Windy Harbor to Esperance

 

From our adventure on the Windy Harbor track we went back to the main road leading to Albany. Detouring, as usual, to spots as we went. We came to Walpole, the home of valley of the giants, with a tree top walk high in the canopy of the magnificent trees there. We had visited the tree top walk with the kids all those years before, so didn’t see the need to repeat the experience. Though we remembered a small camp we visited next to a river at that time and set out to find it again.

About 20k west of Walpole was a road going to a crossing on Deep River, this was the place we thought. Up the track we went, as we approached the crossing it all came back to us. The river and camp site looked very familiar. We pulled up and walked around and soon were identifying land marks. There is an old photo we have of us at the camp some 24 years ago, tried to get one with same angle. No doubt, this was the place.

Spent four days there and then moved on. Topped up water and a few supplies at Walpole, then on to Denmark, after we looked about, it was time to move on. So to Albany it was, with the old sailing ship, which the kids played on all those years ago.

Around Albany we looked at some beach camp grounds but they were all full.

 The last one we looked at was down a fairly steep hill, and when going out again a loud crunching noise was coming from the back axle area. It didn’t sound good. When driving straight it was fine, but a couple of times when turning, it would do it again. Out on the main road was a rest stop with a gravel pit opposite. We pulled into the gravel pit to be out of the way and thought what to do.

After a day thinking, we decided it could be the rear diff playing up, so it had to be looked at. Ringing around Albany, it was apparent no one could look at it for another two weeks. So Esperance was tried and I found a truck place who could fit me in in the next couple of days. So with fingers crossed we set off on the 400k trip to Esperance.

Arriving in Esperance we camped at a rest area outside town and turned up at the mechanic the next morning.

 After describing the problem, I drove about the compound, but the noise would not appear no matter what I did. After more discussions and it was agreed to remove the diff Centre and inspect it.

 Long story short, no defects were found with the diff, but, after a complete inspection of all driveline parts when putting everything together again, a noise was detected in the rear wheel when adjusting the brakes. After pulling off the Brake drum, scoring of the brake shoes and rubble in the drum indicated there had been a rock or something in there and this was most probably the cause of the noise.

With a day spent at the mechanics. and a good sized bill paid, we were on the road again with the all clear. At least I knew my diff was in good shape.

Exploring the outskirts of Esperance we followed the road to the Pink Lake, which is not pink any more by the way, because of interference of the natural environment through development in the area. The road goes on to follow the coast and you end up back in town. Skirting the coastline you are treated to spectacular views of the beaches.

Found a track at the western end of this road and followed it to a secluded spot and we made our home base for the next week as we looked about Esperance a bit more.