Well the day is full of anticipation, we have to check out of room by 10am and have no idea if parts arrived form Adelaide to fix bus. Trying to have patience and not ring mechanic we pack the stuff from the resort into hire car , its 11am and get the call, parts arrived on Saturday and bus is ready to be picked up …. Sensational. Picked up bus then the boat and some organising bedding etc. and we are on the road again, 200k to Pine Creek and we camp beside a dam, great spot, settled and happy with the way bus drove. It was a very extended happy hour and Maz enjoys her swim in the dam.
Tuesday off early, (it all seems so strange to be back in the bus and to be travelling as we have only done about 400k in 5 weeks) 90k to Katherine and stock up on food and fuel, then off to Katherine Gorge. Camped at C/park and booked in for 7am boat/breakfast cruise up the Gorge.
Wednesday up 6am phew, then 2 hour cruise, great hosts, stunning scenery, money well spent.
We then head back to Katherine to the hot springs for a refreshing swim.
Then westward toward Kununurra. An easy 100k drive and camp at a free roadside camp, very relaxing although 30+ degrees.
On the road by 9am and I notice a noise from the bus I had not heard before, but I put it down to noticing every noise after the clutch episode. Then we drive into great countryside around Victoria River.
We check out the old river crossing, carefully as there are croc signs. On to Timber Creek, stop for lunch and meet some people we got to know at Jabiru. After lunch and a fuel up $1.65 litre, and head west the noise I heard is getting louder,,,,, grrrr, turn around and go back to Timber Creek (35k) speak to an unhappy mechanic, he puts new oil in diff and off we go….. Still worried.
We camp at a free camp 100k east of WA/NT border great spot again. Hard to sleep with heat and the thought of something else wrong with bus, my suspicions are the diff or wheel bearing as there is no vibration from uni joints and whines when out of gear, so not gear box.
Head off in the morning and get to border, bus gets searched for fruit and veg as none allowed in WA, turn back clocks 90 mins hmmm its early now, turn up music so cant hear noise and cruise on.
Kununurra is a surprising large town to be in the middle of nowhere and tourists everywhere. Caravan parks are booked out but we get an unpowered site beside lake, which suits and have a pool too.
It’s a bit hard getting used to being dark at 6pm and bright daylight at 5am (so I am told was not awake that early) but awake at 7am as people are up and packing for their travels.
Saturday morning MARKET, I better not whinge, have not been to one in ages, seen a few more sights of town and we drive back 30k and then turn south for 40k to Lake Argyle (5 times bigger than Sydney Harbour). Maz drives for a while and I listen to noise from bus as its getting worse. I reckon I know what it is but no mechanics on duty till Monday, so we will be back in Kununurra then. Happy hour at 5pm and met friends who home brew rum, so I am stocked up again.
Sunday up at 7am and get boat ready for a cruise, 4 hours on the water great fun, caught about 6 catfish, all went back.
Its 34 here today so the arvo in shade, packed boat for the trip tomorrow. Happy hour with others from the c/park.
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