Day 6 (~2178 from Darwin)
Missed Coober Pedy control stop, trailering onwards in thick cloud. All teams we see are in the same position, the fires, cloud and storm have ruined everyone’s race (other than those fast enough to finish before most of us got half way).
Day 6 (~2258km from Darwin)
Endeavour drives on under an overcast sky
We see a break in the clouds, so pull over for 45minutes to gather some charge in the otherwise still overcast conditions. Time constraints for the finishing ceremonies mean we decide to continue under solar power until the pack is virtually flat again. Emil is driving what will likely be the last solar stint of the race. Hoping for another 100km if possible.
Day 6 (~2275km from Darwin)
Its drizzling and cold, we maintain a stiff upper lip and drive through regardless, driver visibility ok for now.
Day 6 (~2276km from Darwin)
1km on and Emil looses drive power, we’re stationary in light drizzle, although the sky is brighter again.
Day 6 (~2276km from Darwin)
We’re on the way again having rebooted the car to clear whatever the issue was.
Day 6 (~2307km from Darwin)
Dense cloud and the rain drains the last of the charge in our battery. We are once again forced to trailer due to the abnormal weather rather than the car braking down.
Day 6 (~2504km from Darwin)
Heading to campsite near salt flats under an overcast sky
Entering the salt flats of South Australia we stop for the night at a camp siter over looking one of the dry lakes.
Day 7 (~2504km from Darwin)
The sky is brighter this morning and it has stopped raining! Patches of blue are starting to emerge from behind the grey. We set off after the usual 8am race start due to trying to gather some charge.
Day 7 (~2521km from Darwin)
10 minutes later the sun has properly emerged and we have patches of the bluest sky we’ve seen since Darwin (no smoke haze!). We pull over to gather more energy in the hope we can continue from here on solar, at least for an hour or so. We have to be in Port Augusta (~200km away) by 3pm race time (4pm SA summer time) and in Adelaide (500km) by 7pm (8pm local time).
Day 7 (~2521km from Darwin)
Sun hidden again, we’re still trailering, some energy gathered though.
Day 7 (~2600km from Darwin)
CUER teams up with MIT to grumble about the weather
Patches of blue sky again, we stop to charge next to MIT who are having the same issues as us. Still hoping to unload for more solar km’s.
Day 7 (~2600km from Darwin)
We’re back under solar power and the sky is clearing, we are now generating more power than we can use as also trying to deplete the battery.
Day 7 (~2719km from Darwin)
We’ve reached Port Augusta and crossed the continent. Unfortunately due to the delays we now have to trailer to Adelaide as the police aren’t willing to patrol the busy roads on a Saturday afternoon. Our race is over! 300km drive to the finish.
