This would be a long day as we endeavour to make up some time. I went for an early walk out onto Lake Rason; a dry salt lake. Well not totally dry as the lake bed became softer and moisture appeared the further you walked towards the middle.
Our convoy continued southeast ducking and weaving around the trees adjacent to the track. I wasn't always successful in avoiding the branches which resulted in me occasionally gritting my teeth.
There was a detour to visit Plumridge Lakes.
The it was back onto the main track and another staked tyre. This one was more serious. The front left tyre of the Ford Ranger had been staked and immediately deflated. Fortunately the vehicle was fitted with a TPMS (Tyre Pressure Management System) and the audible alarm warned the occupants.
The vehicle was jacked up and the damaged tyre and rim removed. When the spare was removed from under the vehicle two things were obvious. The tyre was a different pattern (a road tyre) and unlike the four alloy wheels on the Ute; the spare was a steel rim. Greg had purchased the used Ranger from a dealer last December and had assumed all five rims and tyres were the same. Then it was discovered that whilst the spare rim would fit onto the vehicle the six wheel nuts wouldn't fit the rim. The nuts were specific to the alloy rims.
That led to the group attempting to find suitable alternative wheel nuts from the other 13 vehicles. Eventually five nuts were sourced from the group. The Ranger would be missing the 6th nut for the remainder of the trip.
After this excitement the ground became slightly more open.
We pressed on eventually reaching a track junction signposted by metal plates nailed to a tree. The decision was made to camp here for the night
The sign reads 'Laverton Lake Rason Lake Minagawa
Plumridge Lakes Connie Sue
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