A Rocky Start

Well, we had decided to do a bike trip in Newfoundland. Barry was coming from the far other side of the country, and we would meet in St. John's, bike down the Avalon Peninsula and around, coming back up to Carbonear on Trinity Bay, then back to St. John's. Now, how to do it.

Darlene and I were ready to go. Turns out that some construction work at the house (new windows) had to happen on the day we were leaving, so there was a bit of extra disruption there to begin with. But we know the guys doing the work, and it was also kind of exciting. So we were all set, bags packed and bike in a box for the trip. Cab was called.

Omar, the man we have used in the past, arrived a few minutes late (no big problem: we had planned a good cushion of time), and we got the stuff in the van and ready to go. As we drove off, the van produced this "thump-thump-thump" with every bump, coming from the rear wheel well. Doesn't sound good. We stopped and looked, couldn't see anything wrong, and continued on. But the sound continued, and we stopped again. (Thoughts of a wheel coming off while we were driving on the highway did not appeal.) Again, nothing to find, so we went gingerly on to the Hamilton Airport, via the slower back roads for safety, and made it okay.

Then at the airport, we had to check in the bike. They (not surprisingly, needed me to open the box, so they could check the contents. When I did, I discovered that the bike shop, whom I had paid to pack it up for me, had neglected to deflate the tires as they needed to do! So more fiddling, re-taping, swearing, and so on.

It was a relief to get onto the plane. We had the exit aisle seat, so had some more leg room, and also a full row for the two of us. A very pleasant flight. And even the holdover in Halifax had a certain pleasant feel about it.

Getting into St. John's was easy, bags arrived quickly, and we got into the van for the ride into town. Our driver was what I had hoped: a Newf character who regaled us along the way in, with stories of his family and the city. We knew we had arrived on the East Coast, my son!

Everything was quiet at the Inn, Barry had arrived and gone to bed, and we got some help from a fellow guest in hauling our bags up the three flights of stairs to our room. Soon to bed and soon to sleep.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Location:Duckworth St,St. John's,Canada