The Kindness of Strangers

April 29, 2021

Wheel Problem

This morning didn’t start well.
I discovered a broken spoke on the back wheel. On the non-drive side. It’s the first broken spoke I’ve ever had on a cycle tour.
Co-rider Ian has spare spokes / tools but I didn’t want to rely on those yet.
John had already mentioned a bike shop he’d visited at Waikerie about 30km away from Morgan. The plan was for Ian to ride on toward Balaclava where he’ll catch up with a friend. Joel and I would attempt to hitchhike to the Waikerie bike shop with the rear wheel. Joel also wanted to buy some spares.

Within 25 minutes, a community nurse Janine had given Joel and me a lift from Morgan, all the way to the door of C&C Cycles on the outskirts of Waikerie.

Within 40 minutes Craig Ward, co-owner of C&C Cycles, had fixed the wheel and custom cut spare spokes.
Just as Craig finished the repair, two local government people arrived to talk to him about building extension plans he has submitted for approval. They delayed the discussion with Craig, and instead, one of them kindly gave us a lift into Waikerie.
From here a fellow call Bill from Cadell gave us, and the repaired wheel a lift back to Morgan and we were pedalling again by 1:30pm.

So thanks to the kindness of strangers, the day worked out well. We covered 60km to Erdunda in a half-day of riding.