World Solar Challenge: Day Three

Today we traveled from north of Alice Springs to past the South Australia border. The parents joining our convoy treated us to a lovely omelet breakfast, then headed straight to Alice Springs separate from the main convoy to restock on fresh produce and meat for the next couple days. Meanwhile, the convoy set cruise to high 80s and reached the Alice Springs control stop mid-morning. We were joined by the Hungarian team Megalux at that control stop — they’ve been right on our tail since Day One!

Dan Fiore making breakfast for the team. Photo Credits Gawan Fiore
Dan Fiore making breakfast for the team. Photo Credits Gawan Fiore

The drive from Alice Springs to Kulgera was a slower one, since the hilly, windy route was socked in with clouds. Hopefully the teams ahead of us were forced to slow under the less-than-ideal conditions, too! Around Kulgera the sky started to clear, and as we headed toward the Northern Territory/South Australia border it got ever sunnier, but also windier.

We finished off the day at 5:10, the latest time allowed within our 10-minute window for the end of the day, at a campsite south of Marla. We reached kilometer marker 1973 from the start of WSC in Darwin — almost 2,000 km in three days! It was gusty and chilly as the sun went down.

Array standing Arctan in the evening. Photo Credits Hayden Hall
Array standing Arctan in the evening. Photo Credits Hayden Hall

The parents treated us to a fantastic barbecue dinner of kangaroo steaks, lamb chops, and grilled portobellos, egg plant, and zucchini, along with our favorite green papaya salad from a Thai restaurant in Alice Springs we visited three times in our brief time there during test drives. Food always tastes better in the outback, but this meal would have been fabulous no matter where we ate it. The team has fallen into a comfortable rhythm and everyone is used to their various positions. It’s crazy to think how close to finished we are!


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