Sounds like 8:45 -9 arrival at Alices will work for most and with little time to re-plan let's keep the schedule as is: 8:30 departure from Crystal Springs and arrival a bit before 9 AM. Rodney or anyone else who arrives early should enjoy the scenery and have a cup of coffee - relax, it's a national holiday and you don't have to work.
Join us when you can - it looked clear on this hill this morning.