Day 110: Coles Island to Riverview

It all comes to a grinding halt.

We had a slow start from the golf course/campsite this morning and headed towards Moncton, taking the 112 all the way. It was a quiet road this morning with a gentle tailwind, so we were making good progress through the rolling countryside.

PING
Brrrrrrrrrtttttttttttt,
and then the sound of a derailleur being sucked into a wheel.

Stopping, I spun round to see what Aaron was up to, and saw him grinding to a halt.

As soon as I had heard the PING I knew he had broken anther spoke, and this in turn had hooked onto the derailleur and sucked it into the wheel.
This was a game changer.

We dragged the wounded bike off the road and set about assessing the damage. It didn't look good for Aaron. He stripped the rear wheel and then removed the derailleur and tried to straighten it as best he could. This was where the rail pins we collected previously came into play; they were the perfect hammer.

While Aaron was beating metal, I spoke to a lady at the house near us, and she said her brother may be able to help as she was just leaving. His name was Brad and immediately offered Aaron a lift, bike and all, into the nearest town to get to a bike shop. The offer was extended to me but I wanted to ride the whole way.

Once Aaron's bike was packed into the car, I cycled off, trying to regain the momentum we had earlier in the day.

The road stayed quiet all day, as did the rolling hills. It felt as though I was constantly riding up a hill but there was never any downhill. I was eventually rewarded with a downhill, and the view from the top of the hill was amazing. Forests and farms as far as the eye could see, with a river running through it all.

I stopped at the petrol station outside Salisbury and messaged Aaron. He replied, telling me to come to Brad's house, as lobster and shrimp had been purchased, and that we were staying there tonight.

Amazing.

I arrived at Brad's house a few moments after them. They had been to Shediac to buy seafood, and to the bike shop to get Aaron's wheel sorted.

I was knackered, it had been a taxing day on the bike.

Distance: 83.7 km
Time: 3:47:20
Height gained/lost: 500m /-481m
Calories: 2586