• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Halfway Anywhere

Halfway Anywhere

  • About
  • Blog
  • PCT
  • CDT
  • Hikes
    • Arizona
      • Arizona Trail
      • Buckskin Gulch/Paria Canyon
      • Royal Arch Loop
    • Australia
      • Outback Bicycle Tour
      • New South Wales
        • The Coast Track
      • Tasmania
        • Federation Peak
        • Frenchmans Cap
        • Mount Anne Circuit
        • Overland Track
        • Western Arthurs Traverse
    • California
      • Cactus to Clouds
      • Kings Canyon High Basin Route
      • Southern Sierra High Route
      • Trans-Catalina Trail
    • Brazil
    • Japan
      • Alps Traverse
      • Fuji Area
      • Hokkaido
      • Hokuriku
      • Kansai
      • Kita Alps
      • Kyushu
    • Nepal
      • Everest Base Camp
      • Three Passes Trek
    • New Zealand
      • Ball Pass Route
    • Oregon
      • Timberline Trail
    • Washington
      • Wonderland Trail
  • Gear
    • Current Gear List
    • Gear Reviews
    • Gear Lists
    • PCT Gear
    • Best Backpacking Quilts
    • Best Satellite Messengers
    • Best Sun Hoodies
    • Best Thru-Hiking Shoes
    • Best Thru-Hiking Socks
    • Deals & Discounts
  • Surveys
    • PCT Survey
      • PCT Survey Results
      • PCT Gear Guide
      • PCT Resupply Guide
      • Women’s Gear Guide
      • Couples’ Gear Guide
      • Demographic Breakdown
      • PCT Horror Stories
      • PCT Hiker Advice
      • PCT Social Issues
      • All PCT Survey Articles
      • PCT SURVEY SIGNUP!
    • CDT Survey
      • CDT Survey Results
      • CDT Gear Guide
      • CDT Resupply Guide
      • CDT Horror Stories
      • CDT Hiker Advice
      • All CDT Survey Articles
      • CDT SURVEY SIGNUP!
    • JMT Survey
      • JMT Survey Results
      • All JMT Survey Articles
      • JMT SURVEY SIGNUP!
  • Contact
    • Say Hello!
    • Support

Australia Bike Tour Day 56: My First Fall

By Mac 2 Comments

Fifty-five days and 2,290 miles (3,685 km) without serious incident – my bicycle trip across Australia appears to be going smashingly.

That is, until today; because today, I was forced to roll the “Days Without An Accident” counter back to zero.

Yes, today I fell off of my bike (while it was moving).

And what was responsible for this disastrous twist of fate? Apples.

Paul and his apples.

Apple-Lady
Apples. Not as innocent as you may have previously thought. (Not Paul.)

While taking one of my now traditional mid-day breaks to escape the horribleness that is Australian tropics, I met a fellow cyclist: Mr. Paul.

Paul is only the sixth person traveling via bicycle I’ve met in my near two-month journey across Australia; he’s only the third who has demonstrated any interest in interacting with his bicycle-touring brethren (that’s me).

This happens to be quite fortunate for me since my rear rim has been rubbing against my brakes and I cannot figure out how to fix it. Turns out I need to tighten my spokes. Do I know how to properly do this? No. Does Paul? You bet your ass he does.

We find a grassy roadside patch to retire to and go about repairing my bike. Our efforts are met with success and I am immediately and forever indebted to this wondrous man.

But what happens next calls into question everything I’ve ever known about Paul.

Australia-Mataranka-Paul
You bastard, Paul.

“Hey, let’s ride down to the pub and see if they’re still open,” Paul suggests.

“I knew I liked you, Paul. Let’s do it.”

And so off we go – down to the pub – on our bikes.

Paul leads as I watch the reusable shopping bag on the back of his bike bounce up and down with each passing imperfection in the road. The bag looks secure, but as we gain speed and the ride becomes increasingly bumpy, said bag takes on a life of its own and now appears to be attempting an escape from its prison on the back of Paul’s bicycle.

Suddenly, before I have a chance to instinctively shout something to the extent of “YOUR BAG IS ABOUT TO FALL FROM YOUR BICYCLE!” (which wouldn’t have changed anything), the bag leaps from Paul’s bike and lands in front of me, spilling a dozen apples all over the road.

I hit the first one head on, and as I try to maintain control and maneuver out of the oncoming onslaught of fruit, my front wheel catches another and it’s over.

In true slow motion fashion, I fall backward – feet still clipped into my pedals – and absorb the full impact of the road below me with the right side of my body. I then proceed into a three-second slide across the ground to ensure I fully appreciate the meaning behind the words road rash.

Luckily, the street is free of cars and I am wearing my helmet.

Australia-Outback-Bike-on-Ground
Dramatic reenactment.

I can’t help myself from laughing at the image of what has just happened, and after a quick shake of my extremities I appear to be relatively unscathed.

The worst part of the whole thing (besides the huge loss of fruit)? The pub is closed.

I guess there’s always the next town.

  • START: Katherine, Northern Territory
  • END: Pine Creek, Northern Territory
  • DAY’S DISTANCE: 65.98 mi / 106.18 km
  • TOTAL DISTANCE: 2,294.96 mi / 3,693.38 km

You'll Like These Too:

Share this post:

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Pinterest Share on Reddit Share on WhatsApp Share on Email

Australia,  Australia Biker Problems,  Northern Territory

Subscribe
Notify of
guest
guest
2 Comments
Most Voted
Newest Oldest
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments

Primary Sidebar

Most Recent Posts

  • Continental Divide Trail Gear Guide: Class of 2022 Survey
  • Continental Divide Trail Hiker Survey (2022)
  • Pacific Crest Trail Resupply Guide (2022 Survey)
  • The Pacific Crest Trail Gear Guide: Class of 2022 Survey
  • Pacific Crest Trail Hiker Survey (2022)
Backpacking Gear Pacific Crest Trail Continental Divide Trail Mac's Backpack

Footer

STAY IN TOUCH

You've made it this far, you're either into this site or you're still looking for something. Either way, best to sign up for my newsletter, yeah?

NAVIGATION

  • Recent Posts
  • Backpacking Gear
  • Continental Divide Trail
  • Pacific Crest Trail
  • Brazil Trekking
  • Japan Trekking
  • Nepal Trekking
  • New Zealand Trekking
  • Tasmania Trekking

LEGALESE

  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms and Conditions

Copyright © 2023 · Halfway Anywhere