Cycle complete!
At the time of writing this I would like to say that I've safely landed in Australia and am having a great time here relaxing a bit before I start cycling again on Monday. Thinking about all that has happened and here's a flashback to one day I had on South Island.
"This is so warm, so cosy!" I remark to myself. "Got the blowheater on full blast, got an actual pillow instead of a stuffed bag, and when I get up for breakfast I actually have a kitchen! Oh the luxury!" I had decided to treat myself and so was waking up in a little cabin on a campsite near Murchison. I didn't set an alarm for this particular morning like I usually did. I was in no mood the previous evening for getting up at the scrake of dawn as the day before had been my longest since I began with 130kms cycled. The sun had set by the time I had pulled in and after eating a gigantic meal of salami, macaroni, all smothered in half a tub of philapeldhia cheese, I was well ready for bed. It had also transpired that an hour before I reached Murchison, that I had my first fall. After winding through gorges all day I had pulled in at a picnic site. Due to my tiredness I had stupidly forgotten the fact that I was clipped into my pedals. It was only as I came to a stop that I realised my mistake. "No no no!" I shouted out. But it was too late. I had come to a complete stop and had neither feet on the ground so the only way for the bike to balance itself was for it to fall on its side. I tried in vain to unclip my pedals but trying to do this while falling was impossible and before I knew it I was in a heap on the ground. On first looking it appeared that my hands had taken the brunt of the tumble, as I had them out to cushion the fall. There was a few grazes there, and after checking my trousers for the inevitable hole or rip I was surprised to see them perfectly intact. Funnily enough the collision had somehow unclipped me from both my pedals so at least I was able to get up easy enough. I dusted myself down and looked around to see had anyone witnessed my embarrassing fall. Thankfully there was no-one in sight so I breathed a sigh of relief on that front. Then reaching to my pocket I pulled out my Sony Xperia smartphone to record the event. "No way! No No this can't be happening!" I exclaimed to myself. "I must be dreaming!" But I wasn't. A crack ran all the way from the top to the bottom of my phone with a concentrated area of smashed glass to the upper right of the screen. I frantically attempted to unlock the screen but there was no hope of it working. It was broke and I realised that I wouldn't have my primary and (much better) camera or my maps until it got fixed. Being quite removed from civilization and my constant movement meant being foxed immediately would be near impossible. I was so mad at myself for having forgotten to unclip and for having fallen on THAT side of the bike. The side with my phone in it. Had it been the other side things would have been grand. But that's the way things happen sometimes and so I remarked to myself that at least I hadn't broken any bones. A phones a phone and it wasn't the end of the world, just a rather inconvenient fall. With that in mind I hopped back on the bike and continued on with the promise of a warm bed and good food. The luxury of the cabin was shortlived however as the next night, and on my fourth attempt at finding a spot to put up my tent, it turned out I was to sleep next to a graveyard! Thankfully that night was rather uneventful and I enjoyed a reasonable nights sleep, as one can in a tent!
1 Comment
bodo
10/3/2015 00:09:49
Well done Dan, finishing strong on the first part of your trip. Great to see your reports on the road by bike as we have travelled these same roads several times but in a vehicle. in a car you do not see the same, or experience the steepness etc as on a bike. Sorry to read about your phone but makes for a great story :-). It was great having you here in Auckland with us at the outset of your trip and we are looking forward to more great stories and experiences from the Irish 'poet'. God Bless and keep you safe! the Bosches.
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The AuthorName: Daniel Ross Top Tips:
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