May 20th My birthday today and the first half of the day delivers more of the same depressing unreliability that has flowed from the poor "on the fly" preparation that has typified this trip.
Plan is to ride from Gallipoli to the Greek border and then on to Alexandropoulis.
Good run for about 100km then climb into low rolling hills. In spite of moderate riding my bike overheats, R motor seems to be running poorly. We pull over in small service station and take R carburetttor apart. On trying to start bike motor is jammed!
We wait for Lang who manages to lever the fly wheel and unjam a probable stuck piston.Ride on for few kms but bike is running poorly. Change L carby, multiple attempts at restart, eventually Lang tows me to servo 2km from Kasen. Another bike is already being towed by the truck so we're on our own.
Sitting at the servo we go over our bikes from front wheel to rear and realise that about the only thing that hasn't broken on either bike is the rear foot peg! We leave my bike at the servo and double up to Kasen on Martin's bike. Find a hotel, contemplate where to go from here and have a beautiful seafood dinner in the hotel's downstairs restaurant.
This is almost certainly the end of our participation in the GSA. For me it's mild disappointment mixed with relief at escaping the endless torture of daily breakdowns. We wish the rest of the team good luck for the rest of the trip. We've met some great people and thoroughly enjoyed their company and comradeship. Particular thanks to Hub, Lang, Brian, Robert & Graham for their mechanical help.
Myles & Lee for their humour, wittiness , always stopping when we were in trouble and for just being great guys. Sean for his humour, perceptiveness and support through tough times.John for his quiet mechanical expertise and his constant optimism & laughs.
Thanks to everyone on the trip for your company and assistance. Hope you all get to Genoa.
Hope Sasha & Nadia get to you soon!
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