On the 1/1/2015, Collis and I commenced contacting camping grounds to book us in for the first two legs. We made it as far as Coober Pedy, which consequently was 42 degrees yesterday. We are still low on numbers for the ride but we have recruited 6 riders in the last week, so hopefully things will start looking up.
I have counted up 18 bush camps for the trip and have written recipes for 14 meals so far, ranging from Pumpkin Pesto Pasta to Lasagna to Apricot Chicken. I am determined not to have the same meal twice (at bush camps) in the 6 months we are away. So I need to find at least another 4 suitable meals for the other 4 bush camps plus a few extra just in case we have to camp unexpectedly. Desserts are always a challenge but the riders are usually appreciative of any effort that I make in this department- they are often burnt on the bottom but usually taste OK.
Collis is scouring the ads for a new road bike as a spare for the ride. We have a shed full of bikes but he wants another one. As we have another support vehicle on this trip then we will be able to carry 2 spare bikes once we purchase the new bike rack for my car.
2/1/2015
We've now booked to Alice Springs. We must remind the riders finishing or starting at Uluru that they have to book their own accommodation. The riders travelling on from Leg 2 onto Leg 3 get camping accommodation paid for them for the 5 nights. Collis and I plan to go into Kings Canyon for a couple of nights so if anyone else is planning this trip then we will need to know so that we aren't paying for camping that doesn't happen.
13/1/2015
I've started testing the new recipes and the first one is pretty good so hopefully the rest will be just as good. Collis is organising a new plan for the Satellite phone and I managed to buy him his own mobile phone for Xmas. I just have to teach him to carry it with him and to answer it without delay.
