Eucla Quarantine Inspection Station

A series of interesting articles about the wonderful life and times of Keith Russell.... in his own distinct terms!!!
.... Onya Keith !!!! ....
Post Reply
User avatar
Keith Morris
Posts: 2428
Joined: Fri Dec 28, 2012 11:09 am
Location: WYALKATCHEM, WA

Eucla Quarantine Inspection Station

Post by Keith Morris »



"tanks" here---
I can't recall if I have previously posted this article on the Forum. If I have please excuse my wandering memory.

It is about an experience I had when I was on the road from the Gold Coast to Wyalkatchem after I had purchased the Sprinter.
In those days "Saracen" and "Russell" were with me. What a trip--
The late "Saracen" was an Irish Wolf Hound weighing in at 42 kg which made things a bit cramped inside the house, and he always wanted the passenger seat, which relegated "Russell" to the foot well or in the back on my single bed.
Anyway, make a cuppa or have a Weis Bar and read on.

I had just pulled into the Quarantine Inspection Station at EUCLA on the SA/WA Border and the Inspector was in the “House section” of the motorhome. He was looking through the cupboards for potatoes, onions, carrots, honey, and all things that a single bloke uses to make a stew when on-the-road, when there was this almighty BANG and the m/home moved. The Inspector sh*t, I almost had another heart attack, and the dogs got very excited for a few minutes. On closer inspection, it turns out that the rear passenger-side tyre had blown !.

Lucky that I was stationary and not doing the usual 90 kph along the hi-way. I told the Inspector that the air in the tyres was not a listed prohibited item, and that he had no right to confiscate the air out of the tyre. He was still in shock and did not appreciate my mirth.

One of then “locals” on hearing the BANG phoned the Eucla Police who attended the scene. I will say that they arrived in-force within a very short time from the Eucla Police Station. It was explained that a mob of Bikies had ridden through a short time before I arrived at the Inspection Station. The “local” thought that the Bikies were firing Shotguns at the Quarintene Station, hence the call to the Police. The police were very understanding and helped me change the tyre. I held the wheel nuts and showed them where the spare tyre was located underneath the rear of the Mercedes while the Officer made the necessary changes to the running gear.

When we got the m/home off the jack it was noticed that there was a bulge in the side-wall of the tyre. We immediately held a Committee Meeting on the side of the road. The Police used their communications to find out that there were no tyres suitable for the Mercedes in any of the towns close-by; the only available tyres were in NORSEMAN, some 710 km's further along the hiway. It was suggested that I switch to night driving to reduce the heat and lower the tyre pressure from 65 psi to around 50 psi, drive at a restricted speed of 45-50 kph and watch out for 'Roos and road-trains. I tell you 700 kms at 45 kph takes a L-O-O-O-N-G time. The frequent stops for the dogs to find a tree allowed me look at the tyre – not that I could do anything about it, but at least I did look.

On reaching NORSEMAN I bought the ONE AND ONLY 225-70R-15C tyre available and had it fitted and balanced. This still left me without a spare tyre. I had the choice of staying-over in Norseman for 2 days till another tyre arrived from Perth; or continue on to Wyalkatchem without a spare. As Norseman to Wyalkatchem is only 575 km's I decided to have-a-go and drive home without a spare----At least, I could drive at my usual 90 kph with the new Continental tyre, instead of 45 kph [which was a pain in the but I might tell you] .

I am now at home and the dogs have found their favourite places to pee – marked their territory and barked at everything that moves, to let every other dog know that we are home.

Keith.


I'm now 85 years of age and living in WA, single (gave up looking), white hair, no teeth, no address, no money, no worries.
User avatar
generdawg
Posts: 1253
Joined: Tue Dec 04, 2012 12:06 pm
Location: St Huberts Island

Re: Eucla Quarantine Inspection Station

Post by generdawg »

Keith Morris wrote:He was still in shock and did not appreciate my mirth.

The Police used their communications to find out that there were no tyres suitable for the Mercedes in any of the towns close-by;
How ungrateful. :lol:

I had a similar experience just outside of Croydon at Blackbull siding; crossed a set of RR tracks and the bang was so loud and violent that it blew the Coaster side door open and I thought I'd been hit by a train. It was such a shock that I completely forgot to take a photo of the tyre. It blew in the middle of the tread and there was steel belting sticking a not considerable length straight up out of the tread.

Had to detour to Normanton for replacement. Tyre guy said he'd never seen anything like that before and he'd seen almost as many summers as I had. He only had one Chinese tyre of that size which looked like it was for a tractor. Was sad to turf it at Mt Isa as it proved reliable but didn't match the others.

dawg
Experience is a wonderful thing. It helps you recognise a mistake when repeated.
User avatar
SteveW
Posts: 2343
Joined: Sun Dec 09, 2012 9:03 pm
Location: Glenelg, South Australia
Contact:

Re: Eucla Quarantine Inspection Station

Post by SteveW »

So how did the dogs find a tree on the Null Arbor? :D
Steve Williams
http://stevew1945blog.com/

Every absurdity has a champion to defend it.
Oliver Goldsmith. 1728 -1774
User avatar
Keith Morris
Posts: 2428
Joined: Fri Dec 28, 2012 11:09 am
Location: WYALKATCHEM, WA

Re: Eucla Quarantine Inspection Station

Post by Keith Morris »

SteveW wrote:So how did the dogs find a tree on the Null Arbor? :D
Like their owner and use the front passenger tyre. Overmark the deposit just to let the ferilles know that you were there.

I'm now 85 years of age and living in WA, single (gave up looking), white hair, no teeth, no address, no money, no worries.
Post Reply