Had a busy day, set off from Lake Elphinstone by 8AM and headed firstly 200kms to Bowen to collect the battery charger ordered for delivery to the Bowen Post Office. Did grocery shopping and filled up with petrol.With the bus problems of late I decided to fill up with the higher octane fuel to see if that made any difference to the idling and hard starting. Arrived at Home Hill 100kms up the road to find that I could leave the bus idling whilst I checked in at the showgrounds.
Went first to the Home Hill Comfort Station free camp to find that it was full of mobile homes, the ones that had previously been at some convention in Townsville. I could have fitted in but knowing that Chris and Paul were coming along behind it seemed sensible to book in to the showgrounds. Found out that the mechanical service had moved from adjacent to the free camp and I inquired as to their new location only to find that it was now in Townsville. Went to the Highway Service Centre down towards the showgrounds and made an appointment for Tuesday to have an initial inspection.
They were too busy to fit in an appointment to do the job then but have time on Wednesday so we have made bookings at the showgrounds for 3 nights. Excellent facilities with a powered site with water for $10 per night and a happy hour thrown in. Had a visit from Barrie who recognized the bus from my avatar then phoned Doug who is temporarily living in Townsville and has recently bought a new Colarado. He was looking to drive around building up the kms for his first service and has decided to drive down here tomorrow so we are looking forward to catching up with him again.
Will take a few photos tomorrow morning around the showgrounds so you can see what to expect when you visit here. I must say that the trains do run close by and seem to do shunting exercises at night. Can't remember when I last had 240 volts plugged in to the bus so took advantage of the microwave for a McCains frozen meal. Tried out the new battery charger only to find that the house batteries were 100% charged and the cranking battery had travelled 300kms and also was fully charged. Clearly didn't need the power but the cost here is $10 whether you plug in or not. John
Dougwe said
05:39 AM Jul 1, 2014
I'm sure you will get everything sorted out in no time John. You seem to know exactly where to go and who to see to get things right, always good to read you posts here and your Blog my friend.
Oh! It's not actually a service on the Colorado, it's a 3000km FREE CHECK. I am at the halfway mark already. I want to get that done before I leave the Tropics for the Arctic climate. It feels a bit like that here in Townsville this morning actually 10c . I must be turning into a banana bender :)
Looking forward to seeing you all about midday.
halfpint said
07:37 AM Jul 1, 2014
Hi john, show grounds sound good. Do they have showers there as well. ??. Homehill is a nice place.chat soon.
yeoeleven said
08:25 AM Jul 1, 2014
halfpint wrote:
Hi john, show grounds sound good. Do they have showers there as well. ??. Homehill is a nice place.chat soon.
Yes Patty there are hot showers in both Home Hill locations, now on the coast so Optus is working fine.
Just added a pic to show how well the feral look is progressing. John
shekon said
08:31 AM Jul 1, 2014
Feral is very becoming to you John. Good to see you looking so well and great report also. More people there than down here. In Orange at present and it is FREEZING.
Hope all works out with the bus, and keep having a great time.
jules47 said
09:17 AM Jul 1, 2014
Morning John - good to read your report - hope the bus is ok - maybe using the higher octane is an answer - what about oil change?
Home Hill Showgrounds looks ok - and what a bargain, that whole town is so traveller friendly, other towns should take a lesson from them I think. Is the new IGA open? They had started to build it last time we were there.
Lovely warm days over here - very cool nights and early mornings - though some of the party don't see the early mornings.
Looking good in the photo - someone I know is going to not be happy when he says your beard!!!!!!
Heading a little bit further south today - still above Port Hedland though.
Take care - and say hi to your travel companions - Doug when he gets there!
They people who do Camps book were in here yesterday - travelling round doing updates etc., had a chat and he told us of a good spot we will try out next week I think.
See you!
oldboar said
09:35 AM Jul 1, 2014
Good to hear from you, young fella, but, are you aiming for a starring role in Jesus Christ Superstar.
Darrell & Sandra
kandagal said
10:27 AM Jul 1, 2014
John, You should be able to get a job in December moonlighting as a santa. Cheers from Alice & Keith
bill12 said
03:40 PM Jul 1, 2014
Halelujah, Jesus has come (to Home Hill showgrounds.)Nice to see you up in NQ. Don,t let Dougwe lad you astray......Bill
Poppy sore eye said
07:59 PM Jul 1, 2014
Hi John good to see you looking well, we loved home hill say hi to Donna and Vic for us, pleae tell Donna I broke my arm, it will amuse her!
when are you coming north we are not far in front of you.
billeeeeeee said
09:24 PM Jul 1, 2014
!!John!!, I'm not impressed with the length of your beard,,,Hmmmm ,, catch you down the track young fella,, Hehehe Billeeeeeee
-- Edited by billeeeeeee on Tuesday 1st of July 2014 10:13:33 PM
Hi Patty, the pic was taken during the Tassie trip Billeee and Jules came back suddenly and I was caught showering.
Thanks for all the comments and Jules the IGA hasn't reopened yet but the news had reached us before so I shopped at Bowen. Any one coming this way had better be aware that just at the turnoff to the showgrounds there is a small park opposite with lots of camping space and toilets, no signs up but it is watched and persons stopping overnight get booked.
OK now have had the bus checked over and the problem was the choke, it is held on to the carby with 3 bolts one of which had worked loose and fell out and the other 2 were loose allowing the setting to move off the correct line and allow too much fuel to flow. After that was all done I took my washing across to the Comfort Station and put $10 into the change machine getting 10 @ $1 coins, the washing cycle took 30 minutes allowing me plenty of time to visit the Info Centre. The drying cycle took 45 minutes so I took advantage of the free hot showers instead of sitting there looking at the collection of magazines. Spoiled for choice 'cos also had hot showers available at the showgrounds.
Doug came round as planned so all of the Grey Nomads sat round with plenty to discuss. Doug, Paul, Chris, Barrie and myself. I found a huge hardware, engineering shop and was able to buy a combination of pipes and bolts to make legs for my choofer using Rod's idea of drilling and inserting 3 bolts around the base then tightening them in place. Sliding a small sleeve over the bolt then tightening that in place allowing a bigger pipes to be slid over creating the legs. Easy to do on the road without welding equipment.
Today we are going to explore the local beaches and have a look round Ayre, this is great for me to be able to get around the locality where I am camped without decamping. The reason behind my decision to put a bigger motor in the bus and tow a small car, all much further down the track when I can save up to make it happen. I was offered a Blue 202 motor with an automatic gearbox attached for free by the young mechanic at the service centre, he had taken it out of VC Commodore and it was running well but as young mechanics do he wanted a more powerful replacement so this motor is sitting at his dad's place. Obviously I would like to take him up on his offer but the job would cost more than I can afford just now, I have his number if I can make it before leaving Qld. John
jules47 said
09:19 AM Jul 2, 2014
John - you always fall on your feet don't you - a free motor!!! What a bargain.
Good Oppy shop down a side street in Ayre, just around a corner not far from movie theatre.
Keep up the good work - enjoying yourself that is - as we will.
Dougwe said
09:42 AM Jul 2, 2014
It sure was great to catch up with the gang at Home Hill for sure, I got to meet a couple of people from GN's that I hadn't met before and that is always a good thing.
If anyone can make something happen it's john with his can do and positive attitude.
I will see you all again when you get to Townsville. I will be heading away from here myself soon after I reckon.
yeoeleven said
07:21 PM Jul 2, 2014
jules47 wrote:
John - you always fall on your feet don't you - a free motor!!! What a bargain.
Good Oppy shop down a side street in Ayre, just around a corner not far from movie theatre.
Keep up the good work - enjoying yourself that is - as we will.
Hi Jules,
A free motor for sure but the cost of installing it is beyond me now but am going to check out some costings just in case I can squeeze it in.
CYA later,
John
Nelly said
09:39 AM Jul 5, 2014
Great reading your stories of your travels John - sounds as though you enjoy yourself and that is great to hear.
Vic41 said
09:44 AM Jul 5, 2014
Having no idea where Home Hill was or what state it was in I googled it.
Had a busy day, set off from Lake Elphinstone by 8AM and headed firstly 200kms to Bowen to collect the battery charger ordered for delivery to the Bowen Post Office. Did grocery shopping and filled up with petrol.With the bus problems of late I decided to fill up with the higher octane fuel to see if that made any difference to the idling and hard starting. Arrived at Home Hill 100kms up the road to find that I could leave the bus idling whilst I checked in at the showgrounds.
Went first to the Home Hill Comfort Station free camp to find that it was full of mobile homes, the ones that had previously been at some convention in Townsville. I could have fitted in but knowing that Chris and Paul were coming along behind it seemed sensible to book in to the showgrounds. Found out that the mechanical service had moved from adjacent to the free camp and I inquired as to their new location only to find that it was now in Townsville. Went to the Highway Service Centre down towards the showgrounds and made an appointment for Tuesday to have an initial inspection.
They were too busy to fit in an appointment to do the job then but have time on Wednesday so we have made bookings at the showgrounds for 3 nights. Excellent facilities with a powered site with water for $10 per night and a happy hour thrown in. Had a visit from Barrie who recognized the bus from my avatar then phoned Doug who is temporarily living in Townsville and has recently bought a new Colarado. He was looking to drive around building up the kms for his first service and has decided to drive down here tomorrow so we are looking forward to catching up with him again.
Will take a few photos tomorrow morning around the showgrounds so you can see what to expect when you visit here. I must say that the trains do run close by and seem to do shunting exercises at night. Can't remember when I last had 240 volts plugged in to the bus so took advantage of the microwave for a McCains frozen meal. Tried out the new battery charger only to find that the house batteries were 100% charged and the cranking battery had travelled 300kms and also was fully charged. Clearly didn't need the power but the cost here is $10 whether you plug in or not. John
Oh! It's not actually a service on the Colorado, it's a 3000km FREE CHECK. I am at the halfway mark already. I want to get that done before I leave the Tropics for the Arctic climate. It feels a bit like that here in Townsville this morning actually 10c . I must be turning into a banana bender :)
Looking forward to seeing you all about midday.
Hi john, show grounds sound good. Do they have showers there as well. ??. Homehill is a nice place.chat soon.
Yes Patty there are hot showers in both Home Hill locations, now on the coast so Optus is working fine.
Just added a pic to show how well the feral look is progressing. John
Hope all works out with the bus, and keep having a great time.
Home Hill Showgrounds looks ok - and what a bargain, that whole town is so traveller friendly, other towns should take a lesson from them I think. Is the new IGA open? They had started to build it last time we were there.
Lovely warm days over here - very cool nights and early mornings - though some of the party don't see the early mornings.
Looking good in the photo - someone I know is going to not be happy when he says your beard!!!!!!
Heading a little bit further south today - still above Port Hedland though.
Take care - and say hi to your travel companions - Doug when he gets there!
They people who do Camps book were in here yesterday - travelling round doing updates etc., had a chat and he told us of a good spot we will try out next week I think.
See you!
Darrell & Sandra
Hi John good to see you looking well, we loved home hill say hi to Donna and Vic for us, pleae tell Donna I broke my arm, it will amuse her!
when are you coming north we are not far in front of you.
!!John!!, I'm not impressed with the length of your beard,,,Hmmmm ,, catch you down the track young fella,, Hehehe Billeeeeeee
-- Edited by billeeeeeee on Tuesday 1st of July 2014 10:13:33 PM
Good picture Billeeee, that was awhile ago
Lookn home John, it suits you
Hi Patty, the pic was taken during the Tassie trip Billeee and Jules came back suddenly and I was caught showering.
Thanks for all the comments and Jules the IGA hasn't reopened yet but the news had reached us before so I shopped at Bowen. Any one coming this way had better be aware that just at the turnoff to the showgrounds there is a small park opposite with lots of camping space and toilets, no signs up but it is watched and persons stopping overnight get booked.
OK now have had the bus checked over and the problem was the choke, it is held on to the carby with 3 bolts one of which had worked loose and fell out and the other 2 were loose allowing the setting to move off the correct line and allow too much fuel to flow. After that was all done I took my washing across to the Comfort Station and put $10 into the change machine getting 10 @ $1 coins, the washing cycle took 30 minutes allowing me plenty of time to visit the Info Centre. The drying cycle took 45 minutes so I took advantage of the free hot showers instead of sitting there looking at the collection of magazines. Spoiled for choice 'cos also had hot showers available at the showgrounds.
Doug came round as planned so all of the Grey Nomads sat round with plenty to discuss. Doug, Paul, Chris, Barrie and myself. I found a huge hardware, engineering shop and was able to buy a combination of pipes and bolts to make legs for my choofer using Rod's idea of drilling and inserting 3 bolts around the base then tightening them in place. Sliding a small sleeve over the bolt then tightening that in place allowing a bigger pipes to be slid over creating the legs. Easy to do on the road without welding equipment.
Today we are going to explore the local beaches and have a look round Ayre, this is great for me to be able to get around the locality where I am camped without decamping. The reason behind my decision to put a bigger motor in the bus and tow a small car, all much further down the track when I can save up to make it happen. I was offered a Blue 202 motor with an automatic gearbox attached for free by the young mechanic at the service centre, he had taken it out of VC Commodore and it was running well but as young mechanics do he wanted a more powerful replacement so this motor is sitting at his dad's place. Obviously I would like to take him up on his offer but the job would cost more than I can afford just now, I have his number if I can make it before leaving Qld. John
Good Oppy shop down a side street in Ayre, just around a corner not far from movie theatre.
Keep up the good work - enjoying yourself that is - as we will.
If anyone can make something happen it's john with his can do and positive attitude.
I will see you all again when you get to Townsville. I will be heading away from here myself soon after I reckon.
Hi Jules,
A free motor for sure but the cost of installing it is beyond me now but am going to check out some costings just in case I can squeeze it in.
CYA later,
John
Having no idea where Home Hill was or what state it was in I googled it.
Interesting how it got it's name;
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Home_Hill,_Queensland
-- Edited by Vic41 on Saturday 5th of July 2014 09:20:37 PM