Friday 16th March 2012 Day 15 Broome to Halls Creek WA via the flooding creeks

A busy day on the road which started at 530am heading towards Fitzroy Crossing or Halls Creek. Rain for the whole trip but the story is yet to start.

After leaving Broome the Kombi was rolling on down the highway very cool as the rain had brought the temperature down but the rain was also bringing about some sizeable flooding. We went through several patches of water over the road along the way to Willare where we thought we would stop for petrol. "Sorry mate we have a problem with our ULP pumps but we have Diesel".  Gee Diesel that would be a great help, the next service station is Fitzroy Crossing some 250kms. Will we make it? Not sure but at least we have a jerry can of petrol up top.

One of the many Boab Trees near Willare

Almost into Fitzroy Crossing and we came across a flooded running creek approx 30-35cms deep. Do we push our luck? Yeah Darren did starting in second gear and having to throw the auto back to 1st as the water took our momentum away. A bit scary but there was more to come listening to the truckies on the UHF radio. As the water over the road was becoming more frequent we decided to use the jerry can of petrol as we were very low and didn't want to run out of petrol in the middle of the water.

Water water water just out of Fitzroy Crossing WA

After Fitzroy Crossing there were several significant floorings but after 40kms we can across the best yet. We were flagged down and spoken to by several people in 4WDs that have crossed this floodway but they suggested we should not tackle it. We thought about walking through it to see how deep it was and this Road Train was coming behind us. We spoke to him on the radio and as he got closer he said to slip in very close behind him and his three trailers would push the water out of the way for us so in I went and yes it was working but I could feel the water pushing us and the truckie saying are you still there little Kombi!! Luckily we made it. That was scary!!

Almost through the big one but for most of the way we were inches from this trailer

For the rest of the trip it just poured with rain. We arrived at Halls Creek and after refilling we had our first Kombi mishap. It wouldn't start, nothing at all. After trying to fiddle with the wires around the coil Darren got it started, (Darren's diagnosis.a hot start issue). Off to settle down for the night in the Halls Creek Caravan Park. Not long after settling down we hear this toot toot and its Martijn pulling up for the night also!

Halls Creek Caravan Park