115.2km ridden today
1237.6km ridden so far
<unknown again> km to go
436m up
456m down
3552 calories burnt
Pain factor: 3/10
Strava that shit: https://www.strava.com/activities/18182507891
Another day another TWO flat tyres.
Another day more help from others.
While there was nothing special about the bed at Surat (quite the opposite really) I DID NOT want to get out of it. Body and mind relaxation. No want get up. I even got up then laid down a bit.
Anyway, eventually the diesel engine started and I went about my morning routine. I procrastinated a lot today, but my song of the day made me go….
After possibly the best espresso from the only cafe in town I was off (after a few quick phone calls to sort some matters back home).
The bike and body were really good today and I was making some seriously good time as I needed to get to St George in time for some items before 5. The wind was misbehaving as usual. Like I’ve said, hills don’t bother me. They were, are and always will be there. You eventually get rewarded too. Wind is like a t&rd that won’t flush. It can change directions as it likes. For me, usually that is head on. Why? WHY?!
I also had a ‘roo join me for about 7 or 8km’s, bouncing along the fence line 20 metres off to the side. Quicker than me, it would stop to let me catch up before bouncing on again. Don’t know what that was all about. Maybe sent out by it’s mop to sus things out.
Anyway, 92km a flat. Only 23 or so km to town. Another front. Another slow burner. I again assessed the situation and it seemed like a slow one so pumped it up. Next thing I know, more bouncy bouncy bike. This time, the back. I moved to the side of the road and brought out every cuss word I could think of. Some I am sure unheard in Queensland. The rear was a fast flat. I hurriedly made the change, checked the front (which was holding up ok) and added some air. My donation to Queensland at this point were my tyre levers. Bright green ones too, but I was rushing. This would cause me more frustration later.
I rocked into town, and bee lined for the shop-o-everything, Golders, in St George. Now let me be very clear here… when bike packing Presta valves are THE DEVIL. As I previously found in Clermont, anything beyond 100km of a major city, Schrader rules supreme.
Just to piss me off more, the holes in my rims don’t accommodate the Schrader valve. So with two bung tubes on the bike and 1x Presta and 1x Schroder spare I was in a pickle. I also learnt on this trip that patched tyres cannot be trusted.
Enter friendly and helpful locals as well. The owner (John) of the local caravan and camping park I stayed at, upon learning of my dilemma concurred with the Presta issue. He then said he just drills out the hole in the rim to accommodate the Schroder value. After considering it for a few minutes I decided to proceed. He has a kitted out shed onsite and loaned me his drill, metal bits, and some screwdrivers to act as tyre levers. My cycling brethren out there are probably having a bit of a wtf moment right now. Sorry! After a duck back into town for supplies I sat in my sweaty gear and drilled out the holes on both rims and installed the two new tubes. Worked a treat (I think, see if they stay inflated overnight). I’ll pop back into town tomorrow and pick up a few SCHRADER tyres. I noticed they had “thorn resistant” ones as well.
Upon inspecting the tyres one was indeed a small (but very hard) thorn. The other looked to be a bit of small bone. It appears out here that a lot of roadkill is food for the wild before anyone picks it up and often the road and shoulder are littered with bone fragments.
Another friendly local at the caravan park was curious about what I was doing, and pulls out a $50 once I said I was raising money for Make-A-Wish. He wasn’t worried about me giving proof I used it for the donation, but upon insisting, he gave me his number and I’ll text him the site to prove I put it to the cause.
I spent half an hour in the shower cleaning all the dirt and grease off me, had a feed and finally felt I was back on track. I was beginning to think I’d be spending the next day in St George. I guess it was luck too that todays destination was a larger town (~4000). If it were say Surat I’d be toast. After the tyre issues today, this was the first day I genuinely felt the feeling of “bugger this, I’m going home. Thankfully now, I am pretty sure I’ll be on the road again tommorrow.
After some assessments and advise, I’ve decided to change my re-entry point to NSW from Lightning Ridge to Goondiwindi. Not too much of a deviation, but will add a few km’s. I’m about at the same latitude as Brisbane right now.
Song of the day: While I considered changing it afteir the drama, I realised it was still apt. So I stuck with this one for the quote below. Mainly in honour of my slight procrastination but then for 92km just GO(ing) and going well I share with you “Go” by The Chemical Brothers. A big fan in general, but this would be my favourite. Brilliant music video as well so worth a look.
“Fuck that we ain’t gonna fold we GO!”