I'm working on integrating into the group a lot, starting with learning 30-odd new names and faces. Who is who, and what do they do? This is complicated by my amazing lack of memory for names and the way people keep disappearing.
I've also started trying to fix the odd bike. Some of them are pretty sick, and there are a fair few people on the ride who are not primarily cyclists. There are quite a few who seem to be having a holiday, some who are focussed on activism aimed at either reconciliation or nuclear issues, and few who just want to ride. So I spent one morning helping Sunny learn how bearings on bikes work, and fix the cones in her front wheel during that.
We also do an action in Broome, riding into town at about 10am in a big mob (critical mass?). We tell the cops a good hour before the ride but they seem to be OK with it, and five or so of them wander out to have a look at us. Mostly the "negotiations" seem to consist of them wondering what their (absent) commander will think of it. We ride anyway ;-)
The big thing for me was having Naima on the rear seat playing flute, someone on the rack playing sax, Jarrah on the trailer doing the rhythm section and singing, with Lin playing clarinet and someone else doing something (I forget). All up it was six people on the trike, which is as heavily loaded as it's been. But it all worked! And we got a lot of attention from it.
After the action we spent time in town, hanging out then doing a closing circle. Interesting to hear peoples views on the good/bad parts of the ride and lots of fun memories. Then off to Wade Freeman's house for dinner (Wade is a local greenie)
Dinner at Wade's was a bit of an experience. For me it was seeing a house and organised dinner after a few days camping, ad I suspect for Wade it was seeing his house inundated with new people. There were 20- odd of us, but it seemed to go well. mostly talked to ride people trying to get to know the people I'll be riding with. It's a bit hard when there are only 10 or so who are continuing after Broome.
I'm also shopping a bit, trying to get a few bits of missing camping gear organised, tent pegs, cord, a bit of food. The bike shop here is a bit sad, and Evan lost his big tool kit, so we want to replace some of the more important tools. But no joy. We get a few parts and so on, but nothing major. I'm looking for a stove but it seems I should have bought one in Sydney before I left, the campers out here seem to use cartridge gas systems or metho burning Trangia's. Both suck IMO. Or I can order one in for about $200! Should cost about half that, so I think I'll let it go.