ONE LONG WEEK IN MT ISA

Here we are one week in Mt Isa - all due respect to those who live here, but there is not much to do in this town! I think the best way to explain our week is very frustrating!!

Sunday - arrived Mt Isa found a caravan park

Monday - found a mechanic who came to the caravan park and checked out what our problem was and he and Jim made the decision on new pistons.  He was very cheery and showed lots of interest in fixing the bus.

Tuesday - Mechanic ordered parts - "yer mate we will get them airlifted here so we can get you on the road quick as possible"

Wednesday - Jim goes over to mechanic to check parts arrival - Yes they have arrived - Jim says you got them all? Yes we got them all! Ok says Jim I will go get the bus.

Lucky we have the tent and camping gear on board.  We brought it with the Suzuki in case we wanted to head somewhere the bus couldn't go for a night or two.  So we gather the stuff we think we will need out of the bus and set up camp.

They start work on the engine late Wednesday - removing head and sump.

Thursday - Jim goes over for a visit no-one working on the bus to busy with other stuff till late.  Then the sleeves wont come out - need C02 to shrink them but it is after 5 so cant get the C02.

Friday - not much happens till late afternoon and they finally get the old sleeves out and the new ones in.  We leave them to it thinking - yes this will get done today or first thing tomorrow morning.  5.30 the mechanics mate finds us in the caravan park and has some bad news for us - before you put the pistons in you have to put various rings on them in particular an oil ring (which is the thing that was really wrong in the first place but generally you replace the lot not just the rings) So the mechanics mate says the rings are the wrong size for the pistons.  Jim and I are both stunned - Jim asked if everything had arrived and they said yes but they actually had not checked the parts!  Who does this!!  Anyway it is too late Friday to ring the suppliers - and guess what they don't work on Saturdays!! Will have to wait till Monday to re-order.

Saturday - while we do have some camping gear we do not have a full compliment of gear so we are roughing it a bit and as I said earlier there is nothing to do in this town - nothing!!  we spend the day moving our chairs around a tree so that we are not sitting in the sun.  I am sick of having dirty feet from all the dust - and I have my surgery cut trying to heal with dust and flies not helping.

Sunday - I  admit it I am not as tough as I used to be - So we find a motel - for tonight and at least tommorrow night. Sammie very happy about a hotel room with air-conditioning - he really is a air-con sort of dog, he has a long trip ahead of him.

Monday - morning Jim goes over to check and parts are ordered.

The campsite - Jim gets bus envy of the bus next door.