Sunday 12/7/2009

Today is Adams birthday so we an incentive to make Adelaide. We rise earlier than normal, a quick top up at Maccas, hot chocolate and fruit loaf, diesel again and of we go. No sooner than we have left the Hill when a warning light shows up on the dash. This was major concern because we discovered that our handbook and service record were missing. I quickly realized that they had not been put back into the car when we had it serviced before we left. What to do. At the next rest stop there just happened to be a Nissan patrol about our vintage parked. A quick polite request and I had a handbook to inspect. Seems that the problem could be water in the fuel filter which had to be drained. I concluded that only a mechanic could perform this task so on we went. The warning light stayed off for awhile which made me feel better. Further down the track we asked a traveller who was free camping at a wayside stop who also had a Patrol if he had any experience with this problem. He proceeded to inspect the offending filter only to gash the back of his hand in doing so. An embarassed Greg and Sharyn decided to move on. At the small stop that is call Yunta I decided to tackle the problem myself. I managed to drain something from the filter and thought I had done a good job. On starting the car I now know why I wasnt meant to be a mechanic. The car wouldnt start and when it did the engine did not sound good at all. Seems that I let some air into the fuel line but when it had passed all was good. The little light came on again but who cares we are in sight of home. It was a long and tiring trip and as soon as we had put the van into its spot we went to wish Adam a happy birthday. Gee it was good to get to bed.

A great trip over with no regrets. We had a great time with friends at Barmera on the first part of the journey and that continued with Robyn and Bob Simunsen until we parted company at Moree. A highlight were the hot spas at Moree and I would urge anybody travelling that way to stop and enjoy the therapy of the water. It does really work. Sharyn and I have decided that next time which should be next year that we are doing the quick dash to the warmer parts and staying put for some time. Thanks to everybody who have monitored this blog with a special thanks to Cyril. I apologised for the lack of photos but I found that all up the text was all I could manage given the time available.

See you next time next BLOG.