A Hickup on the way to Mount Isa

Today was an interesting, but frustrating day. Started out nice and early, 0700 from Longreach and aimed for Mt Isa about 650 kms. A big day, but with an early start very doable. The roads west of Longreach are better than East of the town, BUT, a few bad spots and very rough road works. Got to Cloncurry, early afternoon and felt the van was not towing right. Checked the van. found the right wheel hot and smelt of rubber, but couldn't find the cause easily. Drove on carefully and noticed the same problem and the van not towing straight. Found a road side stop about 10km out and pulled over. A young lady pulled over behind and said she was concerned as smoke coming from the right wheel. On closer inspection saw the wheel rubbing hard up against the front of the wheel arch and found a broken spring. Not good. Thanks to a colleague who loaned us a satellite ph I was able to call the RACQ and an hour later, the van on a flat top truck and we are back in a Cloncurry Caravan Park for at least 3 days. Hopefully get the spring taken out Monday and ???? a replacement sent from Townsville overnight on Monday, thats the plan, time will tell.

The night wasn't a total waste.  Had tea out and went to the Cloncurry show for the evening.  Saw a great demo of motocross jumping,  Tim you would have loved it, a 17 year old kid from Sydney doing back flips.  Then one of the best and funniest demolition derby's I have ever seen, and only two car fires.  Then a really good fire works display.  It has been a big day, disappointed we didn't get to Mount Isa, will probably have to drive through instead of stopping once we get going again.  Oh well, may be next time.

Forgot to mention the Brolga yesterday.  We thought we would have to get to Kakadu to see Brolgas, but no, three of them walking around the park at Longreach??   Saw some other interesting birds on the road today, but thats for another time.

By the way the manager of the park we are in at Cloncurry is from Warragul and he says there are two other vans from Warragul in the park at the moment, but haven't caught up to them yet.