Saga of the gearbox

24th March saturday

Colin said he heard a train in the night, a siren, cock crowing and the Galahs overnight, Rose just slept. Had scrambled eggs on toast for breakfast, scrummy. Had a walk to town, not very big, all essentials, got fresh bread and 3 steaks reduced to $3. Will walk back tomorrow to take photos of the murals and sculptures. Colin changed the wheelbearing on the front nearside as it had been grumbling a bit, it is the original bearing from when he bought it 12 years ago. Weather has got warmer and stickier. we have the radio on tuned into the BBC World Service, Colin heard a report of an earthquake in S.A. near the border with N.T. We bought a flyswat(70cents) for Colin and he is having such fun killing the little blighters. Had jacket spuds and our $3 steaks for dinner in camp kitchen, it was very tasty. Before dinner rang Emma and the kids, it was really good to catch up and to hear her healthis slowly recovering, Ellie has lost 2 teeth and is practicing for her school concert(playing the Maracas), all Harry said was that he wore his boxer shorts in bed. Fellow campers Eddie and Lynn asked us to join them in a game of dominoes called numerical(Indiana) dominoes, it is an American version and took over 2 hours to complete the game, very enjoyable evening. It is now raining again but at least it was forecast.

25 March Sunday

Sunny with showers forecast today, turned out quite muggy again. Didn't do a lot during the day just read and did jigsaws in camp kitchen with other campers, spent evenng talking to 2 young people from Northern Ireland who have settled recently in Melbourne. They have taken a week to this far and are aiming to go north to Tom Price and back down coast in 3 weeks, lots of driving. Rang Robyn and had a long chat.

26 March Monday

Warm again, walked to Resource Centre and updated blog. Just read and chilled for rest of day. Bought cheap mince so cooked up Bolognese sauce for later in week. Spent last evening with Leonie and Lynn trying to complete a jigsaw, as Lynn is alos leaving tomorrow Leonie will have to finish by herself (what a character).

27 March Tuesday

Leaving Goomalling, a fantastic Shire Caravan Park, one of the best. Said our goodbyes to Leonie then Eddie and Lynn who gave us an invite to visit with them if we ever come back to Oz in 2015. Left site just after 9am heading to Northam for shopping then road to Toodyay (pronounced Toojay). Hilly, bendy roads but boundried with trees.

It is greener than we expected. Heading west we stopped in Gingin for lunch in a lovely GREEN park with a river running through it,

 had a walk around, such a lovely spot. Took road to Lancelin up the Indian Ocean Drive, saw the Indian Ocean

for the first time, it is strange seeing huge sand dunes inland

 by quite a way. eventually arrived at Sandy Cape Recreational Park at 4.15pm (north of Jurien Bay), nice site with flush toilets and next to the beach.

28 March Wednesday

Condensation on tent but sunny morning, got hot very quickly. Had walk along the beach, beautiful white sand and turquise ocean.

  People were out fishing early but it seems not much biting (probably due to the sting ray ) but they were catching late yesterday afternoon. Colin fitted new back door stay (to keep door open when parked up) as old one broke. temperature in 30s to day. Joined Terry and Gail, a couple from Perth for happy hour, it gets dark a tiny bit later here on the coast.

29 March Thursday

Warm already, found we have phone signal on top of sand dune. After breakfast went to gazebo on top of sand dune and checked emails and caravan parks further up coast. Had walk on beach going the other way,

 it is lovely but walter still cold, no wonder we stay trim the sand is very soft and difficult to walk on. Just fruit and custard for lunch today. Colin walked up the big dunes at the back of the camp,

 he said the sand very soft and hard work but the views were stunning.

  later in day the resident caretakers introduced themselves, we offered to pay them but they said to put money in (dis)honesty box. Has started to cloud over and chill down.

30 March Friday

FRIDAY FACT:- PERTH IS THE MOST ISOLATED CITY IN THE WORLD

Wind and rain overnight, but tent dry when we got up, still a bit cloudy. As leaving site red knob kept jumping out of 2 wheel drive, Stopped in Jurien Bay and Colin found out transfer casing coming away from gearbox, he spent couple of hours mananging to get a couple of bolts in to hold together, we decided to drive to Moora via Badgingarra, instead of visiting the Pinnacles. Arrived at Moora Caravan Park at 1.30pm, set up tent and Colin got straight under vechicle stripping transfer box, he found needle roller bearing diintegrated and all nuts and bolts loose, will strip out foot passenger floor tomorrow. Whilst cooking steaks on BBQ found a tel number for local mechanic(if we need) on notice board. Steak, sslad and garlic bread for dinner- lovely. Cool evening, put on jumpers.