Security (from LJ): usemask
Well... we've had our first big mechanical problem. After 35000km (at least 5000km of that on dirt roads), one of the power steering hoses went out. And it happened on a late Thursday afternoon. And it happened in the Bungle Bungles, a good six hours away from the nearest town, three of which are by a rough dirt road. We weren't going to give up our helicopter ride over the Bungles, though. It was very much worth it; the Bungles are spectacular, right up there with Uluru.
So we didn't leave the Bungles until mid morning on Friday. Which means, of course, that we get into town Friday afternoon at 3:30, no one can look at it until Monday morning, so we'll be forced to relax here in Kununurra and get to know this northwest town of 6000 really really well. This is the only town for a good eight hours drive.
Surprisingly and fortunately, it's not the end of nowhere. This morning, we went to the local farmers market, and stocked up on yummy dried mango and chutney, as well as a peculiar hot spicy spread that's 'endemic' to the Northwest. This afternoon, I went hiking in the national park which is all of ten meters from our tent site in the caravan park. And this evening, the open air cinema is screening 'The Mothman Prophecies' and 'Panic Room'--in an old drive-in movie theater! You don't drive in, though; they provide deck chairs.
And the car is still kind of drivable, we just have to put about 1/2 a liter of fluid in the power steering reservior whenever we want to drive it. Maybe tomorrow we'll go see Wyndham and the prison boab tree. Or maybe not--the bookstore in town is really well supplied, and now we've got about 20 books to read.
Come Monday afternoon, we'll hopefully finally be heading down the Gibb River Road through the Kimberley to Broome. That'll be fun. Fingers crossed though: I hope the part to fix the Landcruiser doesn't have to be flown in from Perth!