*The map should show now the entire trip so far, but doesn't seem to save much location information as we thought while out of Telstra reception. As a result there are gaps missing from our route, but hopefully you'll get most of the key points.
Also, not many photos until I can get a better internet connection*
This morning we were ready to leave by 6:10am. So we left and found that half a kilometre further down the road was another campsite with people in it!
Not much this morning except gravel roads of varying quality. Some were great ("like a bowling green"), and some were ok, and others were very corrugated and sandy in places. We came to a spot or two that had thick bull dust on the entire width of the road, which played havoc with the bike. Frog managed to stay on though.
We picked a spot by a flipped car to get Gerald's dirt sample and then continued on, stopping every 45-60 minutes for a rest.
First real stop was at Kalkaringi to refuel and there we had a lunch of pies and sausage rolls. Frog and Tony had reception so Frog booked us rooms at a hotel in Top Springs.
Frog had promised us "tar, now, the whole way to Top Springs." well, he wasn't wrong, but it was only single lane, so when a vehicle came the other way you each had to put a wheel in the dirt to let the other pass. Unless you're a road train. Or that one driver who decided to force us all the way off the road. There were a couple of times us or Frog got a bit close for comfort, but no one was hurt. Except for maybe a plastic guide post...
Thanks to the staff at Top Springs Hotel for their hospitality!
"You know what the next challenge is, Jony?"
"nup."
"to get home without Charlie getting wet."
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For more information about the trip, head to https://www.facebook.com/RideAroundAustraliaforDisability/. There you will find more photos, and links to more pages including way to donate.