Winter 2014 The Dawson River near Moura, Qld is home to pelicans and bum breathing turtles (Rheodytes Leukops). Yep, the sign at the boat ramp says that they have oxygen extracting organs in their bums allowing them to stay under water for weeks. The things that you learn out here. Continue reading Bum Breathing Turtles
Spring 2014 Our friends are growing truffles in the NSW Southern Highlands and are yet to harvest their first crop. They have been told by the experts that truffles can only be found by strictly trained truffle dogs. These are hard living working dogs, not pampered house pets and must be treated as such. Yet a neighbour in the next valley has produced Australia’s second largest truffle and it was unearthed by their fat overfed blue heeler Jet. Jet the truffle dog. Good dog Jet. Continue reading Jet the Truffle Dog
Oct 2015 At about 5:30 in the evening it’s all thunderbolts and lightning with large hail as well. The park quickly becomes a white wonderland and the drifts of hail take hours to melt. We’re all surprised that our vans have suffered no damage. Dazza’s campfire somehow manages to survive the onslaught and around the fire, Maria who hails from Brazil, educates us on the Saints Days of Brazil and how to find a lost iphone. Now that involves jumping three times like a kangaroo and calling the name of a saint that none of us knew even existed let alone … Continue reading There’s Nothing Like a Campfire
In our wanderings about the countryside ducking and weaving to avoid kangaroos, emus and feral pigs we have often complained that we are yet to see a camel in the wild. We know that they’re out there, thousands of ’em. Descendants of camel trains that worked the outback now roaming freely in the whoop whoop (desert/bush/mulga or scrub whatever you prefer to call our less populated inland). Imagine our surprise to find a herd of very civilised and inquisitive milking camels in the dairying district of Kyabram in Victoria. And if we were surprised imagine how the cows must feel? Continue reading One Hump or Two?
Here’s a small watering hole that most people wouldn’t even notice when passing even though it’s been here since 1896. In bowling green flat land crossed by irrigation channels, acres of corn and dairy cows ‘cos this is known as cow cockie country. Pull up out front, give the door a shove and you’ll be greeted by a friendly bunch of locals and a bloke called Wayne manning the beer taps. Where is it? West of Kyabram in Victoria and a few minutes south of Echuca. Continue reading Ky West Hotel
Feb 2016 The mercury hits 42° it is searingly hot and even though the wind is blowing across the lake it feels as though we are having happy hour in front of a hair dryer. We’re in Rutherglen, Vic for a caravan club muster and trying to make the best of it when someone shouts “Why don’t we just go to the pub?” Of course! Why didn’t we think of that? In a flash we’re all up and off across the street to the coolest pub with icy cold beer and huge parmas. Oh heaven. And who says seniors can’t … Continue reading Poachers Paradise Hotel, Rutherglen
May 2015 The lighthouse on Vlamingh Head near Exmouth in WA is a concrete structure built in 1912. The view of the coast is splendid and there are six oil rigs clearly visible on the horizon. Barrow Island is somewhere … Continue reading Practically Suicidal
May 2015 The Cape Range rises steeply behind the Western Australian town of Exmouth and the Charles Knife Road is steep, windy and rough but what a ride, especially on the way back down. Wandering about we found a plugged … Continue reading Charles Knife Gorge
A friend of mine always says “Build a bridge and get over it.” However, a bloke we ran into in Kandanga had this to say on the subject of romance: “I wear my wedding ring to remind me never to do anything so stupid again.” Continue reading Building Bridges
