We’re staying in town at the moment, camped up in the backyard of one of Thommo’s mates until the road to the station is graded and driveable for a 2WD vehicle. We’ve been seeing the sights and stocking up on provisions for when we go to the station.
It’s great having all the mod cons but it has also been majorly important because our host has a good mate who is known as “The Professor.” He is the local mechanical guru and he quickly found the cause of our mysterious “clonk”. It seems that the bracket that secures the left hand anti-rollbar rubber has snapped off (we heard it snap just outside of Binnaway). Amazingly, the loose bracket AND the rubber remained roughly in place for the next 2000+ kilometres until we got here.
So tomorrow we’re going to unbolt the other end, weld the two pieces back together and we will have a much quieter progress for the rest of the journey.
Mount Isa is a lovely town if you can just get used to the fact that the mine and the smelter are at the western end of the main street of the town. Somehow I imagined that it would be out in the sticks away from the town for environmental reasons, but it’s not.
(photo by Helena Hall)
Strangely, there seems to be a lack of motorcycles in town. I have seen one scooter so far and that’s it. Out on the road we passed several groups of motorcycles heading east, doing the outback touring thing. Not for me, I’m afraid, I like my corners!
Well, that’s it for today, another beautiful day here in FNQ.
dunc says
good you found the source of the noise and getting it fixed.Trip looking good so far from the pics .Keep enjoying .
Phil Hall says
Oh, we are, don’t worry.