Garys Blues and timing of long notes

I find it really hard to hear the 1's in groove that's used in Garys Blues. In the third chorus for example, there I pretty easy pin point the first 1, but always miss the second. I have to count "1,2,3,4,1,2,3 and into the bend" to get the timing correct. When playing with you, I get it right often, but that's because I hear your change in tremolo. When playing without you I feel lost because the groove is so flowing, the bass just wandering around.

So, what can I do about this? Is it a good practice to keep the count in the head or is it better to focus to learn to hear when the other instrument(s) are marking 1's? How do you do to keep the 4 draw in the beginning of the third chorus the right length?