Monday 1st
It's still raining and miserable so we decided finally that we had better head for home today. Brian and Colleen also had to leave this morning in a hurry as Brian's mum isn't well - they headed off early while I did my work.
We all trooped over to the laundromat and did our washing, had lunch, etc, before we headed off towards home - we are sure going to miss travelling, but it won't be forever!!
We drove for a few hours and ended up in Cobar for the night - still wet and miserable.
Tuesday 2nd
Still raining so we headed off in the wet and kept heading East. We had just gone through Nevertire near Warren when a warning light came up on the dashboard of the Rover so Ross thought he had better pull off to the side of the road to see what was going on. Unfortunately, the ground was really slippery and before we knew it we were sliding down the side of a slope and ended up in a ditch! As soon as Ross felt it going he gunned it to try and drive out of it but the ground was so slippery it didn't help. He tried driving out once we were at the bottom but we were going nowhere - darn it!! First thing we did was ring the NRMA to explain our predicament and they said they would send someone from Warren to assess the situation and if they couldn't get us out then they would have to send a tow truck and then we would have to pay.
The NRMA was going to be a while so we started getting out our recovery gear to try and work out if we could get ourselves out of this sticky situation. A very helpful local pulled up in his 4x4 and asked us what we were doing down there and that if we had have pulled off a few hundred metres up the road then we wouldn't have had a problem and then drove off - thanks buddy! It is a very quiet road so we didn't think anyone else would come along to help. Fortunately, a couple of guys - 1 in a truck and 1 in a Landcruiser coming in opposite directions saw us and pulled over - they knew each other which helped! They were great. In no time they had us hooked up to the Cruiser and towed us out - caravan and all - not a bad feat - got it all on video. There was a bit of a hairy moment there for a while when I thought the caravan was going to tip, but they made it look so easy - pretty sure they have done that before. We thanked our saviours and gave them our details in case they were ever in the area and we could buy them a beer! Just before they pulled us out the NRMA guy showed up and told us that he had pulled several vehicles out of the same area recently because it is very deceptive and you don't realise how slippery it is. We were all pretty muddy by the end but all in all it all turned out pretty good thankfully!
We kept going and ended up in Warren for the night and got home the next night after a long drive through the Walch mountains.
Saturday, June 6, 2009
1st - 7th June
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1 comments:
Hi Darlings, just thought I would let you know what happened to us so you don't feel so bad!
We are just as clever as you. We got to Calvert River after leaving Hells Gate and watched and videod Des drive through the rather wide, very stoney, rocky, although not too deep river and marveled at him bouncing his way across without much problem.
Wow, better be careful and try not to find those big rocks that made him bounce so much - away we go hoping to make it over ok too.
Keeping in mind what the 'lovely lady' from Hells Gate had told us "keep to the left side of the Calvert River", we did just that and found the biggest and bestest hole dad could fall into!!! We should have kept to the right, not left, you stupid woman!!!
We stopped (after stalling it a few times, trying to be very careful) about 15m into the river. Des and Carol were videoing our very megre attempt, but were unable to help us.
I was videoing from inside, and the language was rather ripe as we realised we were hopelessly stuck.
The water was almost filling the step
hole (my crocs were floating) and I couldn't open the door against the current, so I hopped out the drivers door and waded across to opposite side with the 2 cameras. May as well get some good photoes/videos of the rescue, if nothing else.
Des backed into the river as far as he felt safe to do and with their two snatch straps and a piece of rope, Des tried to tow him out - good try Des, but the rope broke.
Not too long to wait before a 4x4 ute from nearby mine arrived behind Don and towed him backwards, onto dry land and up the hill, before unhooking the snatch strap.
Down the hill came Don for his second attempt, 'clonk, clonk, clonk' What now? Dont tell me the motors gone!
On his own this time, dad made it through without any more bother. The 'clonking' noise was 2 very large rocks trapped in the drivers side rear wheels. Thanked the guy very much and after trying his car lever to try and get the rocks out, left the boys to take the outside wheel off to dislodge the rocks. That took some doing!
Dad ended up laying in the river to cool himself off (37 up here) and away we went ahead of Des and Carol (they were enjoying a cuppa by now) up the other side. 'Clonk, clonk, clonk' ... what now? Yes, another large rock caught in the other side set of wheels this time.
Stopped up top of rise to dislodge this one and Des and Carol came up behind us (now about 11.20am) and again the guys had to take the outside wheel off to get it out.
Now about noon, and low and behold, there is the loveliest little camp spot right on top near where we had stopped, so we pulled in there for lunch and to camp the night. Both boys were buggered by now, so why not?
Other to that 'small' incident, it has been the bestest ever trip over roads we never thought we would ever travel over. We are so happy we have chosen to do these roads and have more roads ahead of us that we have never done and are looking forward to travelling over them, with just as much enthusiasm.
Love mum and dad
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