Day 2

Monday 11th May


Off to a good start!

We travelled comfortably for about 2 hours, then heard a bang. We stopped
and waited for the steam to clear.

As the motor is underneath the cab, there's nothing so simple as lifting
the bonnet for a look at the motor. First the bull bar must come off,
then the cab is released and tipped forward. Naturally, the
people can't stay inside while this is happening. Well, I suppose you
could if you fancied plastering yourself to the windscreen.

Steve investigated and found a blown radiator hose, which is what we expected.
He wrapped it in duct tape, bucketed water for the radiator from a
nearby channel and off we set for the 15km trip into Deniliquin.

The duct tape held and we managed to limp into town.

Deniliquin is quite a large town with a lot of through traffic and we expected
to have no trouble getting a new radiator hose, especially as there were
at least 7 businesses that provided such goodies. Silly, optimistic
fools!!!! After 4 hours, Steve combined the talents of two tradesmen,
who were willing to make something to his specifications. One welded
together the inner curved piece while another supplied the straight rubber
hoses for each end and the hose clamps. And they both charged like
wounded bulls!!

Tipped cab















Note blue duct tape
















New radiator hose

With constant checking, (climb down, tip cab, refill with water, climb back)
we finally managed to get to Jerilderie before dark and ate toasted sandwiches before collapsing into bed.
Eight hours for the trip that usually takes three!!!!!