Red Dirt, Day 3 – Mildura

November 25, 2021November 22, 2021 Itching for Hitching

Monday 22nd October 2012 Mildura (Buronga, NSW) (0 Kms) We wake to the sound of birds walking on the roof, what a great alarm clock. It’s been lovely to open some of the pop top zippers for the first time and let the fresh air in. We have a lazy breakfast listening to the tooting of the PS Melbourne’s steam whistle, we can see her plying tourists back and forth, through our front window. The wondrous smell of the Murray River is in the air. A family of ducks beg for some slices of our bread. Woody comes home disappointed … Continue reading Red Dirt, Day 3 – Mildura

On the Road, Red Dirt6 Comments

Red Dirt, Day 2 – Charlton to Mildura

November 24, 2021November 22, 2021 Itching for Hitching

Sunday 21st October 2012 Charlton to Mildura (295Kms) We have a slow start, because we really don’t have to hurry. We leave at 9:45, it is a beautiful morning, but chilly. The road is straight and the paddocks are filled … Continue reading Red Dirt, Day 2 – Charlton to Mildura

On the Road, Red Dirt6 Comments

Red Dirt, Day 1 – Melbourne to Charlton

November 23, 2021November 22, 2021 Itching for Hitching

Intro We purchased our first caravan upon retirement in 2012 and although we were seasoned campers and trailer sailors we were new to the caravanning caper, which I might add, is a unique combination of both those activities minus the … Continue reading Red Dirt, Day 1 – Melbourne to Charlton

Architecture6 Comments

Cheers to the Country Hall

November 21, 2021 Itching for Hitching

Many years ago, Woody and I ran a catering business which often involved working at country halls. No nonsense buildings with plenty of room to host whatever the community threw at it and with big old kitchens with the space … Continue reading Cheers to the Country Hall

Caravanning Hints10 Comments

Road Clothes

November 20, 2021 Itching for Hitching

As we pack the caravan for another zip trip I realise the importance of the crazy clothing situation for those of us who are grey nomads. Retirement means gone are the days of bespoke business suits and sensuous silk blouses. Gone too are heels and make-up and long sessions in the hair salon hiding the creeping greys. Now it’s all about comfort and practicability. Living two lives, one in the suburbs and one on the road means two sets of clothing, one of which stays on the van most of the time. When on the road we try to keep … Continue reading Road Clothes

NSW, Places4 Comments

Sofala

November 13, 2021 Itching for Hitching

Sofala, NSW About halfway between Mudgee and Bathurst in New South Wales you’ll find the gold mining town of Sofala. When we first visited the town our GPS was totally confused as to where we were and indeed Sofala with … Continue reading Sofala

Freedom Camp, NSW, Places, Uncategorized5 Comments

Little towns with big hearts – Grenfell

November 10, 2021 Itching for Hitching

Grenfell, NSW Last year (2020) we were driving down through New South Wales in a somewhat zig zag fashion. There was no hurry to get home as Melbourne was in Covid lockdown. The spring weather was warm and particularly pleasant … Continue reading Little towns with big hearts – Grenfell

Caravanning Hints6 Comments

Elles’ beauty tips for girls of a certain age

November 8, 2021 Itching for Hitching

Girls, you know those cold mornings when you’re free camping and you have no power to dry your hair? Well, Elle has the answer. Her dodgy knees prevent her from kneeling on the floor with her head in front of the diesel heater outlet like the young ones (like me) do. Her solution is to fling herself across the bed with her head hanging over the edge to catch the rising air from the heater. For the sake of space and weight everything must have two uses on a caravan. I’m sure those ladies with gas and diesel heaters in … Continue reading Elles’ beauty tips for girls of a certain age

Overheard6 Comments

Keeping up with the news

November 7, 2021 Itching for Hitching

When we’re on the road we enjoy listening to local radio though sometimes things get a little hectic. One can be in the middle of what appears to be nowhere and the radio will be telling us about a rather busy local snowdropper (one who steals undies from clotheslines), our mates will be telling us on the CB of a galloping emu up ahead and then someone will ring with some gossip from back home or a great campsite they’ve found heaven knows where. We can be grateful for the lack of traffic sometimes. Here are a few choice ones: … Continue reading Keeping up with the news

Point of Interest, Qld2 Comments

Rollingstone General Store

November 7, 2021 Itching for Hitching

Winter 2016 We drive into Rollingstone which is a cluster of houses engulfed by tropical gardens, a school, a police station, a pub and a general store. The store is so typical of north Queensland and famous for its ham off the bone. The front door is a roller shutter. When the store is open the shutter is up, no fly screens, just the whole shop open to the warm tropical breeze. It sells everything, fuel, groceries, souvenirs, has a post office agency and even sells chunks of coral for six bucks. Which I might add, anyone can pick up … Continue reading Rollingstone General Store