Tag: Travel

Caravanning Hints2 Comments

Awning Cleaner

Itching for Hitching

Awnings get grubby pretty quickly thanks to gum trees and birds that like to leave their calling cards. Not to mention the odd beetle that ends up pressed like a flower when the awning is rolled up. Here’s a recipe from ‘Tuareg’ that works a treat: 1 bucket of water 1 cup bleach 1 Tbs dishwashing liquid Strip off your shirt and put your back into applying mixture to the awning.* Roll the awning up, this action puts the mixture on the other side as well. Have a beer while waiting 20 minutes, then hose off. *Warning: If you are … Continue reading Awning Cleaner

Caravanning Hints8 Comments

Trip Nerves

Itching for Hitching

I find it hard to describe the feeling of the first day, the setting out on each trip especially the big trips. Nerves, excitement, fear of having forgotten something or leaving the iron on. Then, is the fridge door snibbed? Is the towball locked on? Will we travel safely? But hey, we could be bowled over on the way to our corner shop without having had any adventure. I keep glancing in the side mirror to check that the van is really there, yep we’re on the road. Then horror upon horror, did we pack Woody’s hearing aids? Quaking at … Continue reading Trip Nerves

The Pubs, Vic2 Comments

He didn’t each much

Itching for Hitching

Our club muster dinner was at a busy and bustling hotel in a Victorian Western District town. The meals were delicious and large. We all ate well especially Jack who ordered Pork Belly, the waitress called out “Jack” and served him a Pork Roast. Jack tucked into his dinner with gusto. A few minutes later she returned and called out “Jack, Pork Belly”. We all looked up and Jack realized that he had been eating someone else’s meal. Don then owned up to having ordered the Pork Roast. Brandishing the roast the waitress proudly announced “he only had a couple … Continue reading He didn’t each much

Freedom Camp, Vic9 Comments

B Crossing

Itching for Hitching

The residents of Seymour, Vic have done a great job in providing a free camp at historic B Crossing. Just out of town on Northwood Road and beside the Goulburn River this is the perfect spot for a first night out of Melbourne. There are plenty of grassy sites and most are level with views of the river. There is plenty of shade and of course sunny spots for the TV buffs who need satellite reception. There is a charming old wooden bridge that requires quiet contemplation. Now if only we could fish, that would make it perfect.         Continue reading B Crossing

Places, WA6 Comments

Well Salted

Itching for Hitching

      At Shark Bay in WA, we swim at Little Lagoon just out of the town of Denham. It is one and a half times more salty than normal sea water and it is impossible to stay on the bottom. On a warm afternoon, we and others are bobbing about like corks. Nearby Shell Beach is home to millions of tiny Fragum cockle shells. They say there are 4000 per square metre but how did they arrive at that figure did they weigh them or count them? The water here is twice as salty as normal sea water. Any … Continue reading Well Salted

Freedom Camp, Vic4 Comments

Grantham’s Bend

Itching for Hitching

Just out of Wahgunyah and across the Murray River from Corowa is a free camp called Grantham’s Bend. It is on a broad bend of the river and there is plenty of safe camping space. There are no facilities so you will have to bring your own (toilet, shower, water and power). By safe I mean without overhanging branches. For those that aren’t familiar with this area the grand old river Red Gums like the one in the photo are prone to drop enormous limbs with no warning at all. It is not uncommon to hear a mighty crack and … Continue reading Grantham’s Bend

Places, WA3 Comments

Chookinup Flats

Itching for Hitching

At Nannup in Western Australia’s tall timber of the south we miss our turn off so we just take the next available road which becomes quite interesting if not a little bumpy. We see hand written signs for “Chookinup”. Well I guess everything around here ends in UP anyway. Eventually we find a free range chicken farm with hundreds of chooks scratching about in the dirt. Their hen houses are old caravans! Which only goes to show, that not all caravans end their lives up on blocks at old seaside caravan parks with signs nailed on the front declaring “This’ll … Continue reading Chookinup Flats