Our dream cut short - and avoid Pardoo RH!

Hi there

We started our 'big one' four weeks ago today from Perth, heading north for a year's trip with a 5 year old, a 1 year old and a Windsor Rapid.

We have had such fun so far, until yesterday, when we lost a wheel just north of Pardoo. We are all safe and well fortunately but our poor van is a mess, a possible write-off.

Apart from being shocked and disappointed that our trip has ended already we have been amazed by the unhelpful attitude of the Pardoo Roadhouse. When we arrived and explained our situation the staff were very abrupt (well, downright rude) and just waved at the payphone and the business cards of a tow truck operator. They seemed put out when we asked for change for the payphone and when it began to work only intermittantly they refused to let us make a call on their phone (even though we offered to pay).

The last straw was when a staff member came rushing out of the roadhouse and accused us of tresspassing. We had parked just inside their small caravan park and I was sitting on the grass in the only piece of shade available so I could breastfeed my little one and entertain my 5 year old who had been so patient all morning. It was very upsetting, but quite bizarre too as we had even thought we would spend the night there.

So for any WA travellers I would suggest you give this unfriendly roadhouse a miss.

On a more positive note we are so grateful to the travellers who stopped to check that we were OK, particularly the party of 4 who were first on the scene and the lovely family from south WA who helped look for our errant wheel. And three cheers to the Pardoo Station for putting us up and helping us organise a tow truck on a Sunday.

Hopefully we will get back on the road in the not too distant future.

Thanks for listening to me unload ....