June 16th
Ended up last night that I was in a pay area, maybe, oh well. If you don't post it how am I to know. Left early as planned and made my way up to the flinders ranges. I was looking at distances but must have been tired and was not paying attention. What I was looking at yesterday was 5200km to ningaloo reef, a place i would like to visit. But today on the way to the flinders ranges i was thinking, geeze thats a long way and i think i want to be back in melbourne by the end of july, maybe a bit sooner. 5200km last night came with the realization that that it's only one way, meaning 10400km round trip. So today i was crunching the numbers, doable but I don't think it would be enjoyable. it was well over 300Km per day and i think that that is just too much. So today i have been dealing with the realization that on this trip anyway whale sharks might not be happening. But its something that i will be doing in the future, perhaps in the Mk II. So today was a little hike to some aboriginal art work and then booked into a real campsite with showers and the lot here in flinders ranges, by real camp site i mean i had to pay.
Decided not to rush and just relax, already considering spending a second night here, as i had a few things on my mind that i wanted to take care of. One of those things was flipping the mounts for the solar panel around. As is sits now, the underside of the panels are taking a beating from wind, rocks, bugs and so by swapping the mounts now the tops of the panels will take the brunt of the wind etc, leaving the under wiring safe. So thats one thing down. Tomorrow i think i will do a hike and decide what to do then. As for a route from here now i am really not sure. Another place i wanted to hit was Katherine in the nothern territory, but there is a lot between here and there that i have seen before and the numbers say i would have to average a min of 200km(on the nose) each day. More deliberation is required. At the moment perhaps i should check out coober pedy and then maybe head and do the nullabore a bit then just slowly make my way back. I suppose another thing that is on my mind is that when i had the service, the mechanic peter told me that i would likely need 3 new tires, which isn't a big deal however it would mean probably loosing a day or two getting them installed etc. Which i will look at once i get to port agusta either tomorrow or the next day.
Got the hammock set up and am relaxing here at the car. Got the awning set up and am having a few ciders. all is well.
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