Awesome Ride and On to the Final Phase

Well I am now in Tennant Creek and waiting to go to the Post Office tomorrow to see if some packages have arrived for me. Mt Isa managed to lose my food drop so I have been scavanging snickers bars and tangerines to supplement my soup since snack items or prepared foods are all I could find some days.

I just had two great riding days- one of 150k and one which would have been 160 with the wind at my back on pretty flat terrain. FUN!

Yesterday near the end of my ride I had a mechanical failure that forced me to get a ride about 90k to Tennant Creek- my seatpost clamp bolt and nut stripped and I could not control seat height or right to left movement so pretty much the bike was unrideable. I did not bring anything suitable as a spare and I am not a bright enough mechanic to kludge something up on the road so I stuck out my thumb!

The funny thing is, I was picked up by a guy I'd met 90k back the road at the Barkley Homestead when I had a late breakfast. He had no intention of going my way originally but some transportation issues forced him to drive to Tennant Creek and he said he was looking for me along the way. He was surprised to find me 90k down the road flagging him down for assistance just as I was surprised to actually have someone I knew helping me!!! Small world.

He gave me ride to Tennant Creek and it was too late to go to the hardware store to fix the bike so I got a motel room and took my new friend out to dinner for hauling me around.

Today is Sunday so I am staying over at the Motel, maybe get a swim in- it is really windy here though and warm, but not hot, eat some pizza later and pack up to leave tomorrow.

I still need to hit the Post Office when they open to see about my packages, then if all is good I am off North now 990k to Darwin on the Last Leg of the Journey!

I will post some more pictures and some of my kludgey repair job for the shop guys to laugh at....

written by

Mike_Veine on August 18, 2012 from Tennant Creek, Australia

from the travel blog: Mike's Magical Mystery Tour

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Sounds like you have had some good days and bad days, keep your chin up, you are doing great!!! Stay safe and I love you!!! Your sis.

written by Kris Martin on August 19, 2012

Hey, by the way, have you written any more stories? I enjoyed reading the stories you e-mailed me.
Checked out all of your photos, some pretty decelate country, please be careful. Love you lots. Your sis.

written by Kris Martin on August 19, 2012

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