Bugger bugger bugger 😖 Disaster strikes the happy travellers.

We happily set off this morning, hoping to catch a glimpse of the Ghan coming into Alice Springs but we just missed it - we thought that was bad luck!! However, that was nothing compared to what happened later -  instead of stopping for morning tea at 10.30, this is how we ended up! 

       

          

We were just commenting on how boring it is traveling on this bitumen road when disaster struck!! Darryl thought an anchor had been thrown out and we looked up to see a tyre bouncing past - our tyre!!  

   

           

            

       

What's happened is the bearing collapsed and the wheel fell off. Just one of those things we've been told - the actual tyre is still ok which I find hard to believe. It wasn't a good feeling though I can tell you. 

Darryl thought he had covered everything with his monitors but there's no monitor for wheels falling off or catastrophic bearing failure! I was his only monitor shrieking 'oh Darryl!' 

         

However, at times like this you have to count your blessings:

1. No one was hurt - how lucky we were that there was no traffic and the tyre didn't hit us or anyone

2. The car / trailer didn't roll over

3. It happened by this place Aileron - just a roadhouse and pub but they do have an emergency phone

4. A lot of people came to help - a chap from the roadhouse found the tyre on his 4wheel motor bike 

     ( it was found on other side of road about 400 metres away) 

5. A local farmer working down the road came to help, an Army chap stopped to help, a fire and   

    rescue chap stopped and several travellers asked if we needed help - or a cold drink!

6. We are in total care RACV

7. We aren't that far from Alice Springs (120km)

8. We have great traveling companions who calm us down

9. We've got all our food, clothes etc accessible

10. We don't have time issues.

So now the four of us are sitting huddled under the shade of Dennis's camper waiting for the tow truck. We've booked into the park again though this time we'll be in a cabin! We've emptied out the fridge and grabbed some clothes and toiletries. Hopefully we won't be held up for too many days!

Well, the recovery was far worse than the accident for Tops & I!  It took over an hour of careful jacking, blocking with bits of wood and inch by inch winching to get it stable on the truck. The chap was quiet but very methodical - he's probably done this before. I was sure it would tip over and squash Dennis and Darryl.

        

So our boring traveling day didn't turn out quite like we expected!  I suspect that we get back to Alice Springs there will be a drink or two to be had!  I'm feeling like a nervous wreck. Hope everyone had a better day than us xxxxxx. 

PS hope you had a good day Lachlan - we'll remember your 11th birthday that's for sure!