Mareeba

Today we got our two new tyres fitted.   They were actually cheaper than what we paid in Melbourne.   One good thing going our way finally.    We drove off, heard a squealing from the car, took a look, seemed to be a belt, went back to the tyre service and asked where we could find a good 4x4 mechanic.   They were looking really worried when we returned thinking they had stuffed up.   Off we went, the 4x4 were quick to diagnose the problem, a tight belt.   A quick spray and off we went, 10 mins later, it started up again.  Got back to camp and several guys suggested we use soap on the belt.   Worked for a while once again. The next day we decided  to  travel into town to Repco to buy some special spray stuff.   That fixed it, finally.   YAY.

  So, with all our troubles behind us, we set  off to sightsee.   Got 10kms down the road, bugger me, the belt started screaming worse than ever.     A quick u turn, drove back to the 4x4 place.    He sprayed it, cleaned it and it still wasnt going well.   So he took it in to his workshop, and found  the belt had stretched and was cracking.     He jumped in his car, tore into town, picked up a new belt, came back and fitted it up for us on the spot.     Terrific service.  A quick little cash job.   But what more can go wrong for us.    We were very worried as we are heading up North and off road for a week  or more next week and didnt want anything to go wrong once we had left "civilisation" so to speak.    Fingers crossed we are all out of bad luck and only good things can come from here on in.