I don't know if we are just tired after our big push; whether the winds are really that bad; or whether I am just not as strong as I'd like to be (Alicia is indefatigable - never stronger). We covered a whooping 29 miles today. Starting out, we were scorching the road but seemed to Peter out (pun intended) 15 miles from Glasgow. We had intended a good break there then continuing to Nashua and, if all was favorable, Wolf Point. But a couple miles out of Glasgow the winds really started coming up. We could hardly push 7 mph on the flats. Ridiculous!!
Then 2 miles from town we had a major mishap. A flat tire. Pshoosh - My rear tire went flat all at once. I pulled off the panniers and started looking at the tire. Alicia was going to make some soapy water to make removing the tire from the rim easier. She started lifting her bike and the rear tire slipped sending the sprockets straight into her calf. There was a long 4 inch slice and it was bleeding. I grabbed a sock and gave it to Alicia who stemmed the flow of blood. She washed it out while I dug out the first aid kit. I had steri strips, gauze, breathable membrane covers and surgical tape and Neosporine. With all that we dressed the wound once it had stopped bleeding. It was deep and Alicia is sure there was a strip of skin gouged out. It really is about 4 inches long. and deep - at least a quarter inch. But it looks like it was only through the skin layers - no muscle. It did not bleed too much after all. I fed Alicia one pain pill (2 is the normal dose - but I still wanted her sharp for continuing our ride) and finished fixing my tire.
Pete starting the flat repair
Oddly, the core of the tube was completely missing. We did not find any penetration of the tire or tube and could not get air to stay in the tube without the core. The core must have fallen out when we were inspecting the tire because there had been a cap over it that would have contained it. I took the cap off to finish deflating the tire and then later, no core. We did not see it anywhere. I concluded some sort of core or valve failure led to the flat. A new tube fixed us up.
So, starting with two new spare tubes we now have one repaired tube and the core-less tube had to be tossed. We did end up fixing Alicia's slow leak in Havre. And sure enough, it looked like that wire in her tire going into Columbia Falls caused it. After overinflating the tube a rotating it through soapy water, I found the smallest little pinprick of a hole. I repaired the tube and saved it as the new spare tube and put a fresh new tube in her tire.
Pete's bike with the new tire to be installed
Repair Party (not!) in Havre
The next bike shop is not until Williston, ND - about 160 miles away. I hope they have some tubes there!
It is hard to convey just how heavy these bikes are. When they are under control, they are manageable, but if they shift or move on their own it is hard to stop them. The weight of the panniers caused the rear tire to slip on the gravel and that is why Alicia was injured. It normally would not have slipped. We have to keep this in mind constantly. The front wheel always wants to move about when we stop and once they start moving they are hard to stop. For Alicia this usually results in a new bruise. A week into the trip her legs were almost a completely solid patchwork of black and blue bruises. They are looking much better now as she has figured out how to not let the bike get the better of her.
After our trifecta of heavy winds, flat tire, and wound, it seemed really sensible to stop for the day. We stopped. Glasgow is one of the larger towns with a population of 3,253. This is sizable. Many of the towns we overnight at are 200 to 300. This is remote, small town America at its best. It has worked out that every 100 or so miles is a major town of the size of Glasgow with smaller towns in between. Camping in the city parks of the smaller towns can be nice and is usually free - though no showers. We are learning that there can be alternatives: swimming in the local river, sponge baths (last choice), or showers at the local swimming pool. One becomes quite resourceful. Margaret, our German friend, is a seasoned cyclist having traveled over much of Europe. We estimate she is about 64 and she has lots of tips for figuring out what is available. People have been generally helpful.
Margaret
By the way, this was my birthday. This is our "50 year" trip for Alicia and I. I started when 50, now I'm 51, and Alicia will turn 50 in a few more weeks. Kind of interesting. We did not plan this little mathematical play, but it is cool!!
Resting in Glasgow...
~Pete
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Happy Birthday!
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