BURRA TO WAIKERIE – DAY 22

Today, 7th September has been a pretty good day for the team. The riders had tail winds or thereabouts for much of the ride. There were a couple of incidents worthy of comment – Kevin B’s handlebars decided to break, and Roger K blew a tyre! Roger’s problem was easily fixed with a new tyre and tube but Kevin’s broken handlebars is a different story. I had a suitable piece of bent steel in the bus which we used along with a heap of black plastic tape as an emergency repair so that Kevin could keep riding. Jim B has examined it closely since we arrived into Waikerie and has found the seam line in the aluminium tube has split. He has put the piece of bent steel back in position and taped it up strongly. If Kevin wants to ride, he will have to make do with the temporary repair until Renmark (tomorrow). If there were any big hills he would have a problem, but as the roads are pretty flat, he should be able to make do.

We woke this morning to the sound of rain on the roof – how unusual! I suspect we have had rain on 50% of the days of this ride. I have suggested we could us this as a new marketing tool for Bike for Bibles – invite to ride through your town and it is bound to rain! The farmers all want rain just now although they won’t in a couple of month’s time. Amazingly, the riders have managed to ride through the day without getting wet! We have encountered wet roads but not the rain itself!

We are staying tonight in the Lutheran manse at Waikerie. There are numerous rooms all with carpet on the floor and they are all well and truly occupied! There is hot water and a washing machine and dryer! Mod cons!

In keeping with staying in Waikerie, we have had a case of oranges delivered to us! I thought we might be a touch early in the season, but no, there are oranges everywhere. If they are anything like the ones we were given in 2006, they will be better than beautiful!

We are to eat tonight at the local hotel, and tomorrow, move on to Renmark. It is only an 81km day so we will be into town before lunch if nothing goes too terribly wrong.