparently when the town cemetery was being laid out one of the surveyors wondered who would be the first to be buried there. Sadly, next day he drowned in the river. Continue reading Who wants to go first?
I’m constantly fascinated by the colourful mixture of things that businesses sell in the bush. But of course these businesses have to run on a different mindset to those in the cities. City businesses have to stay focused on what they do well. Country businesses must provide what is needed by the community. I saw this sign somewhere on the road between Mudgee and Bathurst: “For Sale – Wishing wells, geese, bird feeders” In February of 1879 Ned Kelly and his gang of bushrangers held up the town of Jerilderie, NSW. The blacksmith shop where they had their horses shod … Continue reading Mixed Businesses
That great Northern Australian pastime of dressing termite mounds with your own clothes is alive and well on the Stuart Highway. Heaven knows what the ants must think when their house temperature goes haywire because someone has put a bikini around the mound. Let alone, pipes, fishing hats and rods, baseball caps, hi vis vests, t shirts and singlets. At least at Mataranka they respectfully have a termite mound museum. Continue reading Dressing Termite Mounds
I am so captivated by the rock formations at Osprey beach and Camp Ground on the Ningaloo coast that each day I scramble head down across the rocks taking photos of fossilised coral and watching my every foothold carefully for fear of being shredded on the coral outcrops. Suddenly a French voice says “Elloo”. I raise my head and all that I can see is a perfectly tanned bare breast. “Top spot” I mumble and stumble off to leave her sunbaking in peace. I’m still wondering how she managed to balance her chair on the rocks. Continue reading Top Spot!
itchingforhitching 