We packed up and left Birdwood Downs Station. Brenda held the gate open and then all of a sudden there was this mass exodus of caravans and everyone just drove on through, no regard for Brenda, who was standing there holding the gate open for them all. Eventually, the stream ended and we could all drive off to the end of the Gibb River Road sign for an official photo of us all together at the end of the road. We headed off to Broome, which was a little over 200km away. We drove through flat country with no real ranges or gorges to speak of. There were lots of bridges over rivers with good amounts of water still in them. Some of these bridges were single lanes, and it was clear at one of them, that some people have no idea about the road rules in these situations. We were behind Trailways and watched as they were on the bridge first and this car coming the other way started on to the bridge coming the other way, even though Trailways was already on the bridge.They then started flashing their lights at Ian, and kept coming further into the bridge and basically forced Ian to reverse back half the bridge. Luckily we had waited before getting onto the bridge and hadn’t also entered the bridge and then it would have been 2 vehicles that would have had to reverse. Most people know that in these situations, not only do you give way to the vehicle first on the single lane, but you also give bigger vehicles the right of way. Clearly this person had no idea, and just adds to the many crazy and risky driving we have seen people do on this trip.
We all managed to get to Broome safely, and Matt and I headed to Coles to stock up on fresh food. We then drove to the caravan park to check in. We checked in and then asked if the parcel had arrived for us containing the new alternator. Unfortunately, it had not arrived. The person I had spoken to about this had not told anyone else (like they said they would do) or written our names down to collect the parcel if it was left at the post office, as it had the caravan park address on it. 😔. So we have to wait until Monday and hope it is at the post office. Just as we then started the engine to drive to our spot, the smaller old alternator that Matt had re-installed back in Adelaide River, as a stop gap until we made it here to Broome; started squealing and by the time we parked up and Matt opened the bonnet, it was smoking.😬. The heat had started to melt the edges of the belts too. When the alternator had cooled down and Matt could pull it out and open it up, he found the bearings had internally collapsed and seized. 😢. It literally got us to the caravan park as it needed to, then locked up solid. I had put a new one in before we left as I was a little sus about the Chinese bearings. ( it’s a no name Chinese alternator that came with the engine. And the only things I’ve had problems with on this engine has been the bits with wires in them ) Suspicions confirmed. I pulled the alternator apart and bits of bearing started to fall out. There are a couple of bearing places in Broome so I might be able to get a replacement if all goes to hell with the warranty replacement that is supposed to be here in Broome somewhere if we can find it. Feeling grateful that it got us to our destination and didn’t fall apart before then or on the Gibb River Road. Also grateful that we still have our friends with us, as we are nowhere near public transport. So plan A is to go to the post office first thing on Monday and hopefully be able to find the alternator there, install it and hunt for some new belts, in case we need them (though they are an unusual size and might be hard to find.) Plan B if the alternator isn’t at the post office is to contact the auto electrical suppliers here in Broome and hope we can find an alternator that will be big enough to get us home. Plan C if we can’t source another new alternator, is to try to find new bearings and see if we can get the old alternator running again. Prayers appreciated.
I got 3 loads of washing done in the meantime, while Matt was working on the bus. We chilled by the bus for the afternoon and then enjoyed a lovely group dinner of Chinese takeaway, thanks Ian for the shout. Looking forward to exploring Broome tomorrow in Trailways.
I also have to tack weld the leaf spring bushings back on to the left leaf spring in the front as they have also snapped off and are loose in the spring and moving around sideways when we turn from time to time,(the two people reading this who know how these go together understand) not a major worry but annoying.especially as carrolls springs did these when I had new springs made. And the caravan park spot has a nylon mat over the ground where I’m parked so that will put a stop to me sneaking in some welding in the caravan park, as I’ll set fire to their matting. that’s annoying. I’ll have to do it on the side of the road somewhere… luckily I’m used to working in a driveway . Alternator first.
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| Didn’t have this warning sign at the end we started at … |
