ONLY A  SLIGHT  HITCH

Geoff turned the key - and there was dead silence.  Not what you want to hear when you're wanting the car to start.  We'd reached Hall's Creek, and were pleasantly surprised to find that it had improved greatly since 2004.  Had taken a drive out of town on a fairly rough road to Old Halls Creek, and seen the ridge of rock known locally as the Wall of China. 

Back at the caravan park we were preparing to drive along the first 120 kms. of the Tanamai Road to look at the Wolfe Creek Crater.  And that's when our problems began. The Terrano was deadly silent.  Being a manual car we were able to roll start it, and Geoff found a mechanic in town.  He in turn diagnosed a problem with the starter motor, but assured us that a good bang on the solonoid was all that was needed.  "Probably just dust" he said.  That made sense after where we'd been driving.

Hall's Creek

So we abandoned our plans, and next morning after another lot of banging, the car started.  We drove straight along the main road to Fitzroy Crossing.  As a precaution, we didn't turn the engine off all day - even while eating lunch. 

Along the road to Fitzroy Crossing

However, backing the van onto its site at The Lodge ( a beautiful caravan park near Fitzroy Crossing), Geoff stalled the car on a slight rise.  And it refused to start again.  Nothing!   A bit of a problem when you're blocking the driveway.  Other travellers came to our aid, & used their 4WD to back our van onto site.  So next morning, after banging the solonoid, Geoff got the car to go again.  We headed straight to Broome.  Here we were able to get it fixed quickly and easily.  What a blessing.  The sights we missed along the way, (exceot for the Crater) were places we'd been before, so we weren't too disappointed.  Just happy to have the car working again.