Here We Go Again - Chapter 81 - Broome Day 3

No rest for the wicked. I need to be up and at it early. Three weeks ago we had booked the Cruiser in for a service. It could not be done in Darwin because they were flat out, and here with a similar level of demand the pre booking had been a must.

I am second in the queue at the front gate. All things being equal, and the number of customers behind me in the queue, I might see the Cruiser dealt with quickly and have it back this morning. Silver Leader has come with me to be my bus back to the park.

Almost immediately I get a call from the dealer which begins to annoy me. Their analysis of the Cruiser suggests some parts need replacing. Interesting that all the parts that are “critical” were all replaced new at the last service. One in particular, an air filter was fitted with an updated especially sealed unit to ensure long lasting in the dust. In fact we have the replaced and reconditioned unit in the car as a spare – it had done 50,000 kilometres prior to replacement. I call my local mechanic who has worked on the Cruiser for at least the last two services and he suggests their angst may be around him not unis “genuine” Toyota parts. He insists the air cleaner does not need replacing.

.

Starting to get the impression …….

The Toyota dealer suggests the rear brake pads need replacing. 10,000 kilometres of caravan towing is more than enough to reduce them to such an amount as requiring replacement. I agree and suggest to them to make the change.

We have a new neighbour.  Although their inauspicious introduction,  almost cleaning up a tree as they attempted to back their van into the very tight spot adjacent to hours,  could have ended up in tears.  Like most of the people we have encountered on our travels around this great country,  our new neighbours are talkative and likeable.

Their difficulties in getting their van into the tight spot that is our neighbouring position, only mirrored hours in various other places we have stopped as caravan parks try to cram in patrons as they attempt to fill the demand of the nomadic. 

Thinking being early to book in the Cruiser might be ready pre-lunch I get Silver Leader to take me to Harvey Norman, not far from Toyota, to pick up my laptop and I will then walk to Toyota and pick up the Cruiser.

Chris and I go over the laptop and its new functionality, especially the enhanced internet access. All looks very good. He does not want me to leave until I am sure all the programs work and that all the data has been transferred.

So, I have 2 laptops, and a new screen, which now allows for peripheral use of items and programs and I need to walk across to Toyota, about 800 metres. Chris offers to drive me but I need the exercise, so armed with my back pack of laptops and a box containing the new computer screen I am off.

I suspect Chris had an ulterior motive in offering to drive me to the Toyota franchise.  His girlfriend is the daughter of the owner  and he is quick to tell me about the size of the business and it’s importance to the local community. 

Its hot, well into the thirties. I am glad for the many trees showering the pathway with shade as I trudge the short distance to the dealership.

As I enter the complex, the Cruiser appears to be ready for collection. Walking to the reception, expecting to pick up keys, the service manager looks at me funny. 

“Did I call you”

Me – no, but being second in this morning and having had the calls about the issues quite quickly AND being close by, I thought I would drop in on the off chance.

No worries, I will go and check but the paperwork has not come through as yet. Have a seat in the waiting area.

The waiting area is air conditioned (thankfully) and has two screens taking feeds from cameras over the hoists, so you can see your vehicle being worked on as well as a TV plugged into the ABC. 

The service manager returns to his desk. For the next three hours I sit and wait. I can see the Cruiser in the car park as it was when I arrived. It is not moved.

It’s getting late and I’m getting hungry.  It is now well after 14 and enough is enough.  I go to the service desk and enquire again as to where the Cruiser is up to given I have been able to see it in the car park and it has not moved.

Apologetically, the service manager heads out into the service area to check on the progress of the vehicle. He returns with a bundle of paperwork and commences to apologise profusely that the original paperwork was “lost” and in fact the Cruiser had been finished before I had arrived.

He runs me through the paperwork and what the service has entailed.  Next,  he suggests they are out of rear brake pads for the Cruiser and he will have to book it in when the parts arrive.  Looking have used computer he starts suggesting the time frame some 3 weeks into the future as they are backed up with mountains of work. This is totally unacceptable to me as we are only here for 2 weeks not three weeks. 

I will have another look and see if I can sneak you in. Are you able to be here early in the morning as soon as we get the parts? No problems, I will be available whenever the parts arrive.

Somewhat annoyed and $900 less wealthy,  I head back to the park. It seems incongruous to me that the demands placed on businesses buy things like Covid,  meaning the Grey Nomads and all those others who may very well have been travelling overseas at this time have descended call our tourist destinations, coping with customers still seems to be the greatest issue facing any business. 

My angst is not reduced any by the time I get back to the caravan park. Our new neighbours Janice and Len are in for a drink and a natter.  It becomes quite a session and we finally disperse around 8 p.m. with Robyn being absolutely famished.

With the loss of the 3 hours in the middle of the day I’m in no mood to be setting up the new laptop and trying it out. That can be a job for tomorrow.  For now my headache and back discomfort require bed rest.