Brandon

Mitchell from Mar-Dee Enterprises wandered over for an update - he was the nice guy who'd offered the use of the garage's tools, loo and shelter from the rain earlier.

I told him about Good Samaritan Maggie, and how I thought she'd driven by thinking I'd gone. He said not to worry, in 3 hours, after his shift, he'd drive me to Brandon if I was still stuck. Hero 🙏🏻

More rain.

More waiting.

Mitchell came back. He'd made some more phone calls and had a mate who fixed up bikes for underprivileged kids; he was out camping but had agreed to swing by and see if he could help. I was starting to feel guilty for causing such a fuss.

30 mins later and Mitchell had, to my amazement, worked more magic. A company half-tonne truck was passing through to pick up some papers and deliver them to Brandon....the bike and I were booked on Rescue Truck 1. Hoo-freaking-rah!

We might actually make it before the bike shop with a spare part (not exactly what I needed but good enough) closed....however they couldn't fit it for me for a week, but another bike shop, on the other side of town, had said they'd give it a go when I'd rung earlier. Both shops closed in two hours and I'd have to freewheel the bike 37 mins across town between them with the part. It would be close...but this might only cost me a day's delay.

Wayne... my knight in shining white pickup, scooped up the fragments of my Canadian existence, chucked them in the pickup, and put pedal to metal.

An hour later we skidded to a halt outside Brandon's "A&L Cycle" bike shop - the peeps with the parts. Before I could reach the door it swung open automatically. Two members of staff greeted me looking concerned as I carried my wounded steed towards them in my arms like something out of an opening scene of Casualty. I wouldn't need the other store....the team had put a rush on to clear their backlog...they made it clear it wasn't a perfect match but that it might get me to the next big city....they would attempt the transplant then and there.

I said a silent goodbye to Perry and left the operating theatre.Read more