Struth! Down a stubbie at Drinkastubbie Downs

IN his continuing search for the more weird, wacky and wondrous in the world of travel, David Ellis says that his retired schoolteacher brother and wife found two sides of our approach to a cold drink on a hot day during a recent campervan adventure through the Outback and inland Australia.

A couple of Canberra-ites, John and Diane Ellis joined the droves of Grey Nomads and headed into Central Australia, up to the Gulf country, down the Queensland coast, inland through central Queensland and across the border into NSW's north-western corner, and back home, a sojourn of some six weeks to escape much of Canberra's winter.

Enjoying a bottle of wine nightly whether camping or taking a bed in a remote country pub or motel, when they arrived in Mount Isa they went in search of fresh supplies for the coming nights, and unable to find a bottle shop, asked a mature, well-dressed lady in the main street if she could assist with directions.

John says he was taken aback when she snapped back somewhat haughtily: "No. They all drink far too much out here in the pubs as it is, without having bottle shops as well!"

This rebuff was made up for, however, when John and Diane discovered a cattle property near Charters Towers that was obviously not owned by a person of the same persuasion as the lady in Mount Isa.

It was called DRINKASTUBBIE DOWNS.