An unscheduled trip to Bedourie

Before arriving in Farina we thought we could smell gas coming from the cupboard under our sink in the ensuite. Mind you at that time it was just a very faint smell.

We were still on the blacktop and had not yet hit the dirt so we could still cook and have hot showers. 

We aired down in Marree like we normally do whenever we are towing the van over dirt roads. The 4wd tyres were reduced to 32 psi and the van's tyres to 25 psi, to ensure we cushioned both vehicles.

Our trip along the Birdsville Track wasn't really harsh although the floodways and dry creek beds were very rough and stony.

On arrival at Mungerannie on went the gas to heat up our shower water, but the smell of gas was so overpowering we turned the valve off immediately.

A spray bottle with soapy water indicated gas escaping from a hairline crack on the bottom nut of the tap that isolates gas to the hot water system.

We'd already planned to eat at the roadhouse that evening. As we are heading to the 'Bash' we'd also purchased large wet wipes to be used on off days, so all our requirements were met.

By the time we arrived in Birdsville the crack in the nut had enlarged with part of it broken away.

Oh dear, here we were in Birdsville and planning on being here for seventeen days. We'd be without any cooking or hot water for this whole period. We dreaded the thought that our only possible option would be to drive to Mt Isa for repairs, with a round trip of over 1300 km.

There was no one here in Birdsville who could help, so I rang the information centre in Boulia without success and as a last resort rang the shire office in Bedourie. Luckily for us, they had a gas plumber working for them and they would have him contact us.

Thankfully as soon as he rang me back we headed the 187 km to Bedourie, arriving just at lunchtime. We parked opposite the pub and Wayne our saviour called around ten minutes later and checked the damage and said he'd be back at three after finishing work. 

While we waited we wandered across the road to the pub for one of there $10 lunch specials and a cold beer. Mind you both the exterior and interior, look like there have been no improvements carried out in a bloody long time.  

The saga continued on from here with Wayne unable to find the right-sized nut in the council workshop, in the end, he used a drill press on a smaller nut to make it fit. All this took just on two hours to complete.

When I asked him how much for his time he said $50 would do. However, we were just so grateful that we didn't have to drive to the Isa so we gave him $250 instead.

We headed south for 68 km to spend the evening camped at Cuttaburra Crossing. We have passed by here on more than one occasion so thought this would do us nicely. That evening we enjoyed a lovely hot shower, hot meal and a coffee thanks to Wayne.

An early start the next morning with just 120 km until we reached Birdsville.