DAY 20 Pilbara – Kimberley Trip
CORAL BAY – WINDERABANDI POINT (NINGALOO STATION)
WHAT A DAY!!! That is the only way to describe today.
I am sitting outside listening to the waves gently roll in and break over the not so far reef as, on one side the last rays of the sun disappear into the ocean, and on the other side the distant storm clouds are lit up by the sun over the horizon and an fullish moon high in the sky. Beautiful spot.
Today has had some interesting bits.
We were going to go out in our inflatable up to the reef but decided against it as we were a bit slow in getting going this morning. We relaxed over a cuppa at breakfast on the lovely lawn at the Coral Bay Peoples Park Caravan Village. We went across to talk to the rangers about the 4WD Coastal Access Rd but the office was closed till April. They had a number to ring so we contacted them and got the information we needed. Last night we also contacted another Oka owner in Exmouth and arranged to drop in on Thursday. As we were going to cross Yarde Creek, he said if we don’t turn up by Thursday evening he will come looking to pull us out of the Yardie. Apparently it can be dicey getting across.
Anyway we set out on the 4WD access road and were putting along it enjoying the scenery. The termite mounds looked like hay stacks in a field.
There were lots of little tiny birds. It was a sandy track and only wide enough for one vehicle. Suddenly hubby pulled up on the track. Something is wrong he says and hops out of the car. Something had happened to the power steering and the power braking. A few minutes later a car pulls up in front of us needing to pass somehow. They indicated that they were happy to wait to see what the problem was as there was no mobile reception here. Initially hubby thought that the seal in the steering assembly had gone. He contacted Ningaloo Station on the UHF who by chance was also an Oka owner. They discussed the problem and Phil was going to contact our insurance company in case we had to be towed out. The couple in the other 4WD decided to keep going as we had communication and possible assistance. They went around us in the scrub and we were alone in the hot 40 degree sun. Anyway what had the potential to be a big problem ended up being a solvable problem. Hubby asked me to start the car whilst he checked something. He isolated the problem. The low pressure hose to the power steering had split and we had lost oil. He repaired it but we only had a litre of hydraulic oil with us. It was enough to get us out of trouble and to Ningaloo Station. Contact was again made with the station and we slowly made our way. Phil was very helpful and we were able to purchase some of the oil from him. After an Oka focused chat we were on our way with directions to a beautiful camping spot. So everything turned out fine.
Today was also a great day for the animals we saw. We saw, what we later identified as the Pilbara Death Adder, slither across the track just after turning into the 4WD Coast Road. Several kangaroos did not want to leave the road. Saw many euros as well as kangaroos.
Then there were the emus. Usually there were three together.
Then the sheep at the station and the one along the track.
And to top it all, I don’t know which one gets the honour –
Hubby wresting the goat - was butted by a goat at the station and had to take action to avoid being hurt and got into a wresting match with the goat,or
2. the goat on the termite mound.
OR
Once we got to Winderabandi Pt – 90k from Coral Bay we set up camp and enjoyed swimming in the sea and going for a walk along the coast and the beautiful sunset.
Below is a caricature near the entrance to one of the camp sites.
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment