ODO 1592km
Location 10km north of Graz
Weather 17-20 Overcast with rain showers throughout the day
Feelings High on the morning but exhausted after the crash.
I slept a full hour through my alarm having already gone to bed an hour earlier the night before. I really needed the sleep!
In the morning I completed the final 845m peak feeling good. This one was a pass on road so despite having taken the mountain bike route the day before this one came easy to me. I began the decent and the kilometres started to fall away they had been in Belgium with a great deal of descent helping greatly.
Just before lunch I came to a little airfield and waited to watch an aircraft land. I was obviously noticeable standing in silhouette with my bike because on landing the pilot taxied over and all three occupants waved.
Because of the rain and wind I wasn’t able to have a nap at lunch for a second day today.
In the afternoon the terrain fluctuated between heavy industry and segregated cycle track. Passing through a small town I managed to post my camera that I sold on eBay to save weight and I was chuffed not to have to worry about it anymore.
Things were about to change though as signs of my growing tiredness were there but I didn’t pay attention to them and stop. Twice I ended up in the verge by loosing concentration and descending into a town I had to brake rapidly to avoid hitting a car that was coming head on around the bend.
Shortly after, I was descending a slope in the same town and totally misjudged the balance of the bike. Saw I was going to hit he curb and rolled off into the verge. There’s that terrible moment where the crash is inevitable and you just watch it happen. The aftermath, a big chunk out of my knee was left on the curb and my left hip was bruised as it had taken the brunt of my weight. I went over onto my right side so I’m not entirely sure how the injuries on my left side.
I patched myself up, glad that I’d recently mounted my first aid kit to the outside of my bags. I thought, if I need this I’m not going to want or be able to unclip all my bags. The plaster was too small but I didn’t want to go full bandage so I decided on simply cleaning it with water and a wipe and taking my kids scissors included in the first aid kit and cutting off a loose flap of skin. Let’s see how it heals.
I considered a hostel and a campsite but decided instead to stop early about 10km down the road of the accident. Tonight I’m going to read, relax and take a chilled start in the morning through Graz and into Slovenia!
