Mildura To Buster

From an earlier post you should be aware that the Touareg had been having conniptions. It had popped up with a warning light coming into Mildura then would go into limp mode. We consulted the manual that helpfully told us that there was a problem with the engine. ?

We placed it in the hands of Hutchinson’s in Mildura. They quickly determined it needed a new fuel filter and they would have it sorted early afternoon. Early afternoon came and went. We finally got a phone call saying that there was now another issue that they needed to investigate. Being Friday it would have to be looked at Monday. Come Monday they told us they would run diagnostics again and we should know something early afternoon. Early afternoon came and went. We finally got a phone call saying that there was a problem with one of the fuel injectors and that they wouldn’t get it until Wednesday.

When Wednesday came they said they would have it fitted and we should get the car back early afternoon. Early afternoon came and went. There were still issues and would need it another day. They finally worked out that the previous owner had fitted a performance chip which was mucking up the readings. They replaced the chip with the standard one and she was purring again. They didn’t charge us extra for this as they said they had quoted us already for the injector and that is all they would charge for. ? Thanks guys.

(During all of this Mum was most grumpy and ranged from wanting to have stern words with the mechanics, giving up on the trip and buying a new car.)

We were then able to head off Friday morning off to see Mum’s brother Brian (he is known to all his mates as Buster). We are trying to keep the travelling time for mum to about 3 hours otherwise it gets a bit much. This meant a stopover at Morgan. It’s a lovely little town on the edge of the Murray River and had once been one of the busiest ports in the state. It is now a sleepy little town with a little IGA, Post Office, Take Away and two Pubs, right opposite each other. One serving Carlton Draught the other West End. Carlton Draught seemed to be winning the day we were there but they both seemed to be doing okay.

The next day we set off for Wallaroo, just ten minutes further on from Kadina (where Brian lives) and on the edge of the Spencer Gulf. We arrived at Office Beach caravan park and I needed to manoeuvre the 24 foot van into a small site with a Stobie Pole on it. (A Stobie Pole is a South Australian power pole. Made of steel and concrete as there weren’t many termite resistant wooden ones available. Invented by James Cyril Stobie). By the time I was ready to start reversing I had gathered a substantial crowd watching to see if I visit Swearyland again. Well job done easily without any swearing much to the disappointment of the crowd I suspect.

That afternoon we headed off to visit Brian. Details to follow.