Day 344 | Pelican Caravan Park, Winton: Pelican? Wot the …

rest day

I’m sticking around in Winton for a few days and it’s not only to soak in all those attractions with Dinosaur or Matilda in their name, (and there sure are a heap of them).

It’s good to know that Winton is known for things other than it’s curiously sulphuric water supply that pops out of the ground at 83ºC and needs some time for the sulphur content to dissipate.

Reason for my extended stay being, when I went to fit the panniers early on at Mackunda Creek it was clear that the trailer had some issue, that trailer just ain’t sitting right. Surely I haven’t been riding around with another broken structural member.

I’m not too fazed, out with a spare spanner and those hose clamps recycled from abandoned cars along the way, and in 15 minutes I’m gone, can’t even remember much grumpiness at the time.

I sent for a replacement part in Perth so I’ve made about 9000 km over some rugged roads, better than the original which only managed the Mawson Trail and 2/3rds of the Oodnadatta Track. Surprisingly the repair was still all good after a couple of hundred kilometres on the bumpy old dirt.

Took the whole catastrophe into John at Diamantina Engineering on Friday morning and he said come back Saturday so I picked it up yesterday and transferred my camp into town.

The cyclist Steve had advised there was $10 a night accommodation at one of the caravan parks, friendly, grass, shade, the ground filled with transient Jayco vans, (the Macdonalds of caravans), just the number plates changing each day.

Suppose the 6mm stainless rod that’s been TIG welded, or is it MIG, to the top and bottom structural members will be the ultimate part remaining as the trailer slowly disintegrates over time. That repair is bulletproof.

After all the hurrying around since I arrived in town, today will be dedicated to washing and attempting to reduce the wobble in the rear wheel so I can put the back brake back on, I’ve got the hilliest stretch of Queensland coming up on my way to Cairns.

So, another glorious morning, mid 20s today, not much wind, I’ve found a decent chair, porridge and coffee made, life is just fine.

And all those nearby Jaycos have had their early morning start.