Category: When Things Just Go Wrong

When Things Just Go Wrong2 Comments

An Open Door Policy

Itching for Hitching

Our friend Mrs Elle Prado cracked us all up when she described how husband Mr El Prado had to shimmy out the van window when their door locked them both in the van at Streaky Bay in South Australia.A year later they roll into our park.  In her zest to get a lovely sea breeze through the van Elle opens the fly door and suddenly it locks itself. This time it is Elle locked in. We arrive to find the park owner with screwdriver in hand, but to no avail. While they wait for a locksmith to arrive from Townsville, … Continue reading An Open Door Policy

When Things Just Go Wrong5 Comments

The Pole Carrier

Itching for Hitching

On our way to the West, we wake to the smell of the Aussie bush. After walking around town looking at the houses, shops and the river the three of us try to attach V’s new second hand pole carrier to the underside of her new van. Of course this may seem a simple task to most members of our caravan club but to us climbing Everest would have been easier. We take turns in rolling about under the chassis and groaning while Tilly leaps about giving dog assistance (not). Woody had left the clips from one end at home … Continue reading The Pole Carrier

When Things Just Go Wrong4 Comments

All Stoved In

Itching for Hitching

In Boort, Vic there are old gnarly peppercorn trees in the Main Street and bracts of pink peppercorns are crushed on the pavement. The air smells of pepper. We are on our way to a club muster in Balranald NSW but the first night is at a farmstay. Simply Tomatoes and Aussie Wool Quilts is 15kms north of town, down 5 kms of good dirt road. Owner Ian directs us to a park near the dam which is home to a flock of geese. When lighting the gas for the fridge we discover that our stove isn’t working. Gas is … Continue reading All Stoved In

NT, When Things Just Go Wrong5 Comments

The road that never ends…

Itching for Hitching

Well it certainly feels like this road never ends especially when one leg is in plaster. Elliott, NT Elliott is on the Stuart Highway in the Barkly Tableland. There’s not a lot happening in Elliott apart from a cattle yard and a tick dip. The Elliott Caravan Park is a red dirt yard behind the servo. But on some sites there is power and water. There are amenities and a usable pool (which is not much use to me as I’m on crutches, I’m having enough trouble mastering the van shower with one leg stuck out the door) and sixteen … Continue reading The road that never ends…

The Pubs, When Things Just Go Wrong7 Comments

Wauchope Hotel, NT

Itching for Hitching

We can’t camp at the Devils Marbles as I’m in plaster and recovering from a fall. But just around the bend from the Devils Marbles is the lesser known Wauchope Hotel. We pull in and hobble over for a huge Parma because it will save us from three legged cooking tonight. This is the first Parma* of the trip I think, wow that’s some kind of record 15,000kms without a Parma. The place is spotless, friendly and has a landscaped garden and pool. Gee and I thought that we were in the outback! They even give us a doggy bag. … Continue reading Wauchope Hotel, NT

NT, Point of Interest, When Things Just Go Wrong15 Comments

Lindsey Falls

Itching for Hitching

We pack our bathers and drive 60kms north of Katherine to Edith Falls and what a pretty spot. We walk the kilometre up to the top where the climb gets a little bit difficult and we have a swim in the pool. It’s a real bucket list thing swimming in a waterfall fed pool in the Northern Territory. The walk down is much cooler in our wet togs. I am giving Woody a hard time about wearing sandals on a bush walk and as the track evens out I stop concentrating on my footing and WHACK I find myself on … Continue reading Lindsey Falls

National Park, WA, When Things Just Go Wrong7 Comments

The Perils of Getting Up Too Early

Itching for Hitching

Normally we never drive early in the day or after mid afternoon because of the risk of hitting a roo on the road. We drive from Melbourne to Esperance, over 3000kms without seeing a single kangaroo. We’ve seen thousands of emus but where oh where are the kangaroos? Is this some kind of record for driving in Australia? Then just when we have to arrive early to secure a spot at a way too popular NationalPark camp ground, out pops a roo and wham. A couple of days later a policeman at a random breath test tells us to get … Continue reading The Perils of Getting Up Too Early