Mundatharrda 2026 post script

 Hi folks,

An update on La Bestia engine light issue:

She ran just fine all the 450km back to Perth so I wasn’t too concerned but didn’t want to switch her off just in case. Got her booked into my local Mercedes Service centre straight away, next day in fact. They performed the diagnosis and found a faulty NOx sensor so replaced it. All good.

I also asked them to perform a Active Brake Assist software patch that I had found out about on a US Sprinter forum:

• Please quote the following Service Measure when booking in the Sprinter for service at the Dealer: TIPS GI54.71-N-075662 

This ABA issue has existed since delivery. Ironically, the forward seeking radar shuts itself off after distance/time not seeing a vehicle in front. Rather silly for a 4x4 vehicle in Australia. No one here could tell me why. Even more silly was the fact that it would wake up again automatically after detecting a few vehicles in front but not if you just ‘turned the vehicle off and on again’. Fortunately I had chosen not to have adaptive cruise control fitted so my cruise control remained unaffected. Those with ACC however lost that function as well. Clearly someone/group in the US stomped up and down enough to get a software fix. 

The service centre here knew nothing of this fix even though, to my mind, it deserved a safety recall. Anyway they found the reference and have loaded it. I will only truly find if the problem has been rectified on my next remote adventure. Let’s hope so.

In addition to the service work they did a quick clean of a vehicle that had just come back from the very red Pilbara region of WA. Not a deep clean but certainly saved me some effort. They also provided an Uber each way from home 9km away. Quite handy for someone who lives alone.

Now for the big shoutout… ALL the above was carried out Free Of Charge even though the vehicle warranty lapsed in January 2026. Why you may ask? Because I had done extra services there before and after my big loop in 2025 and had spent a significant sum with them to date (Vito and Sprinter) and they agreed that the ABA should’ve been a safety recall.

Well done Mercedes Benz Perth!

PS Back to Vittoria and my motoaddict stuff this weekend

Mundatharrda 2026 Day 27

 Day 27 - 3/8/26

Decision to head directly home was made by La Bestia today. Stopped for fuel and the engine management light came on. No effect on driving but I need to sort it out.

So that’s the end of Mundatharrda 2026. Hope you got something out of my mutterings and pics. See you next adventure.

4449km 

Mundatharrda 2026 Day 26

 Day 26 - 2/8/26

I had bypassed an intended stop at Billiburning Rock on the way out so I thought I’d drop by on the way back. Nice little spot. Lots of camping area plus a long drop.

Ticked over 4000km for the trip today.

Mundatharrda 2026 Day 25

 Day 25 - 1/8/26

Last night was invaded by a Wankamper. All the new gear with nary a speck of red dust underneath who hangs a TV on the outside of his van and proceeds to ruin the serenity for everyone else. Yet another Elon Musk enabled travesty.

Travelling south day today. Ended up around 450km toward Perth at a secluded location well off the GNH. Lordy that highway is super busy these days. 

Cloud had closed in, the first I’d seen for two weeks, with some small patches of mizzle. Nobody else here therefore starlink won’t ruin the mood.

I had just got the fire running at camp and heard a heavy snapping under foot nearby. Stood up to find an emu less than 10m away. It wasn’t impressed that I was in its walkway and stood on high to look bigger. There was a stand off of sorts with me trying to grab my phone for a pic. 

It literally shat itself which was the same green as their eggs. Curious. Anyway, it took off but I did get a lousy phone zoom pic.

Btw I’m less than keen to go back to my geospatially constant home but needs must. A couple of minor issues require attention and I didn’t really do a long duration equipment loadout.

Big gear

New camp

Emu!

Dusk

Emu poo

Great colours

Mundatharrda 2026 Day 24

 Day 24 - 31/7/26

A rest day today. All the legwork needs some more recovery time and I’m not in a hurry to head into colder climes. 

It seems like you can have any bird you like here as long as it is black and white. Magpies, magpie larks, pied butcher birds, black fronted plovers, plus whistling kites, yellow throated miners, grebes, ravens, babblers et al. Nests in the trees all around.

A few cattle dropped by for drink. They can certainly sniff the water out. It was interesting watching the older cow make her way beyond the algae at the perimeter edges to drink.

Mundatharrda 2026 Day 23

Day 23 - 30/7/26

Time to head south and eventually to Perth folks. A good 460km drive south on the Great Northern Highway to set up overnight at Bilyuin Pool for the night just north of Meekatharra. Nice little location on the upper Murchison (further inland from  Ballinyoo Bridge). 

It’s difficult to describe just how invasive the Pilbara red dust is. It permeates every surface, every gap, however minute, and turns stuff a conformist terracotta, including my aged white hair!

I have clocked over 3000km for this adventure thus far. The mighty Merc keeps on keeping on. 

Mundatharrda 2026 Day 22

 Day 22 - 29/7/26

A reluctant drive out to the highway again to head a little further south to the Mt Robinson 24hr stop which comes complete with its own hike trail.

Got there early enough to ascend today. What a pleasant surprise. I tried to ignore the mining machinations to the north and take in the natural wonder. Just beaut. Lots of off piste opportunities as well. I was able to find my way across to the escarpment cliff face. A commanding view indeed. Also spied a real #rockwallaby 

Ended up clocking up 15km all up and the body felt great. Match practice is so important. Got back down and set up camp at the mouth of the gorge to find a pair of resident Pied Butcher Birds nearby.

Certainly not as quiet as the last location but will do nicely. Nor is there any information about the wonderful hike trail. Seems weird to me.

There seems to be some conjecture that this mountain is also known as Wirlbiwirlbi 🤷🏼‍♀️ . Anyway my climb set is now complete for this trip:

Beedoboondu ✅

Jarndunmunha ✅

Punurrunha ✅

Wirlbiwirlbi ✅

Mt Robinson(?) ✅

First peak

The summit 

Old survey mark

Going up hike deets

Wandering around top deets

The lower gorge

Coming back down deets

Drone’s up

The Governor across the highway