Tag: victoria

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, 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

Freedom Camp, Places, Vic5 Comments

Lake Lascelles

Itching for Hitching

South from Mildura,Vic we take the B200, the Henty Highway which is flanked with bright yellow canola. It only seems like minutes before we reach the hamlet of Hopetoun. For such a small town accommodation choices abound. There is a caravan park and then there is the lake, Lake Lascelles. A small perfectly round lake fringed with sandy beaches and shaded by red gums. We pay $20 for a powered and watered site on the grass fronting the lake. There is an adequate camp kitchen and ablution block. On the eastern shore there is free camping with gold coin donation … Continue reading Lake Lascelles

The Characters You Meet, Vic11 Comments

The Friends You Make

Itching for Hitching

We are on our second caravan trip and we have decided to try this free camping caper. We arrive in Charlton to find a ghost town, everything is closed and the locals have all gone off to the Charlton Show. We park in a wide area behind the shops which is signposted as the Travellers Rest. We walk the deserted main street and then set off for the free camp at Teddy Waddy, 8kms north of town. Sadly it’s right on the main road, dusty and very exposed, it’s a bit disappointing, so we return to town and find that … Continue reading The Friends You Make

Vic, Well Bugger Me!3 Comments

Is There a Category for Caravans?

Itching for Hitching

We decide to spend a night in Mansfield as the town just happens to be gearing up for the High Country Targa Rally. The main street is lined with hay bales and there are race marshalls stationed on every corner. The caravan park is buzzing with motorsport talk and at 5:00pm in light rain we nip across to the owner’s house to take up his offer of watching the time trials from his deck. There are about fifteen of us crowded on the deck, the owner’s family, friends and patrons and we have the best view possible. Being on a … Continue reading Is There a Category for Caravans?

Places, Vic8 Comments

A Tale of Two Towns

Itching for Hitching

  We’re wandering along Victoria’s Bass Coast and drop in to reacquaint ourselves with Walkerville South. The road ends at the boat ramp and a sign declares that driving on the beach is not permitted here except for the launching of boats. For those not familiar with this area, the two tiny towns of Walkerville South and Walkerville North overlook Waratah Bay and are a mere few hundred metres apart. In years gone by the locals used to drive onto the sand and make a quick dash around the dividing headland at low tide. With driving on the beach no … Continue reading A Tale of Two Towns

The Characters You Meet, Vic5 Comments

Digital Buzz

Itching for Hitching

We wait patiently for our fish and chips at the San Remo Fishermans Co-Op in Victoria. We can’t help but be impressed by the slick operation as the place is packed and baskets are dropping into the fryers one after the other. Oh no, are crayfish really $125kg! Growing up in a fishing town we used to pay 10 shillings each for them whenever unexpected guests dropped in. But that was the 1950’s before global markets. Outside the co-op the sun sparkles on the water, fishing trawlers are tied to the wharf and traffic plies the bridge to the island. … Continue reading Digital Buzz

Freedom Camp, Vic4 Comments

Franklin River

Itching for Hitching

A friend had recommended this spot and it’s the Franklin River Reserve, near Toora in Victoria’s West Gippsland and it is perfect so we dash into Foster for supplies. There are swarms of cabbage butterflies flitting about the roadside in the sun. Foster is alive with shoppers and the shops are bright and cheerful. The local park is a picture with beds of annuals and colourful leafy vegetables. A little wooden bridge spans the creek where gold was first discovered. There are more flower beds down the centre of the main shopping street and a big old magnolia in the … Continue reading Franklin River