The day started off with Matt enjoying pancakes with maple syrup and mixed berries, before we packed up and left Robin Falls. We headed out to visit the Daly River, and as we explored, we spotted two salt water crocs sunning themselves on the beach beside the river. We found the old river crossing weir and cautiously went to the riverside and had a look at the river, which was flowing over the weir. We didn’t spot anymore crocs there. We then drove to the town which housed an inn and a police station.
As we headed back down the road, aiming to see if the Douglas Hot Springs had been opened up, Matt suddenly lost the tacho and the ampmeter was reading zero, and the volt gauge didn’t look right; immediately concerned he pulled over. He raced down to the engine bay to check on the alternator and found it was hot. This alternator was brand new and had been installed before we left Sydney. So we decided to limp the bus to the nearest town, being Adelaide River. The bus still runs, it just uses the battery and the battery isn’t charged anymore, and as we drove along the radiator cooling fans were draining the battery and after an hour of driving the battery got to the point where things like the indicators weren’t working. Matt started to call around a few auto electricians in Darwin, but alas, no one either touches 24 volt alternators, or doesn’t carry parts. So then Matt contacted the auto electrician he bought it from in Katoomba, but he was taking the day off, but would work on a warranty claim tomorrow hopefully. So then Matt called the Darwin office of the supplier of the alternator and they didn’t have any in stock and said the closest one was in Perth, Melbourne or Launceston. So Matt decided it wasn’t worth our while to return to Darwin. He had fortuitously brought the old alternator, something told me I would need it. I guess I know my luck and the quality of aftermarket parts, even if they cost $800. The old alternator still works but wasn’t as big and capable as the new one, to charge as much as he wanted to charge. So he removed the new alternator, and noticed a small blow out hole in the side of the regulator component on the alternator. He then installed the old alternator; and 2 hours later, phew the bus was able to run and charge. I did get to see the Ghan train go by while I waited for Matt to do the work. By then it was late afternoon and so we headed back down the road and to another free camp ground just further down the road from Robin Falls.
We had the campground beside Burrell Creek all to ourselves, and as we pulled in, Matt noticed what he thought was a movement on the sandy beach beside the lower part of the creek. So I stood there for a bit and stared and thought I saw some underwater movement further up the lower creek. We pulled out our chairs and Matt got out the fishing rod and lure out and he fished in the upper part of the creek, while I cooked his dinner. It was nice for him to chill out with a beer and fishing. I joined him with dinner and we sat there and enjoyed the serenity, birds were flying home for the night, the sun had set, and the crickets were chirping. I took a short stroll to look at the lower creek again and lo and behold, I saw a floating log near the sandy beach! Matt went and got the camera out and zoomed in and the photos confirmed our suspicions - it was a crocodile! So we moved out chairs and sat them closer to the lower creek and the croc and watched it, and we suspect it was watching us. There was a steep, rocky bank on our side of the creek, so we weren’t worried that it would come near us, (apparently they don’t like climbing on rocks, as they have a sensitive underbelly). As the almost full moon lit up the sky, and the stars started to appear, we watched the croc. At one point, we heard a couple of strange noises which we suspect were the croc snapping at something. Soon it became too dark to see him, and we headed back to Bridget for the night. It was good to end the day surrounded by God’s creation, and to see a croc without being on a tour. It was a small consolation for the concerns we have now with the alternator. Matt is hoping it might be possible for a quick process with the warranty claim and a new one could be sent out to us either at Kununurra or Broome, but we suspect they will want to assess the broken one before they replace the broken one. So Matt will have to hope the old one lasts the distance and the load for the rest of the trip. We will keep you posted on what happens.
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| tonights campspot |
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| tonights neighbour... we watched him he watched us... |
