June 2018, Rollingstone, Qld The midges are winning. I’ve tried Bushmans, The Locals, long clothes and Elle’s pungent mixture of baby oil and Dettol. Elle’s mixture is the only one that does a half decent job of warding off the … Continue reading Of midges and tides and lazing in the tropics
Some people count sheep, if I can’t sleep I count the towns that we’ve visited on the current trip. It works every time. Which reminds me of a story we heard in Karijini National Park in WA back in 2015: “At the (Karijini) visitor’s centre we learn about the history of the area and life for the Aborigines after the Europeans arrived. There is a delightful story about a woman who learned to count while mustering sheep, all 29,000 of them.” Continue reading Can’t sleep?
Aug 2018, Gwydir River, Bingara, NSW A walk in the winter sun along the riverbank where horses graze and giant gums stand high upon ten feet long roots washed clean by past floods and home to spiders and the like. Is it any wonder then that this poem comes to mind and circles my brain like the painted horses on a merry go round? The Spider by the Gwydir By Anonymous By the sluggish River Gwydir Lived a wicked red-backed spider, Who was just about as vicious as could be: And the place that he was camped in Was a … Continue reading By the Gwydir
Sometimes we query signs as we whizz by “Did that say what I think it did?” Monto, Qld “Monto Stockman’s store, Open 7 days unless closed” Mulgildie Pub, Qld Beside a picture of past prime minister Paul Keating – “The … Continue reading Signs of life in Queensland
March 2015 The weather is warm and the shower was so refreshing, I reach for a nice fluffy towel and as I dry myself I realise that ants have nested in it overnight and now I’m being bitten from head to toe. Ouch, ouch, ouch! Continue reading Constant Companions
I stumbled upon an old journal yesterday from Trip 2, Broken Hill, Nov 2012: Lessons learned Face Cleanser Wipes are invaluable both in the car and in the van. We’ve finally learnt how to use the awning properly. We need a new Anderson plug and the lead needs lengthening. Look out for not only kangaroos but suicidal emus, wild goats and lazy lizards. Continue reading Lessons Learned
In the middle of New South Wales you’ll find a quirky little town that is quite proud of its unique name. Continue reading The galahs of Gulargambone
When we first started caravanning mates of ours were a wealth of information about towing and caravans and really helped us to get on the road. Now that they have both retired it’s time to return the favour as they now have the time to try free camping. The excitement is building as we plan, where to take them for a perfect experience, what they need. They have one battery and that is enough, we have portable solar panels which they can use to top up their batteries on a day to day basis. We’ll camp by a wild river … Continue reading An intro to free camping
Nov 2018, Lake Bolac, Vic It is a warm still evening that doesn’t drop below 22˚c. Getting into bed Woody spots a hairy Huntsman* scurrying off the doona. We madly strip the bed and spray half a can of fly spray around the bed and into all the crevices while Woody stands naked in the kitchen stomping on my socks. When all is quiet, about an hour later I crawl into bed and revel in the fact that all of the hatches and windows are open and there is a gentle breeze flowing through the van. It would be lovely … Continue reading An unwelcome guest
I stand in the van making the bed and dream that there’s a beach outside the door, instead of a suburban fence. Continue reading Dreaming, I’m only dreaming
itchingforhitching 