29th April – 3rd May, Days 13 - 18

Its five days since we updated our log and man a lot has happened in that time.  Mechanical issues have turned our plans on their head.  It has been a testing time but also a time of blessings too.

On Friday morning we set out from Lake Cargelligo and all was sweet.  The sun rises about 7:00am down here so when we started off at 8:30 am there were still shadows over the road.  The pavement was good and we were just settling in to cruising at about 80klms per hour when there was a sudden depression in the road in front of us. The surface was good but the whole road had sunk and we were on it before we had time to slow significantly.  The car and van behind us launched into the air and came down heavily.  We breathed a sigh of relief when we came out of it and there did not appear to be any issues. 

We carried on for about another 60 klms until we came to the main highway at Rankin Springs, a small whistle stop town with a Pub, Service Station, Store and a handful of houses.  We stopped for a leg stretch and found that there was oil all over the front of the van.  Further investigation showed that oil was leaking rapidly from the rear differential.

 Rankin Springs Township

We became instantly concerned.  It was over 100 klms to the next town which was our destination of Hay.

Ian went over to the service station and enquired about assistance.  He was greeted by a John Lennon look alike in small sun glasses and who appeared to have a hangover or maybe on drugs.  He pointed us to a chap leaning over a bowser talking to a farmer. Difficult to identify which one was the farmer. 

The workshop out back was just like a typical farm machinery shed with old half repaired equipment lying around everywhere.  There was no vacant floor space in the workshop so all work was being carried out on the dirt floor.  The only thing that gave us any confidence was the NRMA sign on the wall indicating he was the local emergency repair man.

Time to pray and we asked that the right people would assist us and supernatural wisdom and insight would be given them.  Also that we would know we were in the right hands by the peace given us.

We unhooked the van in the back laneway, (hoping that we would not be spending the night there) and Dave went to work checking it out.  He found the issue, one of the independent axles had shifted out of position in the diff.  Then wisely he rang Mitsubishi for their advice.  Two hours later he had it all back together, topped up with half a litre of oil and told us we could be on our way.

Not feeling confident about the long term success of the repair we decided to change our plans and head for Griffith 60 klms away in a different direction and make further investigations.  There we unhooked the van in a park and visited the Mitsubishi Service agent.  Here we met a great young manager who knew the issue well from similar instances he had seen in the Northern Territory.  He told us he could not complete the repair as it required an upgrade kit which had to come from Sydney and he was booked out for the next two weeks.  He did however agree to check out the axle to ensure all was OK and when they did they found the opposite side axle had come adrift also.  This was a much quicker repair as they had a hoist to lift the vehicle.

He then arranged with the service agent in Mildura to undertake the repairs on the following Tuesday advising him what parts had to be ordered and how to go about it.  He didn’t even want to charge us for all of this.  We had received our answers – the right people with wise advice and insight.  After we left each of the mechanics we had the peace that we had been led along the right path.

Back home to our van to watch the Royal Wedding. Then next morning we headed off toward Mildura a distance of 450 klms.  We admit to being a little anxious that morning.  A long way to travel with an unknown vehicle axle and not much civilisation along the way.

We stopped about every hour and checked for oil.  A few small drops appeared on the housing indicating the seal had been damaged but they did not seem anywhere as bad as we had seen it the previous morning. 

 A Shearers Shed outside Hay

We stopped at Hay and when it appeared to be holding we purchased some extra oil and headed off for Mildura.  We continue to check about every hour and there was little change so more confident we became.  The last check was at Euston about 70 k from our destination and it was holding.

Finally we made it to Mildura and checked into the caravan park.  It was then that we noticed oil on the underside of the van “A” frame and realised it had started to drip again.  We had only just made it into Mildura before it became dangerous.  We had been protected again.  God is good!  We slept well that night.

Sunday morning came and we could not go to church without a vehicle so we went to a pancake breakfast that the park was hosting.  There we met a wonderful couple, Bruce & Helen from Adelaide.  They were Christians too.  They were going sightseeing for the day and invited us to come with them.  We had a great day seeing things we probably would not have seen as they knew their way around the area well.  What a blessing!!

 

New found friends Bruce & Helen from Adelaide

Mildura is the centre of a prosperous wine growing area as well as fruit, livestock and tourism. The Murray river flows right through the city and the Caravan Park in which we were staying was on the banks. The river is flowing well and fast currently however the tourism industry is not doing as well as one would have thought. A steam powered paddle steamer plies the river as do many house boats.

 Red gums on the Murray

 Vinyards surround the city.

House boats in the Port of Mildura - Murray River

 

 Memorial Park Mildura



Monday was maintenance day for us as we cleaned and washed.

On Tuesday we headed off to the repair man and then walked around Mildura city sights.  The car was repaired successfully and we were free to move on again. 

Just s we said – a lot of trials and testing but also a lot of blessings.  We were on the road again.