Distance today 40km
I got up at 7am, having slept about 10 hours. I really needed to catch up after having so little sleep the night before. It was still before sunup. I cooked my barley, let it cool while I worked on shortening the chain by removing a link, as the bike was not working properly in low gear. The day was much cooler, with overcast clouds, nicer to ride in, and with less flies. I packed and got going at 9am. I passed a few other campers in Parachilna gorge, mostly caravans. There was even a small amount of water in the creek in places. It was a fair climb to Blinman, about 500m. After 6km I stopped at Ankorichina, and bought a snack and drink. The owner was stocking his shop ready for the Easter onslaught.
Onward towards Blinman. I was slow, lots of pushing up hills. Eventually I made it to Blinman a bit after 1pm. I was surprised to have mobile coverage in Blinman. I got water and a sausage roll from the Bakery. I had lunch and then packed up and headed south, finally on the Mawson trail.
Disaster struck about 4km out of town, I broke two spokes simultaneously on the rear wheel. I had broken a spoke on one of my test rides, which worried me. So I packed 4 spare spokes, but now I would need two of them already. I pulled off, stripped the gear of the bike, and about an hour later I had replaced both spokes. Why did they break? The road is smooth bitumen, I hadn’t hit a bump. I wondered whether a loose occy strap had caught the spokes, although this may be wishful thinking on my part. So I don’t really know. My whole trip could be scuttled by breaking spokes. I rearranged the gear, putting more weight on the front wheel. Once mobile I headed the 13km to Dedmans Hut which I arrived at about 5pm. Hut is OK, but more importantly it has a full rainwater tank. I was a bit concerned that maybe I should have bought more water in Blinman. There are mice in the hut so I am going to put my tent up inside the hut.
