Australia - The Cape Trip Prep

On June 22, we leave from Cairns for an extreme 4x4 trip to the northern tip of Queensland, Australia. When I was first invited I thought "4x4 trip, big deal. I've done that before."

But I've now been here a week, and have spent the last several days on my own with some of Kathryn's friends and their family. I've been welcomed, fed, sheltered and helped out by people who were complete strangers to me four days ago. They say Canadian hospitality is amazing - but this is at a whole other level.

I met Ben for the first time on Friday night last week. He's Kate's partner (Kate works with Kath) and is a bit of an extreme adventurer (ie: just finished a 5,300km walk from Melbourne to Cooktown). He arranged this 4x4/Postie Bike trek and I was invited.

Kate and Ben's Postie Bikes (and parts bike)

Over the last few days I'm finding out just how serious they take 4x4ing here in Queensland (actually, they take it pretty seriously in all of Oz). Travis and Kathryn bought a 1997 Mitsibishi Pajero 4x4 specifically for this trip, and Ben (over dinner on Friday) said that we should get it checked out by his dad, Barry.

Barry and Jennie live in a town called Wedgie, and I drove there with Ben on Sunday in the Pajero (Kath and Travis have to work). I've been staying at their place, eating their food, and monopolizing all of Barry's time for the last three days.

Barry has checked out the Pajero and has (with very little help from me because I'm mechanically inept):

• Replaced the spare wheel and tire - we found out the spare was both bald and the wrong size (15" versus 16")
• Found another "case" or tire - it's good to have two spares for this trek
• Checked all the fluids - under the hood and under the vehicle (transfer case, differential, etc)
• Bought a spare fan belt and fuel filter
• Pulled the front wheels, didn't like what he saw, and replaced the wheel bearings

It's amazing, but in this tiny town you can find almost any auto/truck/tractor/4x4/diesel part you could ever need. Barry said it's because of the 4x4, farm/ranch and mining business in the area.

So it's taken two and a half days before Barry says he feels OK about the Pajero on the trip we're about to take. 2000km of nasty road.

I'll post pictures and video when we're done!

PS: Al and Bruce - I think you'd never leave here .... everyone tinkers, everyone owns three motorcycles, two front end loaders, a bobcat, six cars, two trucks and a boat - and it takes everyone half an hour to say hello.