It’s a long way to the top, Day 68 – The Machinery Mile

January 12, 2021January 28, 2021 Itching for Hitching

Day 68 Tuesday Aug 12th 2014 Ilfracombe It is cool and quite windy. It blew all night long and the TV reception was pixelated and impossible, but we’re not here for the TV. Although some folks are, and we’ve seen people pack up and leave because they can’t get any tellie! The Ilfracombe Historical Society has garnered tractors, trucks and heavy machinery from properties all over the district. Each one has been painted up in the original colours with a plaque telling of its history. This, in an unusual way gives the history of the area from a farming perspective. … Continue reading It’s a long way to the top, Day 68 – The Machinery Mile

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It’s a long way to the top, Day 67 – Ilfracombe

January 11, 2021January 29, 2021 Itching for Hitching

Day 67 Monday Aug 11th 2014 Winton to Ilfracombe The clouds haven’t been given back to us yet. The long straight road is flanked by the railway line and Mitchell grass to the horizon. The road is littered with kangaroo … Continue reading It’s a long way to the top, Day 67 – Ilfracombe

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It’s a long way to the top, Day 66 – Falling for Winton

January 10, 2021January 9, 2021 Itching for Hitching

Day 66 Sunday August 10th 2014 Winton The Winton Hotel is the oldest in town and there are saddles hanging above the bar. From pack horse saddles to racing saddles. The bright yellow Australian Hotel is cheery with tables on … Continue reading It’s a long way to the top, Day 66 – Falling for Winton

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It’s a long way to the top, Day 65 – Winton, dinosaur country

January 8, 2021January 7, 2021 Itching for Hitching

Day 65 Saturday Aug 9th 2014 Winton Winton has a population of about 1000. The main street has replica heritage streetlamps and a centre strip of lawns and trees, even a water feature depicting the original town site of Pelican … Continue reading It’s a long way to the top, Day 65 – Winton, dinosaur country

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It’s a long way to the top, Day 64 – Waltzing with Matilda in our hearts

January 6, 2021January 29, 2021 Itching for Hitching

Day 64 Friday Aug 8th 2014 Kynuna to Winton Our peaceful night was punctuated by the increasing then fading roar of road trains as they thundered through the night. By 6:30am the roadhouse is open for business again and trading … Continue reading It’s a long way to the top, Day 64 – Waltzing with Matilda in our hearts

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It’s a long way to the top, Day 63 – Kynuna

January 5, 2021January 3, 2021 Itching for Hitching

Day 63 Thursday Aug 7th 2014 Mt Isa to Kynuna The road to Cloncurry is busy with vans and horse floats heading to The Isa. We go out to the Cloncurry airfield to see where the first Qantas flight (Longreach … Continue reading It’s a long way to the top, Day 63 – Kynuna

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It’s a long way to the top, Day 62 – Rodeo in Readiness

January 4, 2021January 29, 2021 Itching for Hitching

Day 62 Wednesday Aug 6th 2014 Mt Isa It is warm and wet. We drive past Buchanan Park, the rodeo ground. It is already a quarter full of rodeo people, horses and ponies. This year will be the 56th Mt … Continue reading It’s a long way to the top, Day 62 – Rodeo in Readiness

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It’s a long way to the top, Day 61 – Mary Kathleen

January 3, 2021January 29, 2021 Itching for Hitching

Day 61 Tuesday Aug 5th 2014 Mt Isa It is a bright, clear and chilly morning. We visit the underground hospital which the miners tunnelled into the hillside during the war. With bare rock walls and an earthen floor it … Continue reading It’s a long way to the top, Day 61 – Mary Kathleen

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It’s a long way to the top, Day 60 – Lake Mondarra

January 2, 2021January 29, 2021 Itching for Hitching

Day 60 Monday Aug 4th 2014 Mt Isa At 8:00am it’s only 4 degrees and it’s hard to get out of bed. We take the Jeep to O’Brien’s Windscreens and the chap assures us that the crack won’t get any … Continue reading It’s a long way to the top, Day 60 – Lake Mondarra

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It’s a long way to the top, Day 59 – Mt Isa

December 31, 2020 Itching for Hitching

Day 59 Sunday Aug 3rd 2014 Corella Dam to Mt Isa It is cold waiting for the sun to rise. The drive into Mt Isa is magnificent with its red rocky ranges. The mine dominates the city skyline. It is … Continue reading It’s a long way to the top, Day 59 – Mt Isa