Satellite
  • Day 2

    So near, and yet so far.

    July 12, 2020 in Australia ⋅ 🌧 6 °C

    Bit tired tonight.
    We are booked into a pet friendly motel in Taree for the night.

    We left Goulburn at 9am this morning and it was such a glorious day.
    The rain had disappeared and the sun was shining.
    And I found the chocolate milk in Bumper’s fridge.
    Emily had bought it for me and I had forgotten.
    So I had chocolate milk with toast!
    Great breakfast!!!

    Wonderful driving day..
    We went a lot further than planned because we were having fun.

    Very glad we were driving around Sydney on a Sunday.
    If that was the traffic skirting Sydney on a Sunday, heaven only knows what it is like on a weekday.

    But as we headed north, the traffic was thinning.
    Lots of people coming back into Sydney on the other side of the road though.

    So I am following Bumper.
    Looking at those perfectly painted rubbers and back window...
    And Emily leads the way...
    Heading into Taree .... about 2km out ....
    Emily pulls over to the side of the road....
    I pull in behind her and put the Emergency lights on flash.
    Something has dropped down under Bumper.
    Something quite big.
    Being as mechanically minded as we are we thought, “That doesn’t look good.”

    And it didn’t.

    Rang RACV..... luckily both have Total Care (planned)
    Driving a 1981 bus and a 20 year old Hi Ace .... can’t do without it.
    RACV very confused, then rang NSW version and got things organised.

    A lovely ‘man in a van’ Glenn arrived.
    Thought he was Ted’s brother (Phyll and Ted)
    So we had a ball.
    ( He didn’t think it looked good either.)
    Rang the tow truck.
    He arrived.
    Loaded poor Bumper onto the back of a truck and followed that truck into Taree.
    Moved Winston into Tin Tin....
    Took all we thought Emily needed out of Bumper...
    And left him sitting forlornly outside the mechanics.

    Booked into this pet friendly motel
    (Didn’t know they existed.)
    Very comfortable.
    500 metres from the mechanics.
    Emily will head down there in the morning.

    We are 2.5 Hours from Daryl and Martine’s at Sandy Beach.
    So near, and yet so far.....

    Depending on what is said tomorrow.
    Obviously need a new tail shaft (or drive shaft ... whatever that thing is)
    But will have to wait for parts I think.
    Both RACV guys said it looks like a bolt has come loose or sheared off.
    Anyway....

    So we think that we will leave Bumper to be fixed, drive to Sandy Beach and have fun...
    And come back down to pick up Bumper.

    That’s the plan tonight.
    Subject to change ....

    We are fine.
    You just deal with it.
    And very comfy watching TV on a very big bed in the motel room.

    Xxxxx
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