2,000+ Miles and Counting

So, the road threw us another curve today in the form of a flat tire. On my bike. In the middle of nowhere at the edge of Nebraska leading into Colorado. Need I add that it was 92 degrees? Luckily, I travel with an entourage of skilled and obliging folks. They pump gas for me AND as we discovered today, they fix flat tires. Actually, that's my entourage of one for whose skill I was very grateful today. True, I had urged him to procure an emergency tire repair kit just prior to leaving CT. True, too, that I had insisted that the dealer show us exactly how such a repair would be effected. I had hoped to be included in the demonstration but H__ had other ideas and sneaked off with Max to the back of the dealership while I was in the 'ladies' so that he would be the keeper of all knowledge.

I should have known that there was trouble afoot when, instead of becoming irate at H__'s need for speed, I found myself fighting back tears. Keeping up with him was a frank struggle and as he continued his roll on the throttle I became more dispondent about the ride. It was too hot, too windy, the road was too uneven, etc. etc. It never occurred to me that the problems I might be having were not due to some failure of character because such is my nature. If there is blame to be thrown around, let it begin with me. This is the legacy of my Catholic school education and no amount of reasoning or recognition can eradicate it completely. Blame my schooling for my trying to keep up with H__ as he engaged in his favourite pastime of vehichle-passing. I drew the line after I complained that he had forced me to do 90 m.p.h to keep up with him on yet another overtaking opportunity and he actually congratulated me.

In Haigler, CO as we pulled into the most rural of pumping outposts (tumbleweed would not have been a surprise) I found myself unable to negotiate a slow turn on gravel and became suspicious.

We stopped in the shade of a tree and found that there were several dents in the rear tire and that it had lost its familiar roundness which I had so taken for granted (sound familiar anyone?) I was almost resigned to spending the night on the roadside under that tree fighting off wolves and mosquitoes and having protein bars and two sips of water each so that when they found us in 5 days we would be weak but alive. Instead, I watched as H__ dug into his tool kit, extracted the repair kit and, in his splendid gallantry, thrust his glue-filled sword into the wound and plugged it. No you have not wandered on to the XXX section of the internet (you naughty-minded people) although I did squeal with delight. Half an hour later we limped our way another 100 miles to our stopping point in Fort Morgan, CO. My heart went out to H__ who was forced to adjust his speed downward in a 75 m.p.h zone. Such are the sacrifices that we make for gallantry if not love.

We'll see if tomorrow brings us a new tire since BMW dealers are closed nationwide on Mondays. Stay tuned.