Day 9 Indee Station to disaster

 

Tony and I packed up early, had breakfast and got on the road by 7.00 am. The ride out of Indee was uneventful. Back on the highway the Road Trains were unrelenting, Tony counted 51 passing us in the 1st hour.

Tony exiting Indee Station

Progress was slow as there was crosswind and we were only averaging 17 kph. I also had a problem with my curb side front pannier. It jumped off and didn’t seem to sitting on the rack properly. I got a fright at one point when a road train pulled up suddenly behind and I looked behind to see another road train running into the verge to avoid hitting the 1st one. I couldn’t see Tony but he emerged shortly after.

A rock pile that someone had put a flag on. It shows the wind was blowing the wrong direction as usual.

After 50km we took a break and had just got back on the road when the updraft from a passing road train dislodged the front pannier again and this got caught in the front wheel. I wasn’t able  to un-cleat quickly enough and ended crashing in the dirt. Minor scrape for me but major problem for for my front wheel which was buckled. Tony and I discussed our options and decided he should continue and I would try and get a ride back to Port Hedland. I gave him some of the food and my gas stove and then waved down a passing car.

Fortunately the 1st car I waved to stopped and John, a pilot working at Mount Newman was able to take me and the bike and all my gear. Luckily he was heading to the airport and the caravan park I wanted is right opposite.

John who drove me back to PH. Not sure about the wool jumper! It was pretty hot in the sun. 

Next problem is what to do next. PH doesn’t have any real bike shops. I rang Broome Cycles who could have a go at truing the wheel but no guarantees and I would have to take the wheel there and back a 1200 km round trip.

Joe updating the blog under the caravan park picnic shelter. This may be my office for the next few days.

Decided the best option is to have a new wheel delivered to me in PH. Unfortunately 700c quick release touring bike wheels are not a stock item for most bike shops. So I may be here for a few days. Hopefully I can rejoin Tony further down the road.
 
[Tony]
27/8/2016 - Saturday - Indee Station to Truck stop - 109 km

Up early and did the 9 km of dirt to the Great Northern Hwy.  Tough going even though it was flat.  Because I was a bit bored, scenery was woeful, I started counting road trains that passed us for an hour.  51 in an hour.  I generally don't mind the trucks but hey, this is too much.
   

After we had been riding for about 50 km, Joe fell off his bike.  The wind from a road train cause one of his front panniers to jump off and Joe couldn't get his shoes unclipped fast enough.  Fixed up the pannier and got going again.  Same thing happened again about a km later.  Truck went passed, pannier jumped off, into his spokes and down went Joe.  He was OK but the front wheel was buckled.

We decided that he would get a lift from a passing car/truck back to Port Hedland.  no mean feat with legs like Joe's.  We were lucky a guy stopped.

I kept going and did another hour before stopping for lunch under a tree and having a kip for a few hours.  Some Kiwis stopped for a chat and gave me some mandarins and a banana.  Fantastic.  Bob had built his own caravan.  Looked pretty good.   

Got going again at 3:00.  Wind was much better and I was going faster than I have the whole trip.  Many times was going to stop for the day, but Bob had told me of a place about 40 km on Yule River truck stop, so I kept going.  Just a truck stop, but it had a table, benches and a toilet.  Luxury.  Of course I will have to put up with the trucks all night.

Nice sunset too.