Oh its so good to be back with the family, I left on Saturday morning for Brisbane in Diana the new, old bus that I found in the paddock, that had been sitting there for 4 years at least, so they tell me. I replaced the clutch plate, cleaned it up and took it on a 6000 km round trip to pick up my boat. The old Diana drove well all the way there on 110 kms/hr non stop using 1ltr to 10 kms, and we arrived to the island at 4pm local time on Sunday. The next day I was booked on the barge at 1 pm, and we did make it with a lot of swearing, sweating and hoping to god the trailer hold up until I replace the tyres. All good by 2pm the next day, tyres, breaks, and lights all done on the side of the road heading out of Brisbane. Now my next biggest worry was the 900 meters above sea level nearly vertical climb up to Toowoomba: ha easy, no problem, all is good and we were on our way back home... Home is always where the family is, for me anyway...
Got to Blackall, a farming town in Central Qld and I noticed the temperature rising. After a quick diagnosis I found a pin eye hole on the radiator tank, so I pulled the radiator out, used some magic metal on the tank and we were on the road again. Got to Longreach, I noticed we were using lots of water and we were only towing at 70 kms/hr to keep temperature normal, so I limped into Mt Isa 700 kms away. Now only 989 kms home and the tow was as low as 40 kms/hr and nothing was going to stop me, so I kept going. 100 kms out of Camooweal I realized the problem was the timing belt had jumped a tooth or more causing the temperature to rise, so I gently bently my way into Camooweal. And I knew I had to get help, and I did in the form of my Ford Falcon being driven down to Camooweal 700 kms, by the local church pastor, god bless him... He got there at 4.30am Friday morning and I was as happy as Larry. Tied the tow rope to Diana, and the tow was on. Moving at 80 kms/hr, mini road train with two drivers and looking at getting home by 2 pm, only to stop 80 kms out of Camooweal: this time the old pastor used dirty fuel out of an old jerry can of his, and by this time I was thinking of changing my religion... Lucky I never had one!
Removed the fuel filter, tried to clean it to no good, so I put a nail through the filter making it direct. Started up, and we were on the road again stopping every 50 to 70 kms to bang the fuel pump to unblock it. 60kms out of Cape Crawford I went to avoid a kangaroo making Frank push me along with Diana and the boat behind him - won't do that again - and at 40 kms out of Borroloola out came roo, now bring it on, I hit the bastard and didn't stop. I was going home, and home I went. What a great trip. Love it.
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| Home at last. For now. |
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| To be fitted by the mechanic... myself, bush mechanic. |
