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| northern end of the WA bitumen |
Today is off to Wyndham, WA's northernmost town, 105km... We are up early... Sunrise is at 5:23 - in Perth 14 degrees further west and a lot south sunrise is at 6.23 local time. Off to Wyndham about 0830. An hour and a bit and past a bit of a burn off, bush fire... near the edge of the road for some metres we are at Wyndam Town... then some km later at Wyndham Port. Stop at the end of the bitumen... the northermost I guess. Nothing to see, a desolate place -the town that is. But does have a big cop shop...
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| the recreational jetty.... |
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| BIGger than the Normanton one - but no 'model' |
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made by Wyndham TAFE students
- when there was a TAFE |
Took a few pix around the water- the loading facility and the recreational jetty, then off to find the Five Rivers Lookout - start of town and big climb to the high ground. The five rivers are... of course the Ord which enters Cambridge Gulf from the east way to the north, King River enters from the south at Wyndham, Chamberlain River and Durack River at the south end of the Gulf and the Forest River from the west... from the Lookout, at last some perspective... took some photos while Maz recovered from the adrenalin of the tight windy climb...
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| <- the five rivers lookout -> |
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| 1 left - about SW |
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| 4 right looking about N |
After the descent we are heading back towards Kununurra...
didn't make it. About 35km out engine became rattly. Temp good, no oil warning light... slowed down, quietened down, but no good. Pulled over as the engine let go... piston broke I reckon... at least. Has blown some oil out, but still has some. After a few minutes will just turn but not fire... dead.
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| Where the suzuki died... |
Flag down a car as we have no cellular cover - and the satphone is in the bus!!! Anyway first car stops. It's is full of people... but they are going home to Kununurra... Ask if they would let the local towy know about us. But Peter immediately offers to take the family home, come back and tows us in. How good. So after amusing ourselves for 45-55 minutes he is back with a snatch strap. He lives near the caravan park so will take us there. So at 80 KPH for 30 KM we are outside the CP. Peter will not consider compensation. What goes around comes around he affirms....
So we are back! The dead 'towed' car rolled into a spare spot near the CP exit... til tomorrow. The Suzuki is now simply a trailer until it gets a new engine. Sorry Mal! I had considered it a spare vehicle... now the bus is!
Now it's my adrenalin that's subsiding, being towed without power steering or power brakes is... nervewracking. And so we will continue to head for the coast tomorrow... and look for a replacement long motor later...
Definitely approaching beer o'clock!!
