Well, home at last. arrived home around 4:30pm Sunday night, invited friends around for a slap up dinner of chicken wing bits and potato chips and a few drinks to soften the impact. A list as long as your arm of jobs to do on that day that doesn't start with Y, tomorrow
The problem with the alternator coincides with the exhaust brake not to function, it could still be slipping belt syndrome as the exhauster to create the vacuum for exhaust brake operation is driven from the rear of the alternator, but it could also be a wiring harness issue, that should be fun to find. I seem to remember Craig had a similar problem with intermittent exhaust brake function in his Mazda, I wonder if he found the cause and if this could be a similar problem.
The trip to Oallen Ford was "interesting" after a rather late leave from Ariah Park we took as many back roads as possible to avoid the highways, we have developed a loathing f them. We found a zig zag path from Gunning to Oallen Ford via Collector and Tarago, a few wrong turns thrown in meant we arrived after dark. It appears I chose an incorrect track to the ideal camping spot, after a few deep puddle crossings and crawls over river sand mounds we ended up we arrived on a very deeply gouged but relatively level rock platform with all the hollowed out bits full of water. A quick look in either direction from there involved a rather deep looking pool. Out on foot with the torch revelled the river being situated the other side of these pools, we were in the wash away created by last nights river surge

The Mazda and trailer fitted neatly between the extremities of the wash away and the trailer wheels followed the gouges in the rock so the 50 point turn and Margaret’s "We're going to die" out bursts were just making things worse. Then Margaret suggested I turn the headlights back on...... I suggested it was maybe better I didn’t (so she couldn't see) so, here, shine the torch and tell me when you can see the trailer out your window. At least that got the hysterical screams outside, some forceful application of power turned the tailer into a bulldozer till we came across a solid tree, 50 more shunts back and forward and we were headed back up the track we came in on. Found the ideal spot, mat and awning out, chairs, choofer blazing and a full glass of red wine within 20 mins of "we're going to die" and calm again returned to the camp site

A walk in the morning light to the scene of the crime confirmed it was a correct choice not to turn the headlights back on till we were out of there,

Margaret suggested it was quite as bad as she had imagined, the picture in her head must have been a nasty one
Driving through Nowra and Shoalhaven Heads and the view from Two figs winery revealed just how much rain had fallen while we were away, apparently 100mm in 24hrs just to top it off. Everything is as green as could be, such a vast difference to the dead as could be through South Australia and southern Victoria/ NSW border areas.
It has been a great 4 weeks away, met for the first time and renewed friendships with a great group of people, it has made us even more hungry for this to be a permanent life style change, thankyou everyone who helped to make this a great 4 week holiday.