Project Pajero
Where are we now!
Updates for Day 71-77 6 November to 12 November
Well, I don’t know if anyone else has been following T&C’s progress over the past few days via the SPOT tracker, but if you have you will have seen that they have certainly seen some varied country and some of the most spectacular country in Australia.
Their slow progress down the coast from Streaky Bay to Elliston and then to Coffin Bay showed that there is some outstanding seascape scenery along this coast line with spectacular cliffs with the southern ocean crashing up against it leading into vast areas of giant sand dunes, pure white and virtually unspoiled by other wheel tracks. I have to say I have seen some amazing locations for a future 4WD trip.
They arrived in Coffin Bay and made camp in the local caravan park, the next day they packed up early, it was last Sunday (8/11) in fact when it was flooding in their home town at Coffs Harbour. Down at Coffin Bay it was clear blue sky and after dropping the caravan in the National Park camp ground which cost just $5 they set off to explore the sand and limestone tracks of the Coffin Bay National Park. Watching their progress via SPOT was fascinating as they criss crossed the Park, driving on hard packed limestone tracks in low heath scrub then dropping tyre pressures as the track followed the beach, they spent half the day in this fascinating area. Coming back to the caravan at lunch time, they must have really confused the local Ranger as they hooked up the caravan and disappeared up the road.
Passing through very busy Port Lincoln they made their way to Tumby Bay, I had promised that the fish and chips overlooking the sea were great, but as I promised this at both Derby and Exmouth and neither time it eventuated, they certainly didn’t get their hopes high. But, they should have, as not only were the fish and chips still on but they were real value for money with a good feed for both of them under $10 plus the caravan park site at Tumby Bay overlooked the water on a beautiful sunny day.
Whilst in Ceduna a few days back, a guy in the street started talking to them about their tyres, the Bridgestones, it turned out he was the local Bridgestone tyre rep, and had a good look at the tyres and suggested to Tony that he should rotate them to ensure maximum life. (Funny, I thought Tony had been rotating them for the last 25,000 kilometres!???!) Anyway, the old Grey one decided that he would track down a Bridgestone tyre outlet in Whyalla and get the tyres swapped around.
After a leisurely morning in Tumby Bay they set off for Whyalla and followed the local business directory to where the Bridgestone tyre place should be, but the sign said they had recently moved. The sign gave the new address so they plugged this into the HEMA Navigator, or Mrs HEMA as T & C call it, unfortunately Mrs H seemed a little confused, trying to make them head in the opposite direction to where the new shop was located. Nevertheless they found the Bridgestone dealer and after explaining that they were road testing the tyres for Overlander Magazine, (Tony pointed out the copy of the Magazine in their waiting room with the Project Pajero story therein), they actually did the tyre rotation and balance for free, well done Whyalla Bridgestone dealer!
So with tyres now rotating they headed off through Port Augusta and up to the Flinders Ranges. We had had a short telephone conversation about some changes to their plans and they now decided to give the Birdsville Track a miss and head south after exploring the Flinders. I suggested making a base camp at Rawnsley Park and for some reason they took my advice?
The next day they tackled the infamous SkyTrek track on Willow Springs station, this is a spectacular 4WD trek that takes about 6 hours to complete and involves quite a bit of low range 4WDriving. It takes you to the highest mountain accessible by vehicle in Sth Aust. and Carol drove to the top of Mt Carnarvon, GO GIRL!
The following day (Remembrance Day) they drove into Wilpena Pound but the very long walking tracks which are all up hill and the increasing heat made them decide that the air conditioned comfort of their beloved Pajero was a better choice, so they explored Brachina Gorge before heading into the quaint town of Blinman. They set off on the Artimore ruins trek which saw them 4WDriving over some quite rough ground with deep washouts and holes, even the Pajero managed to lift a wheel or two on this journey. Emerging back at Blinman they headed west out of the ranges to the town of Parachilna and the Prairie hotel, well there isn’t much else at Parachilna and I was surprised to hear that Tony did not remember it, he was there only last June with me on our trip to see Lake Eyre flooded!!!??
Anyway they headed back to Hawker and Rawnsley Park to enjoy the pool.
During this adventure Sth Australia started to heat up, experiencing a heat wave which saw the temperature rise and rise. Tony tells me that at 5pm it was 42 degrees, and then this morning Thursday 12 November, it was 38 degrees at 5am! Undaunted by this, our feisty grey nomads, donned their walking shows and at 6 am set off for a 14 kilometre walk to Rawnsley Bluff and Wilpena Pound Lookout, returning to Rawnsley Park by 9am and being the heat of the day (What? But it was already 38 at 5am!)
Anyway, they packed up the caravan and shot through looking for a cooler local. Not much luck there, but they have ended their day on the edge of Spencer’s Gulf overlooking the water at Port Broughton just south of Port Pirie, sadly the forecast is for two days of 42 degrees!
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