March 19-24, 2016
For Video see previous Post for Chinchilla
After driving the 65km to Caliguel Lagoon, South of Condamine, we found our fridge would not start up on LPG, an essential for camping without power. After many attempts we decided we had to head back somewhere we could get it fixed, being unable to confirm (being Saturday) that there was anyone around Chinchilla we headed for Toowoomba (no caravan repairers in Dalby) and stayed over at Jondarayan again until Monday morning. Again at Jondaryan we tested the fridge to check and sure enough it would not start, igniter was working but obviously no gas flow.
On arriving at the repairer in Toowoomba (Alan’s Caravan Repairs) the fridge started first go! Alan’s conclusion was dirty gas which puts a residue in the lines and sometimes causes a blockage, he was good enough to show me where to remove the gas line and blow compressed air through it if the problem recurs so the journey was not completely wasted.
At this point it was still only mid morning so we decide to head back to Caliguel Lagoon, about 215km away. Beyond Dalby we stopped for lunch in a small stopping bay and when we arrived at the Lagoon discovered we had left our step and mats behind!! This was a loss of all our tent pegs, hammer, tie down straps and tensioners for the awning; as well as our fridge shade!
So here we were at Caliguel Lagoon after 2 days and a 450km round trip with a working fridge but no awning bits! It was too late to drive back on the chance they were there as it was 120km back. Anyway the next day Keith went back to check but nothing left so went into Dalby to replace the essentials and do some extra shopping to make up for the trip.
This is the first time we have left anything more than a couple of small timber chocks behind, probably because we change our routine and I locked the van instead of Frances.
Caliguel Lagoon is a great spot and we set up near the water, only two others here and they left next morning (Tuesday). Another motorhome arrived Wednesday and as Easter is this coming weekend we decided on Thursday to stay here as there is no time limit and there is a toilet block and lots of shade. We knew that Easter would bring lots of people as this place has a boat ramp and displayed rules ref Power Boats and Jet Skis.
Thursday we went into town (Condamine – only 7km) and filled up 50l of water containers, having poured our 20l container into the tanks; all of this more than filled us up again and it is not far to go if we need more before Tuesday when we will probably move on.
Meanwhile – Condamine town photo gallery here on ImageShack, click the Link or image:
Condamine Gallery
