I slept well until 5am, pulled on my 1st blanket. I awoke about 6:30am and decided to ride out to Simpsons Gap via the bike path.

I left camp at 6:54am to try and beat the heat. Today's forecast is 36degs. I had previously mapped out where I was riding and it was all bike paths from camp to Simpsons Gap. As I was about 1 kilometer from the Gap, I punctured in my rear tyre. I had a little drama, as my pump is now nearly stuffed, I could only pump it to softish but rideable.
Decision time, do I return via the bike path which is really in no man's land or continue to Simpsons Gap and return along the main roads. I choose the latter as I thought if I get another puncture, I will really not be happy and being on the road I could hopefully hitchhike a ride. So I started, I went slower than I usually ride. Any curves I slowed down and took them as straight as I could, you could feel the rear tyre rolling. Not a good feeling.
As I rode along Larapinta Drive, you had to ride on the white line on the edge and the few cars were doing 110kph, I was continuely looking behind me, but luckily, the traffic was extremely light, maybe 10 cars passed and gave me heaps of room. I was stopping about every 2-3 kms under the shade and drinking. I did take 4 water bottles with me, but I was doing it very tough, with the thought in the back of my mind, that I could puncture at any time and it was so hot. My ride from Simpsons Gap, the temperatures were 28 rising to 32. During this, I still was stunned by the scenery and stopped to take photos, it really is so stunning.
Got back to camp, without any further dramas. After showering, I drove into downtown Alice and bought a new decent pump.

We also visited the Info centre and found a more popular bike path that goes from our camp beside the 'dry' Todd river to the north of town. I will attempt that sometime over the next 5 days.

Dinner was salad rolls. They were YUMMA.

Tomorrow, is more of the same, just bugger about and check out Alice.

I slept well until 5am, pulled on my 1st blanket. I awoke about 6:30am and decided to ride along the Todd River bike path.

I left camp at 7;46am and decided that the Todd River has heaps of river gums to provide shade. There were some highlights on this ride, seeing a large kangaroo about 10 meters away, 3 dingoes just lazing about on the dry riverbed and a 'rock wallaby' watching me ride by, except that I stopped and snapped him. Arrived back at camp about 9:30am. Rode 20.1kms.

While Marg buggered about camp, I went riding to the Old Telegraph Station along the Todd river bike path plus a bit more. As I was putting my bike away, I noticed that the front tyre was flat. Bloody Hell, that is 2 punctures (front and back) in 3 rides. I drove back to the bike shop and bought another thorn proof tube (they are just thicker rubber). The bike is now all set for its next adventure.

I slept very well, must have been getting up at 5am yesterday, I was a tad tired last night. About 5am, I pulled on my 2nd blanket. I awoke about 7:15am and decided to ride along the Todd River bike path. I am enjoying this route.

I left camp at 7;58am and headed off along the Todd River bike path. No wildlife showed up and a few Aborigines were sitting on the concrete path but I rode around them and they were pleasant. On my return from my turnaround point at the Old Telegraph Station, I rode through the CBD and found a coffee shop. I arrived back at camp about 10:00am. Rode 18.8kms.

I slept fair, tossed and turned after 3am. I got up at 6;15am, got organised and left Marg in bed and rode out to the old Telegraph Station.

I left camp at 6:55am and headed off along the Todd River bike path. I was very lucky to see the dingoes, roo and rock wallaby a few days ago, because since then I have seen zilch. Each day there are a few Aborigines sitting on the concrete path but they are well behaved and don't give me any grief. On my return from my turnaround point at the Old Telegraph Station, I rode through the CBD to confirm if the market was on today. The Internet says every 2nd Sunday. Well they were setting up, so we will visit it around 10am. I arrived back at camp about 8:20am. Rode 16.9kms. Today was my last ride in Alice, if we ever come back, I will have my bike set up with stronger tyres and tubes and then I will ride the Simpsons gap bike trail again, as it was a beautiful ride, except for the stress of having a puncture and not knowing if I would make it back to camp without another puncture.