Day 16 - Pie Town - Grants

Packed up at the toaster house and went back to The Gathering Place for breakfast. Tucking into my pancakes when in walked Tom (the Jeep driver). I was sure those guys were ahead of me yesterday afternoon but turns out they had camped out before Pie Town. The rest of the crew arrived and I bid them the customary goodbye of saying I’ll see them down the road. 

Some nice gravel sections coming out of Pie Town but then I feel the spray of liquid on my legs and realise it’s sealant from a puncture. However the sealant wasn’t doing the job so I have to put a plug in. This was actually the first time I’ve had to do this at the roadside and didn’t find it that easy in the steering morning sun. There’s quite a bit of faffing - not least with the pump which keeps removing the valve core for some reason. But eventually get puncture fixed and sufficient air in the tyre to make some progress. The second half of the day is on road and is mainly downhill which makes for a speedy run into town and to a motel stop for the night. 

Have some anxiety as the evening progresses. Firstly, that I’ve bought way too much food from Walmart and I won’t be able to carry it. Second, that the punctured tyre doesn’t seem to be holding air. And finally, I spend a long time deliberating over which route to take - the main off road route through a remote but apparently beautiful stretch or the on-road alternate. I was plumping for the main route until other riders at the motel said they were taking the alternate. I need to remember to ride my own ride and not worry about what other people are doing. But I decided to take the safer option with guaranteed points to pick up water and avoiding the potential for mud following recent rain. 

These various stresses culminate in a poor night's sleep (as seems to be the case whenever I sleep in a motel). Although I did have a brainwave at 4am as to what might be the problem with the tyre. All in all a strange and frustrating evening but I need to focus on the positives and the good progress I’ve made so far.