August 21, 2014
Mud Turtle: Stuck in it and going nowhere
Today was one of those days you don't forget.
Started out overcast, with threatening skies. Within 30 minutes I was digging out the rain gear and it rained off and on all day as the squalls swept through - big blowy tailwinds set me bouncing and zipping eastward. The bike was getting a good workout.
Got to within a couple of km of the rellies farm when a local couple invited me in to their house for a cup of tea and lunch. Kent and Carole were great to spend some time with. Kent pointed out the back track to the rellies farm - a short cut!
What could possibly go wrong?
Eventually I was forced to abandon poor Turtle, seized with farm clay mud. I humped my gear up to a clear spot, then dragged the bike up the hill sideways to get it out of the mudpit.
Got on that new Telstra phone and begged for someone to come and find me, in a 4wd ute please. "Where are you?" they asked. "Don't quite really know, but very close I think," was my reply. Turns out I was about 1 km away, just over the hill behind the house.
I think I've added another story to the family annal.
Bike was completely noodled, covered in a thick cloying mud clay. Chain had derailed and when I finally managed to clean the mud off of the running gear I could see the rear wheel was toast. I don't know if it was the hard riding from the past few days that had done it, or if it was the mud pit, but the end result was the same: wheel toast. 3/4 of the spokes were limp loose triple cross spaghetti and there was an ugly wobble. I can fix bikes, no troubles, but I've never built wheels.
No worries - a night consulting with Sheldon on the internet and I'll be an expert ...
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