by Ruth Nott
Alice Springs Beanie Festival 2023 >
“I’VE BEEN EVERYWHERE MAN” by Ruth Nott (76 yrs), Murwillumbah NSW
Made of pure wool wet felted and needle felted. Other materials used include pipe cleaners wood stone and plastic for windows.
THE STORY OF THE “I’VE BEEN EVERYWHERE MAN” BEANIE
I have been friends for a very long time with a couple who volunteer at the Beanie Festival every year. They always talked about this festival, about the friendship, the craft and the trip to get there.
They own a VW Kombie camper (original) and decided to drive it to the Festival and convinced us to go with them three years ago. As the VW is of the 1970’s era it is very slow compared to our later model vehicle, it also has to stop more frequently for fuel.
We set off from the Gold Coast, first night at Muckadilla. Next morning, with frost on the ground at least one of us had a cold shower.
On to Barcaldine where we camped in the showground. We had to take swift action in the middle of the night to fold down awnings and put chairs and tables away so they didn’t get blown into next week.
Enjoying the scenery through Ilfracombe and Longreach, the towns seemed to get further apart. Arrived in Cloncurry for the net overnight stop.
The following day was a very long one covering about 750 klms. to arrive at The Three Ways Roadhouse at Warumungu.
Our final days travel was much shorter, only 530 klms. to Alice Springs.
The whole trip (one way) was 3050 klms. and I am sure that the old Kombie breathed a sigh of relief to have got there safely.
We were all ready for the Beanie Festival and for us lots of sight seeing was also on the agenda.
Having had just over a weeks rest this wonderful old girl then had to face the return journey.
My beanie is a tribute to the VW, proving that “as we grow older we can still achieve our goals, maybe just done a little slower”
Since that trip the Kombie has again visited Alice – via a different route – with plans to do it again in 2023.
Alice Springs Beanie Festival 2023Amazing Australia ‘An Emu Stole my Beanie, LOL!’ Around Mornington Bush Medicine Bush Turkey City to Outback Cocky tjuta Coober Pedy Space Ship Critters of Barkly Donkey Tjuta Emu Tjuta Galahs Galahs II “I’VE BEEN EVERYWHERE MAN” Kermit at the Boab “LARAPINTA” “My Tale’s Told!” Migrants Trunk Night Sky “935 Leagues over the Sea” Pricilla Queen of the Henhouse Puppy Rainbow Travels Red River Gums Relaxing in the Creek Road Trip Snorkel Barrier Reef Space Travel ‘Spirit of the Land’ The Mulyawonk The Unwilling Traveller Tiger Tail Tjulkuru Flowers Tramps Pack Ukranian Flower Crown Visiting my family Wanakiji (Bush tomato) Waratah and Wattle Wildlife seen on travels 2023 Trophies The Great Australian Roadtrip
Alice Springs Beanie FestivalAlice Springs Beanie Festival 2008 Alice Springs Beanie Festival 2012 Alice Springs Beanie Festival 2013 Alice Springs Beanie Festival 2014 Alice Springs Beanie Festival 2018 Alice Springs Beanie Festival 2019 Alice Springs Beanie Festival 2021 Alice Springs Beanie Festival 2022 Alice Springs Beanie Festival 2023 Beanie Maker Artisan
Blog & Archive > Bird Watching at the Beanie Festival 2021 | Bird Watching at the Beanie Festival 2023 | Wildlife at the Beanie Festival 2023 | Snapshots from the Alice Springs Beanie Festival