At 4:30, 1:10h and 17k into my ride to Burdekin I crashed in a grid, see photos. In the dark I managed to hit the gap in the rails just perfectly straight on. Can you believe it! One little gap and I went right in and down. Result: face plant!

Broke tooth, lip, and on bike: derailleur hanger, front rotor, spoke. Repaired hanger and would have been able to ride back to Ravenswood, but a mining exploration crew, Daz and mates, came by just as I was almost ready to head back. Bike has to go in for repairs in Townsville and should get tooth checked out while I’m there as well. Got back at Ravenswood at 6:45.

When the shop at the PO opened the ladies phones the medic at the mine operation, and nurse Greg showed up in about 5 minutes! He checked me out thoroughly and cleaned my lip and chin up, removed the odd bit of gravel, gave me some Betadine and declared me lucky to get off with relatively little damage.

So is this the great advantage of starting off in the dark! In day light I would have easily spotted the gap in the grid rails.

Just as I was enquiring at the PO if they knew anyone who’d be going to Townsville, nobody other than Ivan of the Mingela Hotel showed up. He had not told me that he also delivers mail between Mingela and Burdekin Dam! As it happens Moana had to go to Townsville today to have the cast on her broken wrist removed. What good fortune!

I settled in at the Rowe’s Bay caravan park, right at the ocean. Made appointment with dentist for Monday and had my rotor and spokes replaced at BNG Sports Bicycle Central. Bike is totally functional again, and I am almost. I’m gonna spend a nice relaxed weekend in Townsville. Ocean swimming is a no-no, danger of crocs and also jellyfish season is starting. But there is a beautiful rock pool just a bit down the road.

Boardwalk towards the pool

To be continued tomorrow ……