Wed, 5th July, 2023 Waverley Creek Rest Area, south of St Lawrence to Dale’s place, Mackay, Qld

21 degrees and that wet feeling on everything from the rain overnight. Quick breakfast then back on the road.

The sun is trying to burn through the clouds as we head northward. Stopped for some diesel at a little place, Ilbilbie then through another little township of Koumala. Crossed over the creek on the north side and heard a loud pop. I thought it was a tyre but the sensors didn’t go off then Steve went oh no as he saw white smoke pouring out the exhaust pipe. He knew the turbo had blown. There was not much room off the side of the road as there was a deep gutter but he got off enough where there was a culvert. He checked things over and he was right.

I rang a few Mackay towing companies but wasn’t have much luck. At last we got onto Bryce at Steerys Towing and he was able to come and pick us up later in the afternoon. He wouldn’t be able to get us where we were so Steve went for a walk and found a firm track back at the creek that we could back up into so the tilt tray could get off the highway and load us on. Steve got the truck going and we smoked out the highway (oil down the exhaust pipe) as we turned around and went back the 100m to the track. Backed in and made lunch. Rang Greg & Kristine to say we won’t be making it then rang Dale to see if we can park up on his front lawn. Luckily he is in town so that will be great. Rang Terry and sent the boys a text.

Bryce arrived with his shiny new truck - all sparkly for the Townsville Supercars that start on Friday. He will be one of the tow vehicles around the track. Lovely chap and he got us loaded on easily and off we went to Mackay.

Around to Dale’s place and he backed us up on the side grass by the driveway. Such wonderful friendly service but we hope we never need him again. Much cheaper than the trip on the Gibb too!

Steve got to work under the bonnet and it was definitely the turbo but luckily nothing else. We nearly made it back to Cairns. After all the remote places we have been it was lucky it did it here so we could get help - always good to look on the brighter side as it could always have been worse. Dale came home from work.

I had looked up Eclipse Turbo’s phone number from when we had the replacement in Darwin last year. Unfortunately there was no answer and then I checked the website and it has closed. Obviously their turbos weren’t doing the job and they have gone out of business. Well they certainly didn’t do the job for us. Now to try and find a secondhand one tomorrow from a wreckers so we can get back to Cairns.

Had a good night chatting with Dale and watching car shows etc on his big TV screen.