Day 18 Glendambo to Willem & Judes Peterborough ( call the fire brigade quick!!!)

The beauty of a motel room was a quick cuppa and brekky in the room before a quick getaway at 8am then back on the road south once more .

About Pimba after admiring the roadside salt lakes and mile long trains we smelt a peculiar smell which at first we thought was the train just in front but then we seen a little smoke and I quickly turned off the road to investigate , we all ran around the car looking for signs then as I opened the bonnet the smoke began to billow out as more air had fed it but I still couldn't pinpoint the smoke ,let alone a fire .

After I pulled all leads dash found it coming from under the tunnel near the exhaust pipe , the sound deadener heat shield  clips had come loose (no doubt  from constant corrugations!) and it had torn a little hanging over the exhaust and bega in to smoulder , I couldn't reach t with water but I did use a drink bottle to squirt cordial upwards but  it didn't have the reach so I grabbed one of the powder extinguishers and had it sorted fairly quickly thank god.

One person out of at least 50 or more actually pulled up to offer assistance but luckily I had it sorted by then ( I must admit I was a bit pissed as I have rendered assistance a few times to grey nomads and other travellers and this time no karma for me!)

I now had a very akward messy job ahead of removing the heat shield to then remover the sound insulating mat , by then covered in irritating dry powder from the fire extinguisher .

All cleaned up we were back on the road again an hour or so later , I was looking forward to port Augusta , with some cheaper fuel and a warning lunch .

Lunch was roast chicken rolls and a trip to the plaza in Port augusta with some warmer pants for me and shoes and a darth vader onesie for Ej.

Dash and Shahla enjoyed the well equipped skate park , making them feel normal after a few weeks back in the car.

Fuel was 148.9 cents per litre so I filled the car and didn't need the jerries full now we were on known territory fuel wise.

A quick text to Willem and Jude and we were in Peterborough 90 odd minutes later .

The kids and adults alike were looking forward to catching up with our south oz counterparts as it had been a while and some planning was afoot for a sojourn next month .

Home made pizzas and red for the older ones finished off our night just lovely.