DAY 4 – Hanging around with the hangries, camel requirements and gold-plated $50 bolts…

An early but antsy start for Willy today.

He just wanted to get outta town.

Maybe different to most, Willy finds the riding part the easiest with these endurance events.

The map planning, the organisation and particularly the unavoidable waiting around for stuff, food service, packing etc just ain’t his thang.

But there’s important and massive prep work required for this next leg.

Eat. Sleep. Restock. Refuel water supplies. Eat.

Tea tree oil on the butt to ward off the blister infections.

He’s already having to nip saddle sores in the butt before they get worse.

He waited for a place to open for breakfast at 7am.

Walked in at 6.57am.

Can I order some breakfast now please.

No. We open at 7am sorry.

I will check with the chef.

What? Hangriesssss!

They go out the back to check with the chef.

They return at 7am.

3 minutes he’ll never get back.

Order taken. He eats for three.

Next stop. Bike shop.

Went through 17 thousand litres of lube oil for the chain so that’s a must to get.

And also to get something for the seat pole.

The tiny little bolt that cost $50 at Home Valley (bloke had no change for a fiddy cash – must have been gold plated) certainly did the trick to get him to Kununurra but he’s ensuring the same sliding pole issue doesn’t happen for the next stretch.

I asked, “How do you compare this with RTTR 2023 and Mallee Blast“?

Instant reply. 1000 times harder.

Wow. That’s saying something.

Must be nuts out there.

To match the gold-plated $50 seat pole bolts I’m guessing.

Ok…water.

Camel-level hydration strategy required this next bit.

500km of sweet nothings.

Creek crossings only.

And no idea if there’s even water in them.

Bore tanks also if you’re lucky to find them off track in the night.

He left I think around 9am with oodles of water on him for the ‘just in case’.

Incredible what these riders haul around. Especially up hilly, rocky, roads.

But still they pump out KMs day after day.

He’s just about to hit 800km mark at 3pm his time.

Pretty amazing.

It’ll be dark in two hours so he’ll probably bunker under the stars somewhere.

It is certainly pretty out there. Particularly at night.

Sweet dreams Willy.

Guess we won’t hear or see anything from you until you hit Halls Creek – unless Telstra gifts you a little 4G juice somehow, somewhere in between.

May you find some luckier stars and whack em in your pocket ready for a great day on the bike tomorrow.

Keep pedalling!!!