Cairns to Alice

Well, I have joined Alice on her adventures for a time. She has invited me on her cycle and also to her blog. A few of weeks ago I suggested to Alice that we ride to Alice Springs, just trying to be funny. She said she'd call me back. She did think it was a pretty funny idea, but she also said she would do it. So here we are in Cairns, about to ride 2500kms to Alice Springs.

We are both pretty crazy excited. We got a little carried away buying food. Our spice bag takes up half a pannier - and that was after we heavily culled the Hungarian paprika. We haven't left so much room for water, which apparently out in the desert everyone seems to think is important. We bought some extra bottles and stuff just in case.

We are saying goodbye to Sarah and Renee, who looked after us while we explored Cairns. We'd expected to stay a night, but we ended up spending three days following them around town poking into their social lives. Cairns is a nice place. Nice and tropical. Certainly warm enough for nice swimming. In the winter. But we want to thank Sarah and Renee for being so great. Everyone who comes to Cairns should stay with them. Although perhaps we should ask them if that's OK first.

Our first destination is Copperlode Dam and then to Tinaroo Dam. Our first few days are going to be dirt roads, so it's possible everything our bikes will bounce/snap off and we'll have to return to Cairns for stronger clips and straps and bikes. But it sure sounds like a nice ride and it has plenty of water, which is a nice introduction to a desert trip.

• Cairns to Alice Springs (Google Maps route)