The Great Escape

Written in pen and paper 24th February 2015

We both stood scratching our heads. Now what?

The only means of holding up the car to stick a wheel on was crushed underneath it and stuck fast. 

Moving, well attempting to move, the sand had no bearing. We had to keep the car as level as possible and prevent it from tilting further without the wheel on to keep it stable. Marco suggested we dig at the side of the car and stick the broken tyre underneath, more hand paddling commenced.

Attempt one achieved nothing so we had to keep moving sand, I tried not to feel defeatist as just as much sand was falling back down. 

Attempt two was almost but not quite... more paddling 

And on attempt three we made it!

With the reduced risk of the car tilting we had to find a way to get the jack out, if we just dug sand away the car would sink and the wheel wasn't enough support alone.

We had to think, and think fast.

Rocks! Marco remembered the beach had rocks so we to get them, initially, and stupidly, without flip flops. I went back to get them and also the last bottle of water. Shit, the last bottle of water.

I arrived faster with flip flops and we got some large sand stones, bloody sand. 

More frustrating was the perfectly groomed track we could have been on, just over the hill.

Marco wanted to take a short cut through the bushes with his aptly named red rocks, and I went the long way with mine. I got back first, Marco had thrown one of his rocks down on to the sand and it split, that didn't bode well.

He finally found a way around and we managed to wedge 4 of the rocks under the car, 2 near the wheel at the side and 2 at the back.

Still, the jack was wedged underneath and the sun was on the descent, how much daylight did we have left?

Marco got the shovel and started to dig down around the wheel, continuously digging, shovel after shovel and no release.

I suggested we pump up 2 of the tyres to give the car a little more height, anything was an option at this stage. In  the midst of pumping up the back tyre, (the one that was still on) I heard a little voice say "I've got the map", the atlas was out, not an integral requirement but the progress was sweet.

I went and pumped up the front tyre on the missing side and Marco kept digging, at this rate we would make Europe by morning.

The tyre was inflated and the sand was lower, much sweating later we got the Italian-Australia book out... Just. The. Jack. Left...

We got it!

The water was drank but the jack was out, lets assess the situation; the rocks were holding strong, the support tyre was of no use now, but we were leaving it there regardless. 

How to jack up the car without another incident?

We needed more than a crushed atlas. 

Marco used the remaining rock to support the jack and given the place it should stand was inaccessible we had to stick it at the back precariously, there were few options left.

As Marco jacked up the car I checked its progress, the vehicle was moving up, but the car wheel axle was moving down... oh crap.

The jack had gone as far as it could but luckily the wheel axle had raised, albeit, slightly.

Not enough space to fit the tyre and we had once again missed lunch, I daren't climb in the car to get the food, the last thing we needed was extra weight in the insecurely balanced car. Forget the food, keep digging.

Marco kept digging, I tried paddling with my hands but they just got in the way, so my job was to keep a close eye on the jack. With us both thinking we were ready for the tyre I rolled it over to Marco and we tried sticking it on; rolling it took a lot of sand with it. Unhelpful. It was about half an inch too high so it was carefully removed to avoid anymore sand fall and Marco carried on digging. Second try, nearly, nearly. Third try? Will it be third time lucky? YES! It was on, quick Becca, get the screws! 

With difficulty and Marco pulling professional yoga positions (those Sunday classes worked a treat hey?) he got the screws on and the tyre was secure! Hallelujah! But how do we get out of the massive hole we've dug? Rocks under each side of the wheel, the other tyre pulled out, tyres deflated, I stood and watched Marco rev the car out, with some of the sand refilled in the gap - we had done it.

Then we repacked the car and got back on our relieved way!