Qld, Taking DirectionsLeave a comment

Oh, There’s Nothing in Blackall

Itching for Hitching

We have stopped in Barcaldine, Qld and chat to a couple who tell us that we should stay the night in ‘Barky’ as there is little to see in Blackall apart from the wool scour and that the free camp would be too wet from all the rain. But we had been intrigued by the humorous brochure for Blackall so we turn south. Through 100kms of gidgee (or Gidyea) scrub to Blackall and what a charming little town it is. There are avenues of bottle trees and lots of green grass. We set up at the free camp on the … Continue reading Oh, There’s Nothing in Blackall

NSW, The PubsLeave a comment

Beyond the Black Stump

Itching for Hitching

We’re in a charming country pub on the Black Stump Way in NSW. We order a chicken parma. At the bar there is a cowboy, perfect fit jeans and cowboy hat, he nurses a beer and says not a word. The well dressed publican looks like a grazier and in fact he is and he has recently acquired the pub. His mother in law chats happily at the bar and knocks back three schooners while we have lunch. She’s visiting from Newcastle but dreams of the times that she has spent in Broome. They both know Nick Paspaley, a good … Continue reading Beyond the Black Stump

Events, Places, VicLeave a comment

Gimme That Ole Time Religion

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

Caravan ClubsLeave a comment

Why Join a Caravan Club

Itching for Hitching

The more that I think about it I can’t think of a reason why one wouldn’t join a club. The annual membership fees are inexpensive and quickly recouped with product discounts and club magazines. Some groups keep in touch via Facebook making it very easy to get quick advice on where to stay or even meet up whilst on the road. It is a real treat to have friends drop in to visit when you’re on the other side of the country. Even if you prefer to travel solo clubs provide you with a network of people that you can … Continue reading Why Join a Caravan Club

Vic, WildlifeLeave a comment

Duck!

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!

WildlifeLeave a comment

Ants in Our Pants

Itching for Hitching

We’re in Normanton, gulf country. It’s hot, dusty and dry. A million microscopic brown ants have taken roost in our van. I clean the caravan from top to bottom. Down on my knees scrubbing and throwing ant bodies into the rubbish bin and cursing. When all is done and everything is bright and sparkling again I turn on the coffee machine for a well earned break. There they are again waving tiny brown antennae at me…..we’re back! Just like the crocodiles they’ll be on this earth longer than us. Continue reading Ants in Our Pants

Qld, The Pubs2 Comments

The Royal Hotel, Bouldercombe

Itching for Hitching

We haven’t tried pub camping so just shy of Rockhampton in Qld we turn off towards Mount Morgan and 15 minutes later we are in the little town of Bouldercombe. We pull up outside the Royal Hotel and Tracey the publican bounds down the beer garden steps to meet us. Yes, we can park out the back on the wide mowed paddock along with the other campers. “A beer in the bar would be appreciated, thanks and there are $10 meals”. What a lovely spot, it is sunny, warm and dry and peaceful. The other campers are a chatty bunch … Continue reading The Royal Hotel, Bouldercombe

Vic, When Things Just Go WrongLeave a comment

Winter in Victoria is Cold

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

The Characters You MeetLeave a comment

They’ll be fuming

Itching for Hitching

It’s a hot evening in Broken Hill and before dinner we have a drink with our near neighbours from down Geelong way, who have a classic old Millard van that they are towing with a Ford falcon. They are planning on taking it up to Darwin and back down the East coast. With one small snag, the Falcon doesn’t have a large enough petrol tank to make it between petrol stations on the Stuart Highway, so our new mate is airing out an old varnish can under the van, which he intends to fill with extra petrol, hmmm. Continue reading They’ll be fuming