Stuck beside the Stuart Hwy
Submitted: Thursday, May 28, 2009 at 18:52
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Member - Royce
So... a bit of a problem as I tour around.
Travelled up through NSW, Qld and across the Barkley Tablelands [the road is like a freeway compared to 20 years ago!!!!]
Had some time on my hands thank goodness, but hit a problem yesterday. The transit van died beside the hwy. I felt it was time to have a bit of aircon about 3pm.... as I turned it on.... she died on me!
I'm not sure what the connection is, but it looks like a fuel filter. I'm currently waiting for one to arrive at Daley Water Inn... nice!
The point of this post though is that non stopped for the first half hour. I had hazards flashing and parked in the shade of a tree. The bonnet was up and I stood expectantly beside the old girl as many a southern caravan was towed past. Nice friendly people .. they all waved. Finally I made up a
sign that read "HELP?".... severa nice friendly waves....
In frustration, I jumped in and turned her over. It started and I took off for another k or so. This time I stopped near a crest with my bum pointing out just a little. [had no choice dammit]
Almost immediately someone going the opp direction stopped and jumped out to offer assistance. No sooner had they headed off with a message for road side assist, than another stopped and took a message north. Then two more stopped.
The only ones to stop.... were.... Territorians. None with vans. Interesting. Two were tourists, and the other two.. not sure.
Okay... then another stopped.. a
grey nomad from Vic towing a van.
After that I pulled off the road, so things were not so obvious. She started up after a rest.
I wasn't worried. I had plenty of food and water and I felt sure someone would stop,.... but I think maybe 20 people passed initially.
Ah
well not to worry. I'll head off into the pub and get myself some barra and chips. Hooroo.
Reply By: Member - Fred G NSW - Thursday, May 28, 2009 at 19:16
Thursday, May 28, 2009 at 19:16
G'day Royce, hope things are back on track for you. We have just come that way, but turned left at the three ways and are in a nice little park tonight behind the Ti Tree roadhouse. Highly reccomended. Had 2 nights at Barkley
Homestead park, bloody sensational spot.I found every man and his dog wants to wave to you on the road, but as soon as they meet you face to face at the park they want to turn invisible. We lost a windscreen and had a wallaby hit the van like an excocet missile near
Barcaldine, but otherwise have had a great trip. Off to Alice tomorrow, and Curtain Springs on Sunday. One poor bugger sheared off the wheel studs of his patrol's right rear wheel, on the Barkley, and limped in late last night on 2 borrowed studs.
Anyway mate, enjoy the barra and chips, and have a trouble free run from here on.
Fred.
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Follow Up By: Member - Royce- Thursday, May 28, 2009 at 22:46
Thursday, May 28, 2009 at 22:46
I'm having the time of my life! At no stage do I see events like this as negative. I love it! I've been stuck in the middle of the Tanimi with a burning battery.... all sorts of adventures and always look back at them as highlights.... meeting great people, solving problems and collecting memories.
hey.. my first thought was that I had cooked the motor! A fuel problem... happy.
I once did a show for TiTree school.... arrived late at night and was greeted by two suspicious blokes with guns hanging out of their ute.
They turned out to be the local cop and principal of the school shooting rabbits on the school oval!
Cheers Royce
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Reply By: Motherhen - Thursday, May 28, 2009 at 21:47
Thursday, May 28, 2009 at 21:47
Hi Royce
I hope you're mobile again soon. We had a
breakdown on the Stuart Highway in SA - tow bar broke. No-one stopped, although we were barely off the black and obviously something was wrong. After i left my husband guarding the caravan and I was gone some hours, i think he only had one car stop.
Get off the black top in more remote areas, and everyone stops to offer help. We stopped to assist others on a couple of occasions. In one case on the Tanami road every passing tourist stopped and all waited until the vehicle was going again before leaving. In the case of travellers who had broken a camper trailer spring on the
Mereenie Loop, we and the other couple who stopped to help stayed with them and assisted each time they things came apart on the very slow journey to Kings Canyon. Along the
Gibb River Road and surrounds every car stops for a parked vehicle - even if you have just stopped to take a photo - or as one lady put it, she called to the sixth car that stopped "I just want to pee".
Motherhen
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Reply By: HGMonaro - Friday, May 29, 2009 at 10:32
Friday, May 29, 2009 at 10:32
pretty poor response if you're making an effort to attract their attention, especially a 'help'
sign!
I've stopped to ask if someone was ok several times.
Timed one just right... pulled up as the guy was just loading his vans spare wheel in the car (job done!). Said he was fine so we continued on and was flagged down by his mate heading back who had decided something was wrong and wanted to know if we'd seen the car/van combo along the road. Was able to tell them they would be along shortly.
When our wind-camper had a problem (wouldn't wind up!) we were besiged with offers of help, suggestions, and tools. Didn't get any 'real' help but was nice that serveral groups didn't just ignore our plight.
Helping others out reminds me of something else we saw a lot of 'outback'. People walking without sufficient water and inappropiate clothing, esp footware. We were at the top of Uluru and this guy was obviously exhausted and 'dying' for a drink. I heard his wife/partner saying she'd see if she could buy some water off someone so I offered them a bottle (I usually carry an extra one in my camera bag and the Mrs always has several in her backpack). She offered to pay but I declined.
Nige.
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Follow Up By: tim_c - Friday, May 29, 2009 at 13:55
Friday, May 29, 2009 at 13:55
Good points for thought - many would take advantage of someone like that, particularly in a "self-inflicted need". It's good just to help them without looking for something in return (apart from the hope that they will learn from their mistake). I agree, it is amazing how many you see at the top of
the Rock wearing just thongs or flimsy sandals!
No matter where we go, we will probably not think of everything (or might even forget something) - even if it might be so obvious to other people in the area (like a fuel filter in Royce's case!) and most of the time we get away with it.
Royce, I'd stop for you! It doesn't matter how many spare bits you carry, it's impossible to carry a spare of everything...
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