TUESDAY 22 APRIL     BATHURST

With the shops open again after Easter, we did some shopping for supplies.

Came across a gallery that featured photographs as art. Spent some time talking with the owner – a former teacher. Actually, I reckon some of my photos were as good as some he had on display.

We had a series of phone calls about Truck. Some of the parts needed, that had been damaged when the brake came apart,  were not available on such short notice. They knew we were on a deadline, so they made temporary repairs that they promised should see us through until we get home again.

Truck was ready at 3pm. We had to pay $460 for the temporary repair, but hope to get that refunded later, from the clowns in Melbourne. The mechanic also found “recycled” split pins in a front brake that would also have broken shortly. He replaced those with new ones and gave those to us, as evidence. What sort of operation reuses such things – I mean, how expensive are they? They also gave us a very frank letter, detailing what they had found, and their opinion of such work! They had no qualms about putting it in writing, which said a lot!

We returned the hire car, with me driving Truck while John delivered it. Was quite a relief to be back in our normal transport.

Refuelled Truck at a Woolworths fuel centre – 97cpl.

Back at the caravan park, found that some twit had parked his caravan in our car parking space. He had, of course, gone off somewhere. So that made our packing up somewhat less convenient. His van was very close to ours. When he got back, he must have realized, but there was no apology.

John had another upsetting phone call with the wayward daughter.

We now had five days to get to Adels Grove – 2600kms away…….Would therefore have to average over 500kms a day. We were definitely going to have to find a better service centre for Truck, once home again – after they had remedied the problems they caused! If only we could find a dealership that was as good as the one in Bathurst!