Jabiru 28-08-11

Dean and Karen, Wanda and Greg leave Coburg camp site at 8 am as Greg has fridge battery problems and are also low on fuel.

Lanlan and John, Jill and Norbert, Mike and Dot Sue and Peter D leave at 9am. Tony and Jen, Craig, Peter C and Jill P are staying on or more fishing and will join us at Cooinda.

All is going well on the heavily corrugated dirt road until we are 60klm from Jabiru when Mike hits a deep rut and all the lights on the dash come on and the car dies and rolls to a stop. Refuses to start again. The others stop to help. We are most fortunate to have such wonderful people with us. Peter D and Norbert work on trying to fix the car and diagnose fuel  starvation. John and Lanlan drive 5klm  into the Aboriginal settlement of Openellie and manage to get 20 ltrs of diesel from two men who pump the fuel from a 200 ltr drum. The fuel is added to the tank but still makes no difference. It is unbelievably hot in the sun, about 42C. Peter D and Norbert work for two hours trying to prime the diesel pump to no avail. The local Police happen to come along and suggest we might be able to park the car in their compound but no guarantee it wont get broken into or stripped and also tell us there is no mechanic in town.!!

We are getting late into the afternoon with no phone service and a decision is made to tow the car to Jabiru. This is undesirable for an automatic transmission but we have no choice.. we cannot stay by the side of the road.. and the manual says the car can be towed at slow speed so Peter D connects up the tow line and we head off  with no air conditioner and unable to have the windows open due to dust.. very unpleasant and very hot. We have a motto… we leave no one behind!!!..

We travel very slowly or 30 klms and Susan notices we have phone service. Peter D phones a friend for some car advice and advises against towing and Peter D is really worried… he kicks over three termite mounds in frustration. Mike and Dot decide to wear the consequences . Mike rings the RACV and is told that the Jabiru service depot closed last week but they could send a recovery vehicle from Alice Springs if we wear the charges despite having top cover. We decide to continue towing onto Jabiru as it is getting dark soon.The tide at Cahills Crossing was out and we made a safe crossing with a few photos being taken of us getting towed across. Finally we arrive at the camp ground about 6pm where the others were waiting and concerned for us.

The camp is a resort with a pool and restaurant so dinner is in order sitting around the pool. Peter D suddenly becomes ill and blacks out. Wanda and Greg lower him to the ground and begin cooling him with water and check for pulse. One of the other guests fetches the manager and insists an ambulance be called. The manager said it will be quicker if his wife drives him to the clinic. Peter is beginning to come round and is quite lucid as Mike, Greg and John carry him to the car.

Peter D comments now..

I remember feeling feint at the table, seeing spots, then the next thing seeing feet as I was laying in the recovery position on the ground being cooled but very confused. Then I hear voices and I am picked up and carried towards the car. I am able to get my feet to the ground but say my pants are falling down so John assists with a big wedgie.. thanks John. I get to the clinic and am met by the nurse, Martine. She gets the wheel chair but it has no feet support so I am sat in the chair and dragged backwards with heels skidding across the floor. Martine checks me over and sets up a drip. I begin to feel better and Susan is brought to the clinic by Norbert…thanks mate.  I am concerned about the meal I ordered so Norbert calls Jill and 20 minutes later i hear Greg call out .. Meals on wheels as he enters the room with our meals. After a good check over I am released with a diagnoses of dehydration, still feeling queezy but glad to able to leave. Norbert calls the others and keeps them up to date .. thanks Norbert.  John and Greg negotiate a cabin for Susan and I whilst the others sweltered in their tents. Next morning John and Greg arrive with a bun and two coffees… such wonderful support from everyone. Everyone now makes sure we all drink much more water.