I woke again at 5am, first light. It's actually really nice out here early in the morning, the local animals are either getting up or settling down, there's a very quiet feeling. Unfortunately there's also the decision to flip the trike into solo mode because the tandem is taking too much time to organise. I'm spending a lot of time trying to find a partner, with no certainty of success. And then there's the question of getting set up and leaving in the morning before I go insane. I am developing an obsession with not riding in the middle of the day. Which means either riding early in the morning, or late at night. But the rest of the group seem happy to ride along at 40 degrees Celsius and stop for lunch between 12 and 2 or so.
The conversion to solo mode was pretty straightforward, given that I'd never done it before. It took maybe an hour, and the tool pannier from the van. Plus a bit of emotional trauma, I was pretty committed to the tandem idea and not sure what exactly was wrong with the trike. The idea of having to pack up and go home was looming as well, if the solo turned out to be no better than the tandem.
I'd decided to bring all my bike tools and put them in the van, on the off chance that they'd be useful. Coincidentally, Evan had lost his tools on the Gibb River road, so that pannier turned out to be a lot more important than planned. Unfortunately? I'd only brought the tools I need to service the trike, nothing else. So no cone spanners (sealed bearings all round for me), but I did bring a chain whip and freewheel tool.
I also took the opportunity to off-load a bit more gear into the van while I get used to the weight. I'm not very fit. I eventually hit the road about 10am. Way, way later than I wanted to but I was also trying to fit into the group and see what everyone else was doing. I was sure there was organisation there if I just found the right way to look at the situation.
So I was one of the last to leave, and going pretty slowly when I did. The van went past after half an hour, and then the last of the rest of the group. Then I discovered that the clicking noise I heard whenever I pedaled was not at all innocuous. It was the happy sound of the tension side of the chain running under one of the seat supports. And grinding its way slowly through the tube. Would the chain die before the seat? I decided I needed the extra chain idlers that I'd put... in the van. Doh. So I hitched to the roadhouse rather than piss round getting out of the car in the middle of nowhere in the hope that the van would stop for me.
Hitching was surprisingly easy. Well, getting people to stop was easy. Finding someone with the space and inclination to take the trike was a little harder. But I found a nice family on a drive round the country who lashed the beast to the roof of their 4wd, and off we went. I got to Sandfire Roadhouse after Chris just the same, he had arrived before 12. Sensible chap. The last 10kms were across a salt pan that would have been a trifle toasty at midday I reckon.
My first real roadhouse (ie, in the middle of nowhere) was a bit novel. Basically it's a service station with attached cheap-looking eatery and a great deal of truck parking. Prices are based on their distance from the competing suppliers, however. The parking is for trucker convenience - it's important when you're in a road train to be able to drive in and then keep going straight ahead when you leave. Oh, and I'm in road train territory - most of the trucks are semis with three trailer units. They're mostly semitrailers with a front bogie rather than B trains, and the people that pack them care little for aerodynamics - often there will be a big box poking up at the back of the trailer creating a nice wind wall.
We camped a kilometre or so past the roadhouse, just off the road. I spent some time wandering round looking at stuff, and discovered that the trike is a real conversation starter. I also had my first steak for a while, the food so far has been a bit light on protein for me while I'm building muscle. Pitched my fly for the night about 20m away from the group to try to reduce the noise (of them late at night, and me in the morning).
Distance for the day: 20km ridden, 90km hitched.