Nullarbor, part 1. Radiator leak.

16 March 2012

Day Seven. 13-03-12

Beautiful sunrise on the campground, over the airfield a helicopter takes off, most likely a couple of miners are on their way to work. It’s very common on these parts of Australia, miners meet their wives and kids at the nearest town and fly for the week to the mining site. The nice couple next to me offer to meet once I’m in Darwin, where they’re originally from. The man, Thor, from Norway, tells his stories of 4wding and both are still dreaming with the idea of a trip from South Africa to the Mediterranean shores. One day. We exchange our numbers and I’ll make sure to visit them in June.

Time to fill up: bread, gas, water, and off I go. Today, the first part of the Nullarbor Plains. It’s over 1000km from Ceduna to Norseman, and I’ll be camping mid-way at Border Village. A northerly wind brings dry hot air from the Outback and the temperature is expected to rise in the forties today. I can’t drive with the window down as I’ve already got my right arm sunburn. One arm is dark, one is pale. This is the “truckie look” I guess 🙂

100km down the road, it’s my engine’s temperature that goes through the roof. I stop quickly to add coolant to the system and drive the next few miles to Penong at a slow 80kmh. This is the only mechanic before Norseman, 1000km the other side of the Nullarbor. The radiator has a leak, and the constant flow of air bubbles in the water might indicate a cracked head gasket. This is bad, very bad. I’m still hoping the head gasket isn’t too damaged; we’ll have to wait for Norseman. In the meantime, a vile of Seal It (a bronze powder, but I’m told white pepper does the trick too) in the radiator once it’s been flushed seals the crack and the radiator is hermetic again. Hopefully this will hold till tomorrow.

A cruisy and steady 95kph keeps the temperature to normal and I make it to Border Village. My moral is down and I assess my situation as I go to bed without bothering to eat. Should I keep going ? How can I afford a new head gasket ? How much will this affect my budget ? Should I give up ?

Bad dreams and little sleep tonight. This is seriously bad sh**t.

Distance today : 470km, total 3138km