More challenges.

Wednesday Oct 16^th 1929:

Jack and I had the whole day on the bus and at times she had us frather heated. We made fair progress though. Cecil, the gentleman, reclined at ease in the study of Albreck or dining room of Heinreich. A hot windy day, sand everywhere suffocating and choking us. Spent a little time in the evening with both Albreck and Heinreich.

Thiursday Oct 17^th 1929:

Another day on the bus and late in the evening had her reassembled and out of the shed ready for the road. Too late to leave so stayed the night, spending the evening as the previous one. Like Pastor Albreck very much, a fine chap. Mrs Albreck very nice too, speaks to him in German as her English not too good. Would like to have stayed a while and had a look about but no time.

Friday Oct 18^th 1929:

Left the Mission amnd came back to the Alice. Called at the Government half-catse camp on the way in. Had a busy time at the Alice getting ready for the road and left about 4 in the evening. Had tea along the road and traveled until about 9 pm when camped.

Saturday Oct 19^th 1929:

Upn at daybreak and had breakfast, broke camp and off again. Reached Barrow Ck and collected a few things left there after the fire. Went on, inspected the remains of the car, salvaged a couple of things and off again. Did 240 miles for the day. Had a blow out, camped a mile from Tennants Ck telegraph station.

Sunday Oct 20^th 1929:

After mending a couple of punctures went off once more. Called at the Telegraph station but did not stay. A bad day, took us all day to do 60 miles. A hot day and patches on tube started to lift. Had 2 spare tubes but they did the same. Took one wheel off and the tyre and tube out and changed them, put other patches on about 50 times. The jack was no good and had to cut down a sapling every time and lever the wheel up. Crawled in at 5 o’clock to Banka Banka tired, dirty and disgusted. Decided to stay. Had some wireless at night.

Monday Oct 21^st 1929:

Tyres behaved better today. Only had to get out and pump one up about every 10 miles. Cut across country on an old track from Banka to Rockhampton Downs station. To get back on the the ‘downs’ was great. To get back to the ‘Rocky’ station was home again. It was good too. An awful road for 30 miles. Frightfully bumpy but it saved us over 200 miles so it was worth it. Had a nice evening with Mr and Mrs Easy.

Tuesday Oct 22^nd 1929:

Would have liked to stay here a day but no time. Left at 10 am and reached Alroy for lunch. Left there at 2 pm, called at the Rankine and a talk and a sing and left there reaching Camooweal at midnight. 240 miles for the day. Camooweal will do me. It is home. Not feeling in the best of spirits these days. Paying the penalty for neglect in many things. Have to dash on to Cloncurry and then to Charters Towers. Synod, exams, sermons down there and nothing prepared. Dozens of letters to write south and no time to do it. Still we cannot be worried. A poor policy though I am beginning to find. Got a budget of mail when got in. Up half the night reading it. The ‘Tigers’ premiers again. Good on them.

Wednesday Oct 23^rd 1929:

Had a busy day, trying to make amends for the enforced delay. Got the monthly returns and report finished and away as well as settling numerous accounts and writing numbers of business letters and a couple of private ones. A day of rush and tear. An evening in the hall in our honor at night but I was late in getting there. Cec and Jack went down early and I got there in time for supper. Retired about 2 am.

Thursday Oct 24^th 1929:

Up at 5 am and rousd the others and got to work packing up and loading up in oreparation for the trip to Cloncurry. Glen and Dooley had breakfast ready for us at 6.30 and at 7 am we left. A rotten trip all through. The road was awful and the road misbehaved. The body, owing to a broken U-bolt kept moving and so rubbing on the wheel causing endless delays and loss of temper. Had lunch at Mt Isa and journeyed on, eventually reaching Cloncurry at 10 pm dirty, and tired and thankful to be alive. Ran of the road once and up a bank and nearly turned over; Took a dive into a wash-away another time and had to dig our way out and hit very solidly at another spot deep rut. All this was in the dark but no serious damage done. Lost one bag once and had to go back for a mile for it. Got into the bath when arrived at the Parsonage and after having a cup of tea felt much better. A hot night. Retired some time after midnight.