On the evening of October 30th I boarded a train from Sydney to Melbourne with Alex's bicycle packed into a box in the luggage carriage. The train seats were smelly, hard, and reclined uncomfortably. The trip was twelve hours of trying to find a sleepable position that kept my face from getting too close to the seat or from the man sitting next to me who wore a pristine white suit shirt, but overlooked deodorant.
When unpacking and reassembling the bike on the platform in Melbourne the tire mysteriously deflated. I patched the hole and repressurized the tube. It didn't hold so I found and patched a second hole. After that I rolled out of the platform dragging the giant cardboard box behind. I found a new home for the box and before I was to the door of the train station my handlebar bag ripped. I tried to use its own clips to hold it together, but the main clasp shattered so I repacked and threw away the bag.
I almost made it to the first stoplight when the rear rack holding both panniers and all my camping gear began to bend and wobble precariously. I walked along the river front and came across a bike rental shop. All of their bikes had robust racks and I asked if they had a spare. They did! I bought a new rack and switched it out right there.
Onward across the city of Melbourne! For about a kilometre. Under pressure and under weight the rear tire blew like a fire cracker while crossing over a metal grate. I sat in the shade to fix flat number three. The tube wouldn't hold pressure until I found puncture number four! I made it about three blocks when the tire blew for the fifth time. I was so frustrated and since I hadn't filled my water bottles yet I was hot and thirsty. I was still a few blocks from my friend Jen's house so I pushed the bike the rest of the way and let myself in for water and air conditioning. It took four and a half hours to cover the mile and a half from the train station to Jen's.
Jen was out for the afternoon and I decided to dash off and buy new tires, tubes, and more patches. Two hours later all was replaced and Jen was home. I had enough time for a cup of tea and a short chat before I rode off to the water front to catch the ferry.
I rode aboard with the cars and had my own special bike parking spot on the lowest deck. Sleep deprived, dehydrated, and very sweaty, I was self conscious about potentially sitting next to someone in their finest traveling garb, so I pulled out spare clothes and changed. In my rush I didn't notice that I forgot socks until I pulled off my shoes in the ladies loo. It had been over 24 hours since putting on my hiking boots and the addition of cycling through the midday heat of Melbourne drenched my feet, socks, and boots. Ew. I stayed in there until I thought everything was dry enough to pass in public.
Dinner on the ferry was a buffet of delicious foods! I don't realize until then that it had been over 24 hours since I last ate. I went back for seconds on dinner, dessert, and tea. I had a recliner reserved which was in a lounge facing windows out the rear of the ferry. It was significantly more comfortable than the night before.
At 0630 this morning we docked in Devonport, Tasmania and I spent the today getting ready to ride off tomorrow. I'll head west tomorrow morning and hopefully have lunch in a town called "Penguin." Apparently they have a statue.
Earlier this year I had my hair cut fairly short to make maintenance easier while on the sailboat. I've been told I look like a mop and after yesterday's misadventures I stated calling the bike "Lord Buckethead." So these are the New Adventures of Mop and Bucket!
