Don's perspective of the trip

Tues Feb 9

After final modifications to air con and trailer, we were under way. We travelled first to Yanchep at 80kph where we had dinner with mum and dad and picked up our children. Car ran cool, but used a lot of fuel. I made the mistake of adjusting the points for a smoother idle and we travelled at around 70kph until we reached cataby roadhouse. We pulled in and the family slept whilst I changed out the spark plugs and adjusted the point gap again in the hope of the engine running better. Left there at around midnight and continued until I was too tired to drive any further. Stopped in a carpark until morning at Eneabba.

Wed Feb 10

We called Kertis for advice and he rightly diagnosed oil in the air cleaner. Purchased a heater hose and diverted the crankcase gases to a tin for recovery. Cleaned out air cleaner. Engine ran smoother, but now had an overheating problem. Suspected radiator blockage.
Drove to Dongora at 50kph and let the kids swim in ocean whilst I flushed radiator and had another go at points. Still running too hot. Travelled at 55kph to Leeman where we saw a mechanic who correctly set the points and flushed the radiator again. Travelled to Geraldton – still ran hot. Arrived at 10pm, set up tarp in carpark next to beach and put whole family in it.

Thurs Feb 11
Up at dawn, collected shells on the beach and then travelled around Geraldton in search of new condenser and dissy parts. No success so headed off for Carnarvon. Stopped at roadhouse on the way to let car cool. Stayed at adjoining caravan park until sun went down. Had showers and called home.
Headed off again at around 7pm.
Stopped on the way and slept on trailer with Ben. Could not believe the canopy of stars. Ben said he saw 8 shooting stars. I don’t think he slept a wink. Arrived in Carnarvon at 1.30am Set up tent in Sunset Caravan Park and hauled the kids out of the car.

Fri Feb 12
Stayed in caravan park. Slept in, saw blowholes and salt flats, flushed radiator again. Kids played in pool and we had bbq lunch and dinner. had a good early night’s sleep.

Sat Feb 13
Drove into town and noticed a noise coming from front end. Inspected brakes and not happy. Purchased new front brake pads and bearings and asked around for a good mechanic. None found. All mechanics knock off at 12 noon. Headed for Karratha at 1pm with parts on board. Saw a large eagle which matched our downhill speed of 70kph, gliding alongside the car for approx 500 metres. Stopped at Nanaturra road house for dinner, next road house was closed so parked on side of road and slept for an hour. Travel speed still av 65 kph even at night. Engine still getting hot. Arrived at Karratha caravan park at 2am. Slept on front lawn with Ben and Kira. Jodi and twins slept in car
Sun Feb 14
Woken by sprinklers at 6am, got back into car and drove into town. Lots of noise from front of car. Pulled into shops and front right brakes fell apart. Got out tools and installed new brake pads. Callipers had seized. Disc was chewed out. Booked into caravan park nearby and set up tent for day sleep. Too hot, stayed in pool and slept on edge. Had good night sleep that night though. Met Christians in park, but did not get to Church.
Mon Feb 15
Drove into town and had mechanic install new disk, bearings and left brake. Very expensive labour. Felt very guilty that I had not diagnosed problem sooner and repaired myself.
Packed up and headed off at 8pm. Arrived in Port Hedland at 11pm, decided to continue on. Stopped at Pardoo roadhouse at 3am and slept on trailer again with family sleeping in car.
Tues Feb 16
Fueled up at 7am and headed off. Arrived at Sandfire roadhouse at 12.30pm. Very hot. Kids played – collecting peacock feathers whilst car cooled and I reset points. Left at 2.30pm. Stopped 247km south of Broome to help aboriginal family with shot trailer bearings. Left them water and food and took contact numbers to send them help. Continued to Broome and arrived at around 8pm. Checked into on site caravan and had good night’s sleep in air con.
Wed Feb 17

drove around Broome, played on beach, saw lots of hermit crabs. Tucked kids into bed and waited for cooler air.

Thurs Feb 18
Hauled kids and Jodi into car at 1.30am and headed for Fitzroy Crossing. Jodi and I tagged driving. Stopped in parking bays along the way for power naps. Growing very weary. Arrived at Fletcher and Anne’s at 6.30am. They had kindly set out mattresses in their loungeroom and put on the air con. They headed out for work

and we played in a gorge

before having a sleep.

The kids were sick of spam.

We all had a play in the park and saw their school in the cool of the evening. Fletcher is a real natural with the kids. He tired them out with basketball and skipping games.

We had dinner together and then headed off again at around 8pm. We left Fletcher and Anne as they continued to prepare lessons for the following day

Drove until too tired. Jodi too tired to tag. Slept on trailer, kids and Jodi slept in car.

Fri Feb 19
Arrived in Halls Creek at 8am. Accommodation too expensive. Had breakfast on the run and continued on. Car still overheating. Wet towels in windows, heater on, day getting hotter.
Stopped at ord river and played in it with kids for a few hours from around 11am to 2pm. Jumped back in the car and continued on. Temp in shade now over 40 deg. Temp in car hotter. Consumed lots of water. Stopped at two road houses for cold drinks and ice. Scenery is magnificent.

Lots of boab trees, mountains, cows and lizards. Arrived at HCJB at 6.30pm. Greeted with home made curry and banana cake. Sooo good to finally stop.

Sat Feb 20
Woken by excited children. Peter Michalke has killed a snake he found on his doorstep.

Peter gave us an orientation morning. We then unpacked the car and trailer and had work orientation that afternoon before a communal meal in the main hall.

Feels like home. Lovely Christian families here. Children have already made new friends and are playing well. Lots of grasshoppers, frogs and butterflies. Everything is green and lush. Very hot and humid, but compared to our trip – this is quite nice! First task allocated for Monday is to dismantle collapsed antenna from last cyclone and store as scrap metal. Should take a few days to complete. Then will start work on assembly of bases and outriggers for the new antennas. Lots of other work to do here, there will not be a dull moment. Jodi is settling in. We are a little unsettled until the house is ready to move into. Homeschooling will start on Monday in the temp accommodation.