Stuck in the Outback 9th - 21st August 2007

We set off on the 9th towards Mount Isa, we got 80km out of town and we had to turn around as we new there was something wrong with the engine. We got about 5km and steam was pooring out of the engine. We were in the middle of nowhere, no houses, cars, just fields and shrubs as far as the eye could see. We tried to get a lift back, the 1st man looked a bit odd, the 2nd didn't have any room. After 45mins of seeing nobody a couple stopped to help us, he was an ex-machanic. They helped us all the way back to Normanton, 75km. We were the luckest people alive and we were very grateful.
We went to the garage to find out what was wrong ,he said it was the head, the bad news was the parts will take a week to get to us, as they were coming from Brisbaine, then Cairns and finally to Normanton. That wasn't the worst bit it was going to cost us $2000, about 800-900 pounds.
We booked ourselves in to a campsite and the time passed,talking to different people everyday, swimming in the pool or just reading. It was about 30'C. We found an internet to spend a few hours there, it had aircon. Friday came and the machanic said the parts had arrived but he couldn't do it until Monday now. Monday arrived and then the afternoon, but then, he wouldn't be finished until tomorrow. We then tried to kill some more time and went to have our photo taken with the replica of the largest croc caught in the area. He was about 8 metres long and a husband and wife combo killed it a few years back. Hannah was sat on it, while I had the camera ready to take the photo when all of sudden a big black and white bird flew out of a tree and tries to land on her head. It scratched her head and flew off, Hannah was really surprised and jumped down. I got up on the croc's back and the bird flew back towards Hannah again for another try, she got rid of it and we went back to the campsite to hide. Back at the campsite we met a guy who was looking for a lift to Mount Isa, he seem nice enough, but we have read all the bad stories and know not to pick anyone up. He looked like Peter Kay, so this is now his name to us.
The couple next door lent us there tent for the night, while the van was in the garage. The next afternoon the van was ready and we were off south towards Cloncurry our next destination before Mount Isa. A proper place with more than 100 people in it!