Beanie Bunch pull together in big northerly wind and rain as Defender rear axle snaps on route to Kalgoorlie
Landrover Defender. Rear
axle snapped. |
By the Beanie Bunch
Good evening friends from Kalgoorlie, Western Australian Goldfields. Kalgoorlie-Boulder is nickname Kal by the locals and is a remarkably self sufficient city with magnificent building architecture and wealth.
Kalgoorlie - Boulder is most famous for gold production and is the major producer of gold in Australia.
Our last email was from Fowlers Bay when we were heading west looking for a bush camp site for Thursday nite. Wow so much excitement can happen in such a short time.
We stopped in a small parking bay off the Nullabor about 3pm to have another look at the Great Australian Bight.
Bert saw a track leading down to the headland to the waters edge and was delegated to check it out in the unstoppable Queen Mary Defender as a camp site for the night.
Typical track to the Nullarbor coast |
Some time passed and radio contact was made. We were at the Garden of Eden Paradise Camp site right on the waters edge overlooking the Great Australian Bight with the cliffs behind us breaking the shocking north wind we had experienced all day but - silence from Bert.
Then Bert came in with a few problems. We asked what was was happening? Oh, just a little bit rocky and steep to get down one section, he said Then more silence.
Are you still coming Bert we asked? Yes, came the reply, but then more silence.
Then Bert came back on air with the news that - Now I am stopped, there was a little bit of a bang and now the front wheels are the only ones turning. Better come and have a look.
Well, the end result was a broken rear axle and some three hours of winching with the 9000lb Warn winch on the Defender on maximum extension and hooked onto a Brano hand winch anchored to Geoff’s Hi-lux strategically positioned.
Towering cliffs of the Great Austalian Bight |
We had to unload all fuel and water and some other heavies from the Queen Mary. 100 meters of winching started but it was a slow process repositioning the anchor vehicle and making adjustments, moving rocks and other stuff.
Darkness set in with the wind and rain started. Eventually all vehicles were back together on near flat land to be re-packed after a relay carrying 20 litre jerry cans back up the hill.
Unfortunately, Bert was not parked flat and when he re-opened the side covers on the Defender, all of the storage draws slid out and crashed upside down on the rocks.
We reloaded and headed for Eucla just across the Western Australia border. It was still raining and blowing and pitch dark. We again shared motel room accommodation.
Friday morning the weather was worse, rain all night and still blowing cold northerly wind.
Eucla Met station |
Although we had all visited the dentist before we left, unfortunately Shirl developed an abscess on a back tooth resulting in a visit to the local Silver Chain Nursing Centre who were great.
They contacted the flying doctor in Derby who prescribed antibiotics and made an appointment with a dentist in Kalgoorlie first thing Monday morning.
Meanwhile RAC (WA) was contacted for assistance with the Queen Mary and the axles and tail shaft were removed to enable us to move on the further 880 km to Kalgoorlie passing through the roadhouses at Mundrabilla, Mandura, Cocklebiddy, Caiguna and Ballendonia for a late night camp setup in the rain.
These roadhouses all provide a service to travellers across the Nullabor before reaching Norseman.
We set up at Discovery Holiday Park Kalgoorlie on Saturday night our home for the next three nights to have a rest, vehicle repairs and servicing before heading North to Wiluna our final contact point before the Canning Stock Route.
Discovery Holiday Park Boulder, Kalgoorlie Western Australia |
Discovery Holiday Parks - BOULDER is a fully accredited property, a member of Family Parks of Australia proudly managed by Discovery Holiday Parks.
The Holiday Park is about 600km east of Perth in the Western Australia Goldfields.
The Caravan Park managers are Anne & John Fannin. The Holiday Park has a range of accommodation from fully self-contained en-suited Swiss Chalets to Villas, Caravan En-suited sites, powered sites and grassed camping sites.
There are barbecues, Camp Kitchen, Internet access, Kiosk, the caravan park is Pet Friendly, there is a playground, and a swimming pool
Cheers
Alan & Pam
Sue & Geoff
Phil & Barb
Bert & Shirl
lets Travel the Gravel before we unravel
Editors note: Here are some pictures from the GoSee Western Australia Information Articles in the GoSee library which now contains more than 500 free features to assist travellers -
Editors Note: Also see Beanie Bunch background and vehicle profile at the start of the Canning adventure.
Beanie Bunch 8 cuddle in caravan park cabins on route to Canning Stock Route adventure
RACV shows Total Care as Beanie Bunch vehicles shakedown on South Australia western roads and beaches
Editor's Note also see:
Get Out There with your caravan in top shape
Campersat tunes in an eye in the sky for RV wanderers
Caravan insurance - no cover fears prompt camper, pop-top checks
Notes on battery and solar power
Solar aids battery power, but keep your balanced systems
Great Drives of Australia - GSA Tours WA's Icon's
GoSeeAustralias Great Drives of Australia 'Once around The Block please'
Sail your caravan through the Nullarbor winds
To Perth and back by "Statesman RV"
Hook up and tow
For more information
contact: Garth Morrison
Editor Go See Australia and Go See New Zealand Directory
Email: garth@contact.com.au
2000 Toyota HiLux. Anchor vehicle for winch work |
Kalgoorlie from Mt Charlotte lookout Western Australia |
Norsemans galvanised camels on the WA towns main roundabout |
The 90 Mile Straight disappears into the sky |
Old jetty at Eucla |
Super Pit Gold Mine Kalgoorlie Western Australia |
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