21h 36m
Just woken up. We're almost two hours into Pat's leg in the XKR and I'm in the back of the S-Type chase car.

We've decided to push on through to Flagstaff on the next leg to get into LA at a reasonable time. It leaves us with a fair old run to do - we were supposed to be stopping in Albuquerque some 320 miles earlier. That means an extra three hours.

Just been looking at the faces around me. Despite high spirits, everyone is really starting to feel this. The miles are mounting up. Don't know how truckers manage it.


22h 41m
We try and step up to keep our average up from the last leg. We've made serious time up since the first stage and I'm starting to wonder if without the roadworks, fuel stops and cop blocks, we'd have busted this thing wide open.

We might not actually make the record (I can't see us keeping up this kind of average on the run into LA without getting into serious trouble), but we might be able to see that closeness is possible.

We've been discussing what type of car would be best for this run for two hours. Something discrete, with a serious range but capable of getting back up to speed when balked by traffic. Hard not to think of my BMW 535d estate - 500-odd miles at least 100mph and all that torque. A Prius hasn't got the range or the speed - you need the diesel option and some comfort. An Audi A8 diesel?


23h 54m
Pat and Alex have been busted in the XKR. We received the call and slow down, but flashed past them at the side of the road. I catch a glimpse of Alex pulling out documents as we travel past.

Up ahead in the Texan dusk there's an electrical storm. For a couple of hours we press on and wonder what's happened to Alex and Pat.

We stop and wait long enough for me to wind up my now-pathetic laptop. Pics and words it can do, but video - no hope.