A tale of Coggas Dogga and Wagga Wagga
So Antique Teenagers 2 or return of the Silver Warriors is underway. Our preparation was much better and less pressurised this time around . Caravan fully serviced , inside deep cleaned and storage in the car optimised. Detailed investigation and unn-erring conviction to having a well planned itineray bore fruit. The answer given to the understandable question of where we would be spending the next 3 months often puzzled the detailed conscious . “Somewhere north of here where the sun is shining “ wasn’t the expected response. So this time the trip would have a different dynamic . Keeva our Red and White Irish setter of 10 years would be the third Antique Teenager. We bought a hammock for the car which was an immediate success ensuring that she didn’t slide off the seats when getting comfortable.
So we set off heading for Lake Blowering in NSW for our first nights camp. A journey of 7 hours or so – what could possibly go wrong. As we reached Batlow a country town based around apple growing and timber industry an ominous red light flashed up on the dashboard. Auto transmission overheat. Then the engine warning light and auto transmission management lights soon glowed in solidarity . Quick call to roadside assist informed us that there would be no recovery until the following day. So we ended up in the caravan pretty much where we broke down at the side of the road . All was not lost as we had a good country pub and a fish and chip shop within walking distance
In the morning (3degrees) the tow truck turned up and we started the journey to Wagga Wagga where the nearest Isuzu dealership is . We had to remove our off- road hitch from the car and mount on the tow truck to be able to pull the van behind it. When you break down you begin to see problems everywhere especially when the tow truck is leaking diesel like a bull elephant in must . Then when I offer to plug in the caravans electrics the driver tells me there is no point as the trucks electrics are goosed . So no indicators required in NSW then . However the driver was a bit of a card and kept us entertained all the way to “Wagga” .
I had phoned ahead and the car was booked into the garage . Kate had sorted a campsite nearby .We dropped the van off at the Wagga Wagga show ground and the car straight into the dealership. Wagga Wagga is a very large country town on the Riverina .
We walked into town from the show ground and spent an hour walking along the very long high street to the Murrumbidgee river . We found an old stone built pub and had a couple of sherberts . Then a meander back to the van for tea .
The garage rang to say that the oil in the gearbox was burnt and that they would carry out a full transmission service . We walked to the nearest pub and drowned our sorrows in Carlton Draught and piccolos of sparkling.
Nice lamb off the bbq and then bed .
In the morning we found a great cafe about a kilometre from van then back home for brekkie . We then found a great walk down by the river finally getting back to the same country pub for a swift half . Back to van saw a 20k walk morning . No movement on car gearbox hopefully tomorrow .
The show ground is a really interesting place . Very rough round the edges , showers looked like someone had cleaned out a horse box into them . It was however a working showground unlike many we have visited . Currently stabled 30 harness racing horses , harness track and greyhound track too . Lots of people coming and going training horses and dogs .
Two things were common across all of them , 1- very cheery chatty dispositions and 2 a distinct lack of teeth . Don’t know whether they had been dislodged by horses , bar brawls or dentists but it made deciphering strong country lingo even more of a challenge.
The garage confirmed that the transmission oil was burnt because there was not enough of it – about a litre short. On the Friday before we left a transmission hose burst and was replaced at the Isuzu garage near home. It looks like they didn’t top up properly after the leak. No metal detected in oil , so new oil , filters cleaned and we are operational again.
We hadnt planned a visit to Wagga Wagga but really enjoyed our time exploring by foot.
And finally
Old lady was walking beside us just after sun up around 730 . She was on her way to get her pussy looked at because she was worried about its condition . Used to be like a lustrous Persian blue but now like an old worn out welcome mat . We had to call an ambulance because I was stifling so much laughter that I was beginning to take on air through my arse .