Stage 4 - The long one

[Note: out of order! Received the Stage 4 email a day late, which is why it appears after the 'Rest Day'.]

All good, another blister or two, but nothing serious. Damn long day over huge dunes, salt flats, passes and dry lake beds that stretch out forever, and soft sand - damn soft sand. Started at about 9:15 with a monster climb at 7k. Needed to "visit the loo" on the first loooong flat, but do you know how many trees are out there?

The elite 50 guys & 5 women started 3 hrs later. The leader caught me at 6 hrs, so he was travelling twice as fast over that terrain. My tent had 3 elites and one just outside, so I was waiting for them to catch me. Damon got me at 50k and we ran together for a km or so, but Andrew snuck past at CP6. Was dark with no moon from CP5, so I had to stop occasionally to navigate. Passed many on the last few km.

Glad to get to bed at about 11 last night. Rest day today. Blue skies, soft sand, light breeze, and 45C!