What was suppose to be a long and boring 780km s ended up
being mildly eventful! Casualty number one!! Not bad I suppose for the amount
of kilometeres we have covered over the last two months.
We had driven 250km's of our 780 when we pulled over for a
pee stop for the kids.
Maciek jumped out of the car and noticed an awful
burning smell! And the trailer wheel on a slight slant. After many swear
words flung around what was meant to be
a two minute stop ended up being one hour. The wheel bearing cover had fallen
off and the excessive heat from driving had caused the bearing to “cook itself”
and in the process damaged the wheel hub! We thankfully had spare wheel
bearings but sadly no hub.
After some botchy bush mechanics and a much thanked
hand from fellow Tasmanian’s we were back on the road. Things still weren’t flash
and 30 km s down the highway, at the South Australian boarder we pulled over
yet again to double check the situation. Due to the brakes causing extra heat
and stress on the hub the new bearing had begun to get extremely hot. It was
decided between the two mechanical engineers brains (we followed the Tassie
clan for extra help and safety if needed) that the trailer brakes will have to
be disconnected for the remainder of the trip if we wanted to get to Coober
Pedy.
Terrible but slightly funny after
wards, Maciek was trying to get the trailer wheel off, which was stuck to the
excessive heat and with a mighty pull the wheel flung off and smashed into his
face, cutting the bridge of his nose and ? # it. After a small meltdown and
gathering of his thoughts he was back at it, bandaid on nose at attempt number
2 to patch up the wheel in order for us to arrive safely into Coober Pedy. Sadly
we have been unsuccessful at getting hold of a new hub for the trailer wheel
and now have to nurse it until we arrive into Port Augusta – a further 580 kms
from Coober Pedy.
Finally arriving in Coober Pedy, late but like the saying
goes “Better late than never!”
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