Race Day 3 - Tuesday

Since we were sharing our rest stop with some other campers, blasting an early morning musical wake-up was a no-go, but Saien did sing us awake just after 5 am. Slowly the camp stirred to life, and then began breaking down – literally, not emotionally. After an amazing breakfast of scrambled eggs, sausage and breakfast muffins the final boxes, buckets, and bits were packed and we hit the road.

Camp break down.

Being in a support car we are able to stop as we please, as long as we do not fall too far behind the group. Along the days drive we passed some interesting areas, the first being Devils Marbles. Devils Marbles is a Conservation Reserve and the attraction are huge, mostly round, boulders loosely clumped together in the middle of nowhere.

Not too far after the day started the team entered the first control stop of the day at Barrow Creek 1211 km into the race. That went well and 30 minutes later the team was back on the road. Another interesting stop for me was at the Tropic of Capricorn 1464 km into the race.

Driving over the Tropic of Capricorn.

The team passed through another control stop later in the day at Alice Springs after 1496 km, and we stopped to top up on groceries. As the team carried on there was increasing concern about the weather we were driving into. Dark ominous clouds, rain, and red tinged clouds suggesting a wind storm sparked a heated debate about whether to stop early for the night or push on. Rain or a wind storm is not good at all for the solar panels, and unfortunately man cannot control the weather, and oft times not accurately predict it. The debate culminated in the car stopping early and quickly on the side of the road. Although the site was chosen purely as it was the next available clear road shoulder for the solar car to stop on, it had a nice clear area for us to set up camp. We did end up with a few spots of rain, and heavy wind but thankfully at the campsite we managed to miss the dust storm.

We are all hoping for clear skies tomorrow to charge up the solar panels!
Minke

Home for the night.

Ominous skies.