Short as it was, what a hoot! The olhins tech and I will be having a chat.....
The ride plan was good and sound, our execution of it could be tweaked slightly to improve our times but overall we were hitting our targets whilst riding well within ourselves. The new 30K DR engine doesn't have the same top end as the old 200K engine but it was still punching along happily as DR engines do. With the exception of the shock failing the rest of the bike was performing perfectly and considering a little over 6 weeks ago it was barely more than a frame...
Since the dustybutt I've barely done more than 500km in a day once, and probably 500km of dirt all up in that time but all the thinking and planning for my fatigue, hydration, energy, physical and mental management plans were paying off in spades, swagging in subzero temps on the way up and cruising in 1000km days in day light hours without blinking.
rolling back into qld for the first time in about 4yrs was good for the soul and hitting the dirt up there felt like old times.
Set a date and go up again. Can't wait.