So while sitting in the traffic Lisa my wife and chief navigator found a forest track that followed along a ridge next to the highway so we went for it. Being just tracks it wasn't any faster but we were having a lot more fun with no one in sight amongst the forest and creeks that we had to drive through and where would you rather be? I noticed the main difference between my state and this is that being warmer the palm trees had replaced the tree ferns that we have instead.

Forest was full of Palm trees and creek crossings.

We were heading up a track that was getting steeper and more closed in by the meter with less than a car width left between the scrub when I heard something go pop but couldn't stop and check it out as it was too narrow. A bit further up the track it was just wide enough to send Lisa out to see if we were dragging something along or what the problem was. She reported bad news that we had got a flat on the trailer so I thought better plug it. Well what I found is this 3" round end of a branch sticking out of the side wall! That hurt because it had only just been fitted for this trip and had less than 2000 kms on it.

This was the widest part of the track I could stop to get out and found this!

Well there was nothing to do but stick the spare on and at least I still had one more spare as the trailer shares the same stud pattern as the XJ. It was back on the freeway again and it was a relief to find the traffic had dropped a lot and was flowing well. As we don't like staying in caravan parks it was back into the forest and found a great spot overlooking the city of Taree.

What a waste of a 1200 mile old tyre and camping at a lookout.

This spot had a communication and a fire tower which gave a great opportunity to take the above shot of camp. Later that night we had a fantastic lightning and thunderstorm display and were glad we had a much higher steel tower near us to attract the lightning instead of us. Had the tyre replaced first thing in the morning without problem except to the wallet of $220 aud ( $115 usd. ) and consoled myself that it was better than panel or mechanical damage and continued to head further up the coast.

Beautiful sunset near Taree.

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