I had my bike s forks done at Alf s place in Kraaifontein.The previous week I borrowed my son s bike to get back home ( Montagu).On Wednesday I took his bike back to collect mine.Planned to do some business in Worcester and Robertson on my way back.It should be a walk in the park.As usual I took the scenic route over the pass.But it was not to be.In the long bend after the tunnel I noticed some sort of intability.Pulled off and yes, the rear tyre was nearly flat.I carried on to the protea stall a little bit higher up.
Luckily my wife insist these days that I take a cellphone with me on trips.She even showed me how to work the thing.I called my son in Klapmuts to bring his bike trailer.No signal.OK, I will stop somebody to borrow a pump just to get me in Paarl.I could not believe it .People don t stop.I stood there, thinking of the thousands of kms. on the dirt roads of SA and Nam I did in recent years with all my patches, pump,slyme,bombs and tyre levers and here I stand in the middle of civilization....helpless.I felt more vulnerable here,than in Nam when I snapped a chain.
I tried my luck again ,but to no avail.Only God can help me now.But no, I cant hassle God with a flat tyre.After all, it was my own negligence.So I begged for mercy with my fellow countryman again.In the end I had no other choice and He send me a Samaritan with a nifty compressor in the back of his Landrover.We pumped it to 3 bar and I dashed off for Paarl.It only lasted for a km. or two down the other side,but at least now could make contact with my son.
Well, I learnt a few things from this experience:
1.Be allways prepared.
2.People dont stop to help anymore( for good reasons)
3.God loves his naughty kids too.
So,what does you guys carry as emergency kit for trips like this?
Luckily my wife insist these days that I take a cellphone with me on trips.She even showed me how to work the thing.I called my son in Klapmuts to bring his bike trailer.No signal.OK, I will stop somebody to borrow a pump just to get me in Paarl.I could not believe it .People don t stop.I stood there, thinking of the thousands of kms. on the dirt roads of SA and Nam I did in recent years with all my patches, pump,slyme,bombs and tyre levers and here I stand in the middle of civilization....helpless.I felt more vulnerable here,than in Nam when I snapped a chain.
I tried my luck again ,but to no avail.Only God can help me now.But no, I cant hassle God with a flat tyre.After all, it was my own negligence.So I begged for mercy with my fellow countryman again.In the end I had no other choice and He send me a Samaritan with a nifty compressor in the back of his Landrover.We pumped it to 3 bar and I dashed off for Paarl.It only lasted for a km. or two down the other side,but at least now could make contact with my son.
Well, I learnt a few things from this experience:
1.Be allways prepared.
2.People dont stop to help anymore( for good reasons)
3.God loves his naughty kids too.
So,what does you guys carry as emergency kit for trips like this?
