Hooray, arrived in Onslow on the coast this afternoon. Found the only accommodation in town, $245 a night thanks to the Chevron gas hub development nearby. We might have been able to get a tent site at one of the caravan parks, but after many days in the bush, a chalet was very appealing. Onslow Sun Chalets
Last nights campsite was nice, a typical beside the road camp made better by the VeggieCruza being able drive just that bit further from the road for privacy. A little depression filled by the recent floods gave us some washing water, and the brilliant hard dry jam wood makes a lot of heat with little wood.
Packed up and on the road by 8:50am, we cruised along at a good speed. We found a 24 hour roadside camp at a river crossing and checked it out. What’s that smell? Hot trailer brakes again? This is seriously frustrating. They seem to need almost daily checking and readjustment, in particular in bad conditions such as mud and dust. But given they are supposed to be off road brakes, it’s pretty disappointing Alko!!
I also found both spring shackles loose on the trailer and one spring bolt broken. Not having any replacement, we Shuffled the axle forward a little and tightened it up. The roads haven’t been that rough, but shows the importance of daily vehicle checks armed with spanners to retighten everything. Something not to look forward to each night especially with all the mud caked to the components.
There’s certainly something about this section of road between Nanutarra and Paraburdoo. I don’t recall any trip along here which has been trouble free.
But for now it’s catching up on 266 emails, mostly deleted, showers and becoming civilized again. Fish and chips from the pub tonight!
Did you really pay that much for accommodation?
The only accommodation available in the town was a two bedroom chalet at $245 at Onslow Sun Chalets. Too big for us, but the alternative was a $45 a night tent site in a crowded caravan park. We took the first night, and an option on the second night at the same place in a small motel type unit for $190 a night.
We really needed some time out of the tent, so ended up staying both nights at Onslow Sun Chalets, and paying the lower amount for the beach front unit for the second night.
We’re set up for bush camping, not caravan park camping. All our living is exposed and public, our gear exposed and public, and after many days in the solitude of the bush, the thought of Beryl, Cyril, Mavis and Jim etc etc right next door is too much to contemplate.