The adventure continues.
Today I woke up, relaxed a bit, packed up, checked out (we do that now at campsites - you have to return the shower card. I miss tokens.) and set off to find out if Cold Hawaii really is a thing.
It’s a thing. Surf shops everywhere, surf schools, surfers, waves. The whole shebang.
The wind direction is still in my favour and it pushed me along up the coast to the next town. This one, although more famous for its WWII bunkers I saw far more surf action than anything else.
After that beach I had a 20k trek through the seaside wilderness. All gravel paths and windmills. I passed one other person. With the dark brooding skies and bleak heaths it was all very poetic.
Just as I rejoined the main road, disaster struck. I stopped to stow my fleece and put on my cagoule, got back on the bike and boomph - puncture. I’ve never quite so clearly felt one go. Let’s be honest though, I’ve never had one on tour since the Jogle.
The rain was, and I can’t emphasise this enough, torrential. All I could do was unload the bike and hide in the trees until it eased off a bit. Which it did although it took a while. I got my repair kit out and started to take off the wheel. One man stopped to ask if I was ok. Turned out he had no idea how to change a tube though. Still, nice of him to ask.
Next a couple of similarly soaked bike tourists checked on me. Reassured I had all the kit and there was nothing they could do they too went on. I got the tyre back on (after very throughly checking for any other sharp objects) but could not get the last little bit to sit back in the rim. By this point the sun was out but I had my hood zipped all the way up beset as I was by a swarm of flies. The air around me was turning a little blue when Michael and his wife - from Norway - stopped to see if I needed anything.
Between us we got the tyre back in and Michael swatted away the flies as I remounted the wheel.
Then, I went on my way. First to the supermarket (where I bought wine - I think every puncture should be toasted) and then to the campsite.
As I’d been throughly soaked and stood around for at least an hour I was freezing. Tent put up and tea (which I cleverly bought in Kiltmoller - not often you find pre-made fish free veggie food here, so I felt I ought) eaten, I found the Tv room. With heating. I’ve been relaxing there for the last few hours.
Phoned home, knitted, read. Warmed up. Ready for a far more chilled out day tomorrow.
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