6.30am 18 degrees, heavy fog. Ray’s birthday today so sent off a message.
Headed off after saying thanks to Dale for his help and his front lawn!
Filled up with diesel ($2.195/L). Got 4.8km/L (20.8L/100km) which is better than the previous motor (4.1km/L - 23 to 25L/100km) so that’s a plus considering we had been pushing through a head wind a lot of the way. Hopefully it will get better as the motor is run in.
Drove back to the Ring Road to avoid the lights and traffic through Mackay - much better. The sky looks heavy with smoke but I can’t smell so might just be the fog being held low. Carol pointed out that it is now pronounced Mackay as in Mack ‘hay’ whereas we have been saying Mack ‘hi’ for years - apparently a Mayor way back changed the pronunciation to enhance the town whereas it was named after Mr Mackay (pronounced with the hay).
The smoky/foggy sky continued but then cleared when we neared Sarina. We passed where we were broken down in July with the blown turbo so that’s a good sign.
The smoky sky is back. Spotted some brolgas by the road near Carmila.
Stopped for a cuppa at Clareview - blue sky and tide is out.
The WAGS (or CWA) had a market of all kinds of things and Steve spotted some yummy desserts so we got a delicious passionfruit cheesecake to have with our cuppas. I also bought a bottle of mango chilli sauce which is great for salads and as a dipping sauce.
The smoky sky is back as we near Malborough. Steve is happy with the temperature (around 93 degrees) with the new fans. He turned them off when we were driving along at 100k/h and the temp went up 3 degrees so even at that speed the fans were pulling more air through. Sent Dale a text with the temperature update.
The road from St Lawrence seems a lot rougher - too many trucks!
The smoke haze disappeared again about 50km from Rocky. Strange! Puffy white clouds are we head into town through more road works. Saw some silos painted up with big words - Start Rocky Bypass 2023 You Promised. Certainly would be a good idea as we worked our way through all the street lights and out the other side and headed to Bouldercombe to visit Jeff. Lyn is still away with their daughter in UK, having a great time which is wonderful.
Jeff had cooked up some Barra, chips and homegrown beans & peas for lunch which we wonderful of him. Chatted away for a while then he had to head into town so we headed off too.
Stopped at Mt Larcom for a cuppa and watched the coal trains whiz by.
Continued on and stopped for fuel at a cheap Liberty servo but the fuel was burping out again so Steve gave up and will have a look at it when we get to Terry’s tomorrow. Strange it worked perfectly last fill up!
Pulled into Granite Creek rest area, south of Miriam Vale for the night. Only one other van here at 5pm. Nice area but the birds and road noise is loud till night fall then things quietened down. Much cooler too.
More vans etc pulled in for the night.
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