Cam's report - Day 4
Posted by Cameron Bellamy on Monday, August 17, 2009
Under: Cam's reports
"I feel this could be my last night in anything close to civilization..." (Thurs 17 August 2009)
Wake up, gonna be an early start today i reckon. Not so as my customary early morning bike checks unfolds the same problem as day 2 with the loose nut. On closer inspection, the eye on the bottom right side of my fork is threaded and the bolt keeps slipping out. 'Sweet jesus!' I exclaim, but no worries, attach a nut to other side of the bolt, more duct tape and cable ties and throw in some super glue for good measure. Lets hope it holds (I'm confident).
Late start at 10am. There's a gift of a tail wind behind me as I make some distance in the late morning session. More bad roads and trucks however... Pull into a mining town for lunch and set off soon after, after getting into a tangle with a security guard. Good fella, just not too bright. A few km down the road stop off for a mid afternoon kip by the road side, its a nice day. Its 5pm and I come into a small town (1 million pop.). Ask a mother and son directions to navigate out of the city (this town is one big maze) the mother instructs me that it's too late to go on to the next town. I kindly protest, but then she raises her voice aggressively and i succumb to her will. She instructs her son to take me to the cheapest hotel in town (cheapest, at my request). First hotel doesn't want a burden of a foreigner in their hotel, no worries... Next hotel, very classy, and respectable yet pricey RBM168, 1 room 1 night. I splash out as its my last night for a while in one of these 'small towns'. Did i mention the the little kid is still at my side? Manage to argue and successfully transfer my bike to my room, go into my room, everyone leaves, except little kid, who lights up a cigarette. After declining the cigarette a third time, little kid leaves. What a good kid. Yet a little scary too.
Wake up, gonna be an early start today i reckon. Not so as my customary early morning bike checks unfolds the same problem as day 2 with the loose nut. On closer inspection, the eye on the bottom right side of my fork is threaded and the bolt keeps slipping out. 'Sweet jesus!' I exclaim, but no worries, attach a nut to other side of the bolt, more duct tape and cable ties and throw in some super glue for good measure. Lets hope it holds (I'm confident).
Late start at 10am. There's a gift of a tail wind behind me as I make some distance in the late morning session. More bad roads and trucks however... Pull into a mining town for lunch and set off soon after, after getting into a tangle with a security guard. Good fella, just not too bright. A few km down the road stop off for a mid afternoon kip by the road side, its a nice day. Its 5pm and I come into a small town (1 million pop.). Ask a mother and son directions to navigate out of the city (this town is one big maze) the mother instructs me that it's too late to go on to the next town. I kindly protest, but then she raises her voice aggressively and i succumb to her will. She instructs her son to take me to the cheapest hotel in town (cheapest, at my request). First hotel doesn't want a burden of a foreigner in their hotel, no worries... Next hotel, very classy, and respectable yet pricey RBM168, 1 room 1 night. I splash out as its my last night for a while in one of these 'small towns'. Did i mention the the little kid is still at my side? Manage to argue and successfully transfer my bike to my room, go into my room, everyone leaves, except little kid, who lights up a cigarette. After declining the cigarette a third time, little kid leaves. What a good kid. Yet a little scary too.In : Cam's reports