Smithtown, NSW, AU
Bam! Hit a pot hole on a dirt road. My trike has locked up! What's wrong NOW??!?! Won't know until I pull all my panniers and bags off so I can see the back end. Oops! I don't think the cylinder is suppose to be hanging out like that where the rear suspension is. It's falling apart! Fingers crossed that if I can get that cylinder back into place, that's all that's wrong. I'm getting so much more calm when these catastrophes happen. A small "oh shit" and get to the fixing part.
Ok. I can see what needs to happen. I need to align these parts an d put that cylinder through those holes. But hard as I try, I can't figure out how to make them line up. I let one car go by with a thumbs up, but with this second car I might be able to use some "testosterone thinking":)).
Him: Have you loosened those screws?
Me: What screws?
See what I mean? I didn't even notice that screws were there even though I saw the gap in the metal and checked to be sure that it belonged there and wasn't a break. So with Don's help, I was able to get the cylinder back into place...and all is well. Yahoo!!! Thanks Don and Bev for stopping to assist me!
And guess what? Blaze is pulling left just a bit less. We have been just rolling along so much easier with new tires and a good alignment. Still haven't figured out what's causing the leftward pull, but it's not the alignment. It may be the cable routing but every bike shop that I've pleaded with to correct the cables per the manufacturer's instructions refuses to do it saying they aren't causing the pull. I've got some replacement parts coming to Gold Coast and when they get mounted, I WILL HAVE THE CABLE ROUTING CORRECTED!!! I need that eliminated as a cause so that I can discuss with ICE other possible issues.
The ride today has been through luscious gum forests and down dirt roads, my favorite place to ride here. Get me off the main roads and away from those cars!
I scooted into Laurieton, got some groceries for dinner and cycled across the river to find a place for the night. No Camping! Not again. Really? What about if I find a place away from the signs and pretend I didn't see them? Picnic table, johns, lovely waterway...home for the night.
Continuing north, I was headed up through Port Macquarie and beyond for the day. I'd made plans to stay with a Warmshowers host the following night so I needed to get halfway there today. Should be no problem. My mileage has been getting up to 50-60 kms a day since I'm not dealing with the alignment issue. Big difference! Easy rolling. Port Macquarie is a good size town but I didn't need anything so I rolled on through headed to the ferry that crosses the inlet. But I missed a turn and didn't notice it until I wondered why the sun was on my right and not in front of me. Oh no! 8 kms out of my way! Should pay more attention. C'est la vie!! Go back. I hate going back! Shut up, buckle up, and get on with it. O..K.....
I love these small ferries that carry 6-10 cars. This one was free to bikes and walk ons. How nice is that?
Went left towards the coast and stopped for a quick lunch before heading up another dirt road. This guy comes to chat about my trike and when I asked about the road, he said, "It's bad." How bad? "It's corrugated." Oh, that's bad in a car, but I can handle that. I'll give it a go.
And yes, it's corrugated, and potted, but easy on the bike...at first. But then...oh, no!...what's with this sand? But Tim messages me that he'd gone up a dirt road this morning and never said anything about sand. It must be just a short distance. And large puddles. What fun. Soggy bike shoes. But the sand is a major issue. I can't steer Blaze from the back and can't push her from the front. And it's very deep.
This is no fun! I'm in quite a pickle! It's 5 kms to the campground I was thinking of using and I'll never get there through this mess. Arghh! And now it's getting late and the sun will be setting soon. Time to find a place to camp. But the roadside is bush with no good camp spots. Keep on pushing. Something will show up...and it did:)
But I still had to face my predicament in the morning: continue forward (unknown how long this road is like this) or go back (and anyone who knows me knows how much I hate to how back!)... Hmmm... I pondered this question all night, but in the morning the answer was simple: go back...get on the other dirt road and pedal your little ass off to get to Smithtown and Eileen's house before dark. But first, get this bike out of this mess. It's funny how once you know what yore facing, and out your mind to it, the situation isn't as bad as you (I) imagined. Yes, it was 1.5 kms of deep sand. But I found that if I stacked the panniers on the seat, I could manage (with much difficulty and consternation) to push Blaze through the sand keeping to one trip instead of two. Whew! Was I glad when we broke free!
8 kms back to where I had lunch yesterday and on to the Maria River Rd, the one Tim had actually taken. So nice. Packed dirt. Few cars. A pedaler's delight. About halfway, I met some roadside workmen who gave me suggestions on another way to go to Smithtown than what Google was telling me. A bit longer. On paved roads. Is the road I want to take a good dirt road? No loose sand? Ok, then I'm going to continue my way. And I did. And it was sweet!
Pulled into Eileen's about 4 pm, 70 kms done!!! Longest day this entire tour!
Yup, I saw camels one day!
Another cycle tourist!!
Livin' the life!
BagLady
