A relaxed start this morning after a pleasant recuperation afternoon yesterday. The destination today was Denham – a place we called in to around 6 weeks ago on our way up the coast beelining for the whale shark tour. Just over 200km to travel so no hurrying.

Not far into the trip Bob and I headed up to the Gladstone Lookout and noticed Mav wasn’t with us. As we scanned the road we’d just travelled a message came through saying she had a flat tyre running on her rims! This was extremely unfortunate as back at Karijini she had a slow leak in a tyre that was getting larger by the day. In Karratha it was diagnosed as a cracked rim – terminal for the wheel (I guess she really didn’t like the corrugations she was asked to go on). A replacement rim is gradually making its way around the country, but in the meantime she has had a cracked rim as the spare in the hope that it really wouldn’t be required.

Thankfully Sue bought a tyre repair kit when she saw Bob doing a tyre repair earlier on the trip. With a compressor on the tyre the hole was extremely obvious and it was possible to attempt a plug without a) removing the tyre, or b) jacking up the vehicle. Winning!

After a successful plugging exercise, we were all a bit chuffed and Mav tentatively led the way while we watched for any evidence of leaking. Over 100km later it seems to have done the job.

On arrival in Denham, we checked into the caravan park for the next 3 nights, grabbed some lunch and then hit the small town (which in Jase’s words felt like a buzzing metropolis compared to where we’ve been for the last while). We have booked a wildlife cruise from Monkey Mia (which will hopefully include seeing Dugongs) and enjoyed a beverage at Australia’s most western hotel. Shark cage from the 70’s an added bonus 🙂 .

This evening Bob and I headed out for a short drive around the town to see the close in attractions, and Jase and Sue went squidding (without success).

The Scott’s have completed their expedition to Steep Point today. Kieran had success fishing, and they enjoyed a slow return to semi civilisation via the stunning southern cliffs.

Tomorrow the six of us are all heading to Francois Peron National Park for a camping overnighter. 4wd only, so the swag may be having it’s swansong outing with me…..