17/03/2013

All packed up and ready to go, having submitted my application for my Canadian visa and a hearty lunch I loaded up my bike to see there was a major issue with my rear rack. One of the mounting screws had snapped off, leaving part of the screw embedded in the frame.
For those who read this blog this may sound familiar as the exact thing has happened before but on the other side of the frame. What I really should have done was to replace the screw after the first break, I didn't and here is the inevitable consequence.
I was unable to leave this day but with Nuzhet's help we sorted out the issue at a nearby local bike mechanic. Because of Nuzhet I was able to get the bodge repair done for free and I now had a working bicycle that with any luck be able to carry me for at least another 700km.
Spending another night at Nuzhet's place who again is a generous and lovely woman I wanted to treat her so I cooked up a very tasty Mediterranean dish for the two of us.
On a side note, today I was looking at the processing times for the 2nd stage of getting my Canadian visa and I was shocked to see that it takes up to and over 2 Months for the visa to process. I fly to and start work in one and a half months.... There is nothing I can do at this point to speed along the process other than to cross my fingers and hope that it reaches me in time.