Fifth Wheeler break down

For some strange reason, we didn't sleep very well last night - not sure whether it was the fact that we were parked out the front of the engineers shed...or...that we were worried about what broke and how long were we going to be stuck in Tennant Creek getting it fixed. Tennant Creek is not really a place you want to break down - there is nothing there to see, nothing to do and not a very nice town at all.

Chris was up with the sparrows and started work on pulling the van apart. The front nose cone had to come off, to see the problem and by the time the guys turned up for work he had it all ready to lift off - and it wasn't easy because it is all one piece and awkward. While he was up on the ladder unscrewing the nose cone, he noticed that one of the solar panels on the roof was smashed - more dramas!! What next?

Once the nose cone was off we could see the problem - the steel beam running across the van, that is connected to king pin had broken and pushed up. We were extremely lucky that it didn't snap all the way through - we could have lost the whole van off the back!!!

Now we knew what the problem was - how do we fix it? I still had visions of it having to be towed back to a major town and it costing thousands and thousands of dollars. The engineer, Jack, wasn't sure how to fix it so he called someone, who then called someone else and then they called someone else - in the end I think the whole town had come past for a look but eventually they settled on a plan.

We were supposed to meet the Curry Family in Alice Springs, so I gave them a call to let them know what had happened and that we wouldn't be arriving anytime soon - or so we thought. They were surprised and shocked to hear what had happened, but were relieved that we were all ok.

Now the plan they had come up with was to cut out the broken beam and weld a new beam in its place - sounds easy right! Well not really considering just above the beam is our bed, with carpet throughout and they are using grinders and welding gear only inches from the carpet - the last thing we needed was for something to catch on fire. By lunch time work had begun on cutting out the old beam and I was starting to feel a bit more relaxed and that it may not be as hard to fix as I first thought.

By the afternoon the old beam was completely out and the area cleaned up for the new, stronger, beam to be welded into place tomorrow. Things are looking promising that we could be out of here sooner than we thought! We had also found out that the damage is covered under our insurance - so I was in a really happy mood - until I saw the boys! I knew Jack and Logan and been busying themselves playing with their cars in the dirt outside - I just didn't realise they would become one with the dirt! I have never seen the boys so dirty - but how could I rouse on them when they each had a grin from ear to ear.

The next morning we were keen to get the job finished. Once the new beam was welding in, the van could be put back together and we were out of here! But it was a bit painful waiting as no-one hurry's around here - and they certainly don't start work early, so Chris was patiently pacing outside the van waiting for the guys to turn up and start work. Eventually they did and it was all systems go!

The new beam went in perfectly, all the welding was completed and now all we had to do was put the nose cone back on, screw it all up and we were done. We had never dreamed that from Wednesday afternoon when we noticed the problem to Friday afternoon we would have it all fixed and be on the road again!! Jack and the guys at Barkly Engineering were wonderful to work with and helped us out immensly - THANK YOU!!!

Back on the road again......what a great feeling!

Now where were we heading before this little detour......that's right....The Devil's Marbles.

Come back soon to check out our next adventure.