We’ve found ourselves a great spot here at Cooee, tucked right into the Green Point Reserve. There’s something about being this close to the Bass Strait that puts you at ease, even when the plans for the day take a bit of a detour.

Before the mechanical side of things took over our morning, we were treated to one of those sunrises that stays with you. I stood out there on the rocks as the sky shifted from a pale blue into these deep, fiery oranges and purples. You could see the lights of Burnie starting to twinkle across the water, looking like a string of gold beads against the darkening coastline. It was the kind of quiet moment that makes all the kilometres on the road worthwhile.

The sky turning a brilliant shade of orange over the rocks at Green Point Reserve, with the lights of Burnie just starting to blink on across the water.
The sky turning a brilliant shade of orange over the rocks at Green Point Reserve, with the lights of Burnie just starting to blink on across the water.

The serenity didn't last too long, though, as I’d noticed a bit of a coolant leak that needed sorting. I headed into Burnie early to drop the car off at the radiator shop to see if they could find where the puddle was coming from.

Now, I thought I’d just grab a taxi or an Uber back to our camp to wait it out with Lisa, but the universe had other plans. I couldn't find a phone number for a local taxi to save myself, and it turns out Uber has decided to deactivate my account for reasons known only to them. Left with no other choice, I settled my hat and started the trek back on foot. It was a fair old walk, certainly more exercise than I’d pencilled in for the morning, but it gave me a good chance to stretch the legs and take in the fresh Tassie air.

Luckily, the news from the workshop was better than I’d feared. A bloke named Jamie handled the job and found the culprit. It turns out the main coolant hose running from the reservoir to the EGR had been rubbing against the frame, which eventually wore a hole right through it.

Jamie was a legend and managed to get a temporary fix in place that’ll see us through the rest of our time down here. I’ll have to get the whole hose replaced properly once we eventually make tracks back to Perth, but for now, we’re back in business. It’s a good reminder that even when things rub you the wrong way—literally, in the car’s case—there’s usually a way to patch it up and keep moving.