Hi all,
I've been in Port Headland now since last Thursday morning. I wasn't actually planning to be here however circumstances had led to it.
I've been writing up my blog on what I have been doing so far since I left
Perth. Hopefully I will finish it before I leave, whenever that will be :)
I left the convoy I was in Wednesday morning on the Gary Highway, and Dad and I drove continuously with only minor rest breaks before getting to Headland about 8:10am Thursday.
Repairs, repairs, repairs.......
I didn't mind the 23 punctures I got whilst crossing the Gibson, or the two tyre shreddings either.
I
broke a spring a few kilometres east of
Nipper Pinnacle, 90 kilometres east of the Gary Highway....that was the worst thing that happened.
Also the hole in the radiator didn't ease my mind at all.
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Luckily the radiator held up due to some nead it type substance.
The spring was welded 3 times before eventually it
broke for the third time just past Punmu.
So Friday I had a brand new radiator installed -yay!!!
As it turns out both my front shockies are rooted too. That would explain the bouncing up and down on
the springs, leaning to the right of course.
The ute goes in on Wednesday. It's hard to get work done here at short notice.
If all goes
well the Fair Maid and myself (only) should head east again around lunchtime Wednesday where I will make for
Well 33 and beyond. I still plan this even though I have to start work again 5 July. No way I'm gonna waste anymore of my hard earned annual leave.
Alan: Is there a Bunnings here?
Local: You have to be joking right!!
I cant believe how busy this place is. Accommodation was really hard to find. Lucky I look cool with my sunnies on.
It is so embarrassing driving around here with the front of the vehicle bouncing up and down like some yank tank in a movie from the '70s...
Tyres: No one here has the tyres I want - Coopers of course, stick with a good thing right, 23
puncture is OK when your the leading vehicle in a convoy????
Anyway I ended up getting Toyo M55's. The woman at the counter said, Quote: "You will not get a
puncture with these until they are bald".
Wow. What a statement. It must be true because she looked pretty cool...
Anyway - Now I have 2 new toyos at the front, 2 98% coopers at the back and 4 spares - 1 x 70% cooper, 2 x 100% cooper and 1 x 100% Toyo....I hope I make it.
Hopefully fully loaded the 4wd will make it to the repair
shop on Wednesday. I haven't got any where to stay Wednesday night so it will have to be ready.
Now 2 things I have learnt from this....
1. Carry a pressure sprayer for narrowing down punctures
2. Buy an Eco- Billy for hot water on the run
All good fun really.....
Cheers
Alan