Driving on the Beach

Here are some tips for when you are on one of Western Australia’s 2051 mainland beaches along its 12,889 kilometre coastline:

Have permission/check signage to ensure you are allowed to drive on the beach.
Check tides.
Is your vehicle insured when driving on a beach or sand dunes?
Road rules apply. Stay left when approaching traffic.
Don’t block tracks when deflating or reinflating tyres.

Fit a bright coloured flag on a tall pole at the front of your vehicle.
Have the right equipment for you and your vehicle.
Protect from glare. Wear sunglasses – preferably Polaroids.
Ensure that your rego plate is secured top and bottom, particularly if going through water.
Don’t follow too close to the vehicle in front.

Turn off any traction or stability controls.
Lower tyre pressure to increase footprint.
Be aware that you will use more fuel.

Be aware of the beach conditions.
Don’t drive on vegetation.
Watch your water temp gauge/EGT gauge/transmission temp gauge.

Drive up the beach to turn around.
Park facing the water – so you can observe any changes in conditions.

Don’t turn sharply. Tyres with reduced pressure could roll off the rim.

Don’t brake. Roll to a stop.
Don’t spin your wheels.
Take off slowly.
Maintain momentum.
As a general rule use low range.  High range if the surface is firm.
If bogged try going backwards and forwards.
Keep revs high. This applies for most circumstance but it is pointless to spin your wheels if bogged.

Keep your thumbs pointing out from the steering wheel.
Use correct recovery techniques and safety precautions.
Secure your gear afterwards/check you have it all (sometimes MaxxTrax get buried, shackles get dropped into soft sand).

Straight up or straight down a dune – never at an angle.
Never turn on a dune/slope.
Pause/brake/slow down at the top of dunes.

Wash your vehicle underneath after you are off the beach.

 

© Kim Epton 2017-2024
345 words

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Ballinyoo Bridge

Ballinyoo Bridge is 80 kilometres south of the Murchison Settlement on the Carnarvon Mullewa Road. Construction started in 1929 and the bridge was completed in 1930. It was the second concrete bridge to be built in Western Australia and, until replaced, it was the oldest concrete bridge in WA. (Bridge No. 837).

A free camping area extends along both banks of the Murchison River just off the Carnarvon Mullewa Road. Bush camp are available on both sides of the road and on both banks, although the north side is probably preferred. Please take all your rubbish with you when you leave.

The opening of a new, longer, higher, parallel, $5.5M bridge built by BG&E Engineering of Perth was celebrated by a long table lunch on 10 September 2016. A span of the original cement bridge was retained to commemorate its place in the history of the community.

Early drovers crossed the Murchison at Ballinue, however, when surveyor Harry F. Johnston was operating in the area in 1876 he recorded the name as Ballinyoo. The importance of this crossing continued after construction of the concrete bridge and this was an important factor in consideration of its replacement.

The bridge was a focal point on a number of pioneering boating expeditions along the Murchison River in the 1990s.

Early drovers crossed the Murchison at Ballinue2, however, when surveyor Harry F. Johnston was operating in the area in 1876 he recorded the name as Ballinyoo3.

References

1. Main Roads Department (Bridge No. 837).
2. Broad, Nan with Bridge, Peter (eds), The Journal of the Brockman Droving Expedition of 1874−75 to the North West of Western Australia, Hesperian Press, Carlisle, Western Australia, 2006.
3. H.F. Johnston, Fieldbook 3, page 37.

 

The reports of the various trips, tours and travels on the Adventures website have a lot of information about place names – their naming and features – toponymy. More information.

© Kim Epton 2015-2024
339 words, one photographs.

Feel free to use any part of this document but please do the right thing and give attribution to adventures.net.au. It will enhance the SEO of your website/blog and Adventures.

See Terms of Use.

Mystery of a Painting of a Ship at Walga Rock

Walga Rock (Walgahna) is the second largest monolith (single rock) in Australia after Uluru, although that is sometimes disputed. It is a 1.8 kilometre long, granite ‘whaleback’ about 50 kilometres south-west of Cue.

There is an extensive gallery of Indigenous art at Walga Rock.

A painting of what may appear at first glance to be a sailing ship is superimposed over some of the earlier works. Underneath the painting are lines of writing that resemble Cyrillic or Arabic script, however, they have not been accurately identified.

There has been a great deal of speculation about the painting, especially considering it is located 325 kilometres from the coast. It has been postulated that it was drawn by survivors of the heavily armed three-masted Dutch East India (VOC) ships Batavia or Zuytdorp; or that it represents a ‘contact painting’ by indigenous Australians who saw a ship on the coast and then moved inland.

While there are many examples of Indigenous art depicting vessels on the Western Australian coast, including others showing what appears to be the SS Xantho and possibly another steamer at Inthanoona Station east of Cossack, the Walga Rock painting is one of the most inland examples.

A visit to the rock created further discussion of the possibilities.

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