DAY 74 Pilbara – Kimberley Trip
KUNUNURRA
Soon after we got up in the morning the Oka was taken into the repair yard and we had to wait to see what had to be done. You can see the slant on the front driver’s side wheel.
We were a bit down.
We walked into town to the Visitor’s Centre to at least plan our stay here. After a while Min walked back and finally we got the bad news that besides the bearings the front hub also needed replacement.
They indicated it would take about a week to get it fixed as they had to source the parts first. They were not happy that Min decided to contact Paul in Melbourne for the parts. He found out that Paul had them all. After a few hours the guy at the yard indicated that he was still having a problem getting them and some would come form Perth and others from Queensland and it could take a week to get them. Min told him he could get them all from Melbourne. After a wile the guy conceded that Min order them.
Whilst Min was organising parts I was trying to find us accommodation. The Ord Muster was on so accommodation was booked out and there were no cars available for hire. We looked at the option of buying a tent and going to the caravan park but then the question arose of what to do with our refrigerated food and how would we transport everything to the park. Eventually we ended up at Ponciena Lodge. It was lodge for workers that is currently being renovated so occupancy was being kept to a minimum. It was in the industrial section of town. The room was beautifully redecorated but the place from the outside looked awful. The owner was very considerate and extremely helpful. There were two young couples from Japan who were working locally, a young Swiss couple also waiting for their car to be fixed and two local working boys.
Every local we spoke to in Kununurra today said that everything takes time to get here/to get done and not to expect anything to be finished by the end of the week. They say in Kununurra WA also stands for wait a while.
So after the parts were ordered and feeling very down we went into town and at the last minute booked a flight for tomorrow over Mitchell Falls and the coast as the road is still closed and there is no word of when it will open. We were actually going to book it for Wednesday but when the person at the visitor’s centre rang through we were offered the opportunity to go tomorrow for a very reduced rate. Maybe things will look up.
To pep ourselves up we went to the Kununurra Hotel for dinner and had a local T-bone steak. This pub is the centre of activity during the Ord Muster.
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