Kalumburu Track

 

Thursday 17 June 2021 – Kalumburu Track

After a pleasant night at Drysdale we had a reasonable sleep but the campground was busy early in the morning so we couldn’t sleep in. Still we didn’t have far to go so we didn’t hurry packing up. After refilling the water tanks on the vans we set off at 8:30. The good road near Drysdale didn’t last long and between the good sections there were some very poor sections. It got to the stage where the road narrowed to single lane and looked like a station access track. We passed another van on the side of the road with what looked like collapsed suspension on one side.

After an hour an half H&M who were in front pulled over into a rest area type parking spot and we followed them in. The important task was to hunt some firewood which was easily found. Larry cut the branches into smaller pieces, put them into a spare firewood bag and strapped it to the van behind the stone guard.  After another half an hour of bad corrugations we reached the turn off into the Mitchell River National Park and Munurrra campground which is about 7 kms down the track. We had to cross the King Edward river but it wasn’t very deep so all good.

Just before we came to the self check in area a truck squeezed past us with a Prado and a Concept van on the back of it. The Kalumburu road/track looks to have claimed another victim. We found the spot where we stayed in 2019 but there was a tent in it and this year they hadn’t slashed the grass back as far so you couldn’t really fit 2 vans in there. We did spot another site just before it so we did a loop and came back to it and the site easily accommodated the 2 vans and cars and, with a centrally located fire pit, was a perfect spot.

                                              

After lunch it was time to wander down to the river bank and we enjoyed bobbing around on the pool noodles and a quiet drink. Very pleasant but it was soon time to do the 5 min walk back to the vans soH&L could look at the Disco for the coolant leak.  Hendrik had cleaned the area in the morning so when Larry looked at it the spray marks were evident and he felt the radiator hose and there was a small split. It was from the hose rubbing on the plastic engine cover.

                                            

We put some silicon on it and will let it dry overnight and tape it like a bandage and that hopefully will hold until the hose can be replaced when back into civilisation or Perth if the temporary repair holds.

A fire was started but we didn’t want to go too big as Saturday night is the big fire night. We had just enough coals to cook the spuds in foil and a spiced apple damper for dessert. Hamburgers were the main course and after all that food pretty much everyone went into a food coma.

An early night as we have a big day tomorrow.