After the traditional photos at the Ellenbrae station turnoff we split into two groups. Linda and Christine rode off together and Bruce and I lagged behind at our slower pace.

Christine and Linda made it to the Kalumburu turnoff that night. My leg gave out after 40 km so I laid in the table drain for half an hour while the pain subsided and the feeling came back into my toes. This was no joke, that is the closest to crying from pain that I have ever been. Bruce was very good and stayed with me.

Eventually as the sun was getting low I managed to get back on the bike and make another couple of kilometres through the soft sand and corrugations to a side road where we set up camp. We were up on the tableland now so it was getting cold at night. I had only my tropical sleeping bag (+10C) and the temps probably got below 4 C. Who knew it would get cooler as the altitude rose?