Right - so, we have successfully arrived in Darwin, and set up a workshop at BOC in Winellie - many thanks to BOC for this, the space is invaluable, and all the staff are friendly and helpful!

The team has spent a day moving into a hostel* and also setting up the space in the workshop, unpacking the air crate (many thanks to Virgin Atlantic) and setting up tools and work areas.  We have also been collecting components and supplies, as well as re-assembling the car.  The car is now in a state to drive (albeit without the shell), and as complete as it was when we left the UK.  In fact, there have already been some additions, such as the new handbrake being fitted, and the seatbelt harness mountings having been made.

Now to push on, more news about the car as it happens, watch this space!

Mike

* and moving out of a hostel. Be warned: members of the team stayed in the Gecko Lodge for one night, and moved out as soon as possible the next day. The site was not at all tidy - bearable for a few days, but certainly not the sort of place to spend three weeks…

Hi there eco-fans,

We’re in Darwin now – still busy sorting ourselves out but keep eyes peeled in the next few days for a plethora of blog posts! Including lots of photos!

Survivors' Photo: The CUER team after their night spent camping along the Stuart Highway

Last night CUER had a practice race day, along a section of the Stuart Highway on our way to Darwin.  This involved getting on the road at 7am, meaning an early start, getting up at 5.30 am (though we had been doing this for a few days anyway) and then driving the cars through the outback in convoy.  We even went so far as to have a half hour “media stop”.

The team also made notes, as we will be racing along this section of road, and it is useful for strategy purposes to know where there are cattle grids and regions of ascent and descent.

The most exciting part though was that we had to pull over within 10 minutes of 4.30 pm to find an appropriate place to spend the evening camping.  This turned out to be a bit of a problem, and we ended up going back slightly, however by around 4.50 we were pitching our tents in the outback.

I found this very exciting, though also pretty nerve racking.  There are loads of huge anthills, and ants everywhere.  I didn’t see any live snakes though, but I did find a chunk of spine from a dead one.  I am quite hoping to see a snake in the wild, but from a safe distance!!

Mike

After many days of long driving, under a tiring sun, CUER had a planned spell of two and a bit days off.  This was timed to coincide with the team arriving at Airlie Beach, where we were booked to go sailing on the “Habibi”.

The boat was a sail boat (though it also had a diesel, just in case), and was very nice.  There were a crew of three: the Skipper, Gilles,  Dave the Deckhand and AJ the Chef.  On the first day we sailed out, under beautiful sky, with a beer or two.  It was most relaxing, and just what the team needed.

After taking a couple of stunning photos of the boat, Mike belatedly realised that he had forgotten to get on board

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We’re heading up to Coff’s Harbour this morning after a tremendous day yesterday at the Blue Mountains – to be expanded upon in detail at a later date. You may not hear from us for a while as we will have only sporadic internet, but once we get to Darwin, expect a flurry of posts – and photos!

Wish us luck…

Today I and some of my colleagues from CUER took the time to take a guided tour  of Sydney.  This was lead by a  genuine Sydneysider, Justine, who was an architecture student.  The tour was really informative, and we saw many of the sights of Sydney, as well as hearing many exciting tales.

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Yesterday was Chris’s 22nd birthday. Any excuse for a party – in this case a very excellent one – and we were off. Jacksons on George, for future reference, is a tremendous place for a meal. Wednesday’s $10 chicken schnitzel and free tarot card reading added that perfect little something to his special day.

Most of the team escapades are, of course, not entirely blog-appropriate (or, alternatively, extremely blog-appropriate, depending on your point of view). Needless to say, a great deal of fun was had by all. Among other things, Barnwell discovered that he could not give Mike and Lucy a piggyback simultaneously, Ben discovered that he could lift Lucy up by one ankle and dangle her around, Chris discovered what happens when you eat a tablespoonful of wasabi and chase it down with tequila, and this morning, Anthony and Lucy H. are currently discovering why it is is not a good idea to stay out drinking until 5am.

We feel, however, that we deserved this chance to let our hair down, given that we all spent the morning doing what is now termed “eco-faff”. Hire cars are progressing, camping equipment has been ordered, four team phones were set up – and much, much more, which has been temporarily driven out of people’s minds this morning by thumping headaches…

Congratulations go to Hannah and Mike, who, after that epic night, were up at 6.30 am being useful. Match that, Nuon!

We are in Sydney. After an epic four-day journey across oceans, mountains and the formidable Australian customs department (our tent pegs are now shiny and soil-free) we all reached the first stop of many in our Down Under Blunders.

All thirteen members are safe and accounted for, and enjoyed the journey immensely. Mike and Lucy conclusively dominated Chris and Rich at Battleships on the plane, while Jonathan and Chao battled it out in some Kung-Fu game or other. Thanks Virgin, for the awesome flights. Food wasn’t bad, either.

We also enjoyed a tremendous twenty six hours in Hong Kong – partying in Lan Kwai Fong, sailing across Victoria Harbour in the Solar Star, and much more. Huge thanks to Lucy’s dad for putting us all up there.

Great fun was had on our first Sydney morning. Pancakes on the Rocks (for the lucky ones) is always the best way to start an Aussie holiday. A quick wander around Circular Quay where Mike FINALLY bought the silly hat he’d been raving about for weeks, and Chris nearly got thrown into the harbour, followed by a barbeque on Coogee Beach and a night out in the pub down the road completed a tremendous first day. There was almost no eco-chat whatsoever, and the attempt at sculpting Endeavour out of sand on the beach was quickly trodden on, and replaced with sea monsters.

P.S. – Apologies for all the short posts that are going to be following us around on our trip – all these new and wonderful places are far too interesting for us to want to spend time on the internet.

We’re off to explore!