Charters Towers Thursday 23/09/2010

We didn't stop at The Lynd - did take a couple of photos though. There are a lot of roadworks and the van park we were going to stay in was right next door to the roadworks camp. We appreciate a good nights sleep so we went onto a free camp at Fletchers Creek. Had a really weird happening with the Navara though. Filled up at The Lynd roadhouse - pretty busy place - and on the road again. After we had been driving for about 1 hour or so - suddenly Navara lost power!!!!! Would not rev at all. Uh OH! Maybe we have blown a turbo....maybe the fuel was dirty........all sorts of things going through my mind !@#$#@%&^$. Next thing I know - Road train is behind me. Val got on the UHF quick smart to tell the truckie we had problems. He was really nice about it.....then another truckie got on the UHF...asking questions -- giving advice....couple of really great blokes. Eventually we pulled over to let the road train past - he wished us luck and told us where we could stop to phone Nissan  ---- of course there was no mobile phone coverage at this point - what do you expect - we were really in the boonies.

We eventually limped into a tiny little whistle stop, Bluewater Springs Roadhouse and had to use their phone - there was a public phone, but it only took cards - the whistle stop didn't sell the cards of course. Another big tick for Telstra! Anyway, eventually got onto Nissan Roadside Service......ha ha ha. They could not find details of the breakdown card so they asked for our name.....nope we don't own a Nissan. Try the rego......nope no Nissan reg at all.  Try the Vin No.------NOPE NO NAVARA WITH THAT NUMBER.  HA HA FKN HA.

Of course, using my mildest manner, I explained very nicely that they shouldn't bother - I would ring RACQ.
That was EXCACTLY the right thing to say. Suddenly we - should I say Val as she had the phone by then....were given some instructions..........wait for it. Lock the car, using the remote, unlock the car using the remote ---- do this a couple of times............AHA......the Navara is fixed. What a wonderful car - all you have to do to fix it if anything goes wrong is to open the doors a couple of times. I love this car more and more each day!!!!!!!!!!!!!

.

Here it is - Guiness Record Holder - the smallest bar in the world. The Lynd.

Yep, that's right - only 1 customer at a time!

Servo, Van Park, Bar - that's The Lynd.

Except for road works - this is about it for the road between Atherton and Charters Towers.

Sign at free camp Fletcher Creek. Very popular 'free camp' - when we were there it was overgrown and toilets were very stinky - lucky we have our own! Hope you can read the sign - it's a bit of interesting Aussie history.

More history!!!!!

Fletcher Creek - the next day it was flowing really fast.

Clear spot at Fletcher Creek.

Val putting the finishing touches to what was almost a really nice platter - later on as she was putting the glaze on it shattered. Val said "Oh Dear!"

Yep - that's a map!

Bit more history.....

and some more

hope this isn't boring.....only bit more to go.....

the end of this bit of history.

ours is the dirty one on the right - both are towed by Navaras.

and that's it for today.