Yep, that time again when I do these updates, why, cos I have been asked yet again. I got a phone call the other day from a friend asking if I was still in the land of the living as I haven't done a update yet and been gone 2 weeks, so here goes.
Yep you heard correct, 2 weeks today In fact, on the knocker even.
I left base camp at 4.45am 2 Sunday's ago and boy has it been eventful, the tug has always been economically challenged so stopped a couple of times to refuel while aiming for a lovely free camp at Gunning NSW for the first night.
As I arrived in Yass NSW about 30km out of Gunning I decided to refuel ready for the next day, paid for said fuel and bugga me the tug would not start, nothing, ziltch, zero, dead as a do do. Because there was nothing I fiddled wth starter motor and got going, good. I decided I would head straight to my friends in Penrith where I would be staying with them for a week so rang them and all good, off I headed and managed to fight my way through mad Sydney traffic, you reckon Melbourne traffic is mad, you ain't seen noth'n. Thanks to Navlady I found the destination at 6.45pm and unhooked Avan and parked car before turning motor off, just incase.
I stayed with my friends for a week and really enjoyed catching up with them, we managed to get a bit of sightseeing done but it rained most of the time I was there so put a bit of a dampener on things, oops, sorry about that pun :))
Now during my time there I had a mechanic look at the tug and they found a loose plug on the side of the starter motor so fixed that and a couple of other things for me. all was good for the rest of the week.
I left Penrith Last Sunday and stopped a couple of times while heading for Byron Bay for a one night stand. I got to Coffs Harbour and refuelled then went to start tug, bugga not again, same as Yass. I tried doing the same thing but no go but stupidly managed to burn my left hand quite badly on the manifold so the NRMA had to get me going. I continued to Byron and set up before turning car off. I decided to stay an extra night and spent the next day cleaning around the starter motor area with brake cleaner because that dries quick and doesn't need rinsing. I also got 3x10 lt plastic fuel containers.
The plan was to start car in morning and not turn off till my next destination.
So off I headed early Tuesday morning heading for Gin Gin show ground for another one night stand. I filled the car from the containers while motor running then next servo filled the containers and so on, worked well too, although slow.
After starting car Wednesday morning I decided to make a run for it and do a 1000km, 13 hour drive to Townsville so did the same as yesterday with fuel.
I am now set up in Townsville, gee it's hot here. I found out today after talking to a friend of my daughter who is a soldier here in down town Townsville that has a bit of push at the army base that he will arrange for the car to be sorted so off to the army it goes tomorrow. Looks like if you want something done, call the army in. Have I said it's hot here?
I must admit though I'm a bit worried as he had a funny look on his face when telling me so I hope the car doesn't end up down the back of the base for target practice. Gee it's real hot here.
Remember that burnt hand well I ended up at the doctor this afternoon and have a infected third degree burn about 2" diameter on the outside of my left hand, bugga. Antibiotics were the order of the day and strapping of the hand, double bugga. I am not allowed to get it wet so there goes the iron man comp.
I will keep you all posted.
That's it for now so keep safe all, cos obviously I can't.
No pics this week as I'm trying to get used to this tropical humid heat. Have I said it's hot ?
DOUG
copper1 said
09:37 PM Apr 6, 2014
Hey Doug, BUGGER about the car might be time for a newie?? anyway hope all goes well from here on. Well we are at Mallacoota and gee its COOL here and mate the son in laws and I have been fishing and caught some nice Flatties and Gee its cool here, and the beer cooler .
Mate take care talk soon.
hako said
10:06 PM Apr 6, 2014
G'Day Doug, that burn of yours does not sound good so please keep a very close eye on it - humid air ain't the best for burns and I tell you that for free seeing as I lived up there for 20 years.
Regards
bill12 said
05:02 AM Apr 7, 2014
As a famous trouserless ex PM once said"life wasn,t meant to be easy",but it would be niceif it was. I got back a month ago, and wish I could have stayed south. Its still hot and humid in NQ, We have Cyclone ITA hovering about. I might have to give Joh Bjelke a brownpaper bag full of money, and get him to change the weather, and other things , for us.Don,t you worry about that.......See you soon, Bill
-- Edited by bill12 on Monday 7th of April 2014 05:03:55 AM
Helena said
06:38 AM Apr 7, 2014
Sorry to hear of your problems Dougie hope the hand heals quick for you. Getting cool in S.A. now. Hope you get the car sorted
yeoeleven said
10:07 AM Apr 7, 2014
Good that you have eventually arrived in Townsville, hope to catch up when we arrive there late May. The weather should have cooled by then, have I mentioned how cool it is here in Wuruma???? Beautiful camped in Edgewater on the dam.
John
aussietraveller said
12:30 PM Apr 7, 2014
Good to see you made it to Townsville with the tug a bit concerned about the army though it may end up with tracks instead of Tyre's although that may be beneficial, hope the Burn heals quick it's a pity didn't know you were in Penrith we live only couple of klm from there and would have been good to say gday maybe some time in the future out in the playground
-- Edited by aussietraveller on Monday 7th of April 2014 12:30:59 PM
freehazzas said
07:43 AM Apr 8, 2014
Oh no Dougwe, sounds like an eventful start to your trip, but not the sort you want.
I did hear the army were looking for tugs to teach their guys some combat driving. Lol
Dougwe said
08:58 AM Apr 8, 2014
Thanks all, tug joined the Army yesterday and hand has been to doctor so hopefully both getting sorted.
I haven't heard any explosions or shooting yet so maybe the tug is still in one piece although there is a few jets flying around the area so maybe the airforce are involved.
Howdy all,
Hey Doug, BUGGER about the car might be time for a newie?? anyway hope all goes well from here on. Well we are at Mallacoota and gee its COOL here
and mate the son in laws and I have been fishing and caught some nice Flatties and Gee its cool here, and the beer cooler 
.
Mate take care talk soon.
Regards
As a famous trouserless ex PM once said"life wasn,t meant to be easy",but it would be niceif it was. I got back a month ago, and wish I could have stayed south. Its still hot and humid in NQ, We have Cyclone ITA hovering about. I might have to give Joh Bjelke a brownpaper bag full of money, and get him to change the weather, and other things , for us.Don,t you worry about that.......See you soon, Bill
-- Edited by bill12 on Monday 7th of April 2014 05:03:55 AM
Good that you have eventually arrived in Townsville, hope to catch up when we arrive there late May. The weather should have cooled by then, have I mentioned how cool it is here in Wuruma???? Beautiful camped in Edgewater on the dam.
John
Good to see you made it to Townsville with the tug a bit concerned about the army though it may end up with tracks instead of Tyre's although that may be beneficial, hope the Burn heals quick
it's a pity didn't know you were in Penrith we live only couple of klm from there and would have been good to say gday maybe some time in the future out in the playground
-- Edited by aussietraveller on Monday 7th of April 2014 12:30:59 PM
I did hear the army were looking for tugs to teach their guys some combat driving. Lol
I haven't heard any explosions or shooting yet so maybe the tug is still in one piece although there is a few jets flying around the area so maybe the airforce are involved.