05-07-2016, 12:39 PM
This is a long story told short. Undoubtedly in the fullness of time, all the facts will emerge. But for now lets make do with this.
The place, [url=https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capella,_Queensland]Capella, in the Central Highlands of Queensland, Australia.
My rear tyre, a Pirelli Angel GT, looking rather the worse for wear.
![[Image: 0c3537dd49cad369dbd89ea52b5f9394.jpg]](https://cb1100forum.net/forum/uploads/imp/201605/0c3537dd49cad369dbd89ea52b5f9394.jpg)
Capella is not overflowing with road bike tyres. Tractor tyres, no problem. ATV tyres, no problem. Truck tyres, no problem. 4x4 tyres, no problem. Farm bike tyres, not a big problem. But a road bike tyre, especially an 18 size? Just let me say that, in Capella, or its surrounds, there is a better chance of finding piles of rocking-horse pooh.
After some time on the blower it appeared that the nearest Pirelli, or Michelin, or anything, was in Townsville, a mere 560kms to the north, or Brisbane, a little further away at 928kms to the south. Estimated delivery time ranged from 5 days to well over a week. Fedex has never heard of Capella. Things were not looking good. That evening, around the fire, while consoling myself over a quiet beer it was suggested that there was a bike shop in Mackay, on the coast 331kms to the east, that might be worth try.
![[Image: a6a6dd3b77dc7d1da005706100203690.jpg]](https://cb1100forum.net/forum/uploads/imp/201605/a6a6dd3b77dc7d1da005706100203690.jpg)
So next morning I called them. Jackpot! A Pirelli Angel GT, and a bargain at only AUD309. Delivery time, four days. Cormanus, without hesitation, said, “No worries, I will ride down to Mackay and get it.” That would have to be a two day ride as riding at night is just not on. Road Trains and big rigs can average up to fifty, yes I said fifty, kangaroo hits a night on roads in that part of the world. And that is disregarding the odd wombat, raptor feasting on road kill, emu or wild bull! Some of those roads are a true charnel house. Think, think and more phone calls. A courier company runs a service daily from Mackay to Moranbah, a mining town a paltry 158 kms to the north of Capella, departing Mackay mid-morning and arriving at Moranbah “about” 2:30 in the afternoon. Once again, “No worries, I will be at Moranbah at 2 and back in Capella by before 5.” Saying that, Cormanus rode with me to a rural tyre service where I left Last Blast, pillioned me back to our camp site, stripped the top box off his CB, gathered a handful of straps, cords and a water bottle and blasted off towards Moranbah.
So, how to fill in the rest of the day in Capella? It is well over 30deg C during the day in Capella at this time of the year, so I decided to ponder this question over a cold beer at the Hotel Capella. I pondered this question for a considerable period of time. After some time, almost sated with pondering and a meat pie for lunch, it occurred to me that neither heat nor flies, nor the beasts of the road, nor the loneliness of the Aussie bush, nor yet the big rigs that degrade the tarmac of our roads, would deter Cormanus from his appointed task. It should be apparent to you, dear reader, that I was truly pondered.
Cormanus arrived back in Capella, having ridden from Moranbah with an Angel GT strapped to the back of his CB, before five o’clock. With some above and beyond the call of duty from Anthony at Lacey’s Tyres, Rural & Industrial, Capella, Last Blast was re-shod and ready to go at 7:30 next morning.
I never did get a photo of Cormanus’ CB with that tyre strapped to it but I live in hope that one may, eventually, turn up.
Cheers, and thanks again mate.
The place, [url=https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capella,_Queensland]Capella, in the Central Highlands of Queensland, Australia.
My rear tyre, a Pirelli Angel GT, looking rather the worse for wear.
Capella is not overflowing with road bike tyres. Tractor tyres, no problem. ATV tyres, no problem. Truck tyres, no problem. 4x4 tyres, no problem. Farm bike tyres, not a big problem. But a road bike tyre, especially an 18 size? Just let me say that, in Capella, or its surrounds, there is a better chance of finding piles of rocking-horse pooh.
After some time on the blower it appeared that the nearest Pirelli, or Michelin, or anything, was in Townsville, a mere 560kms to the north, or Brisbane, a little further away at 928kms to the south. Estimated delivery time ranged from 5 days to well over a week. Fedex has never heard of Capella. Things were not looking good. That evening, around the fire, while consoling myself over a quiet beer it was suggested that there was a bike shop in Mackay, on the coast 331kms to the east, that might be worth try.
So next morning I called them. Jackpot! A Pirelli Angel GT, and a bargain at only AUD309. Delivery time, four days. Cormanus, without hesitation, said, “No worries, I will ride down to Mackay and get it.” That would have to be a two day ride as riding at night is just not on. Road Trains and big rigs can average up to fifty, yes I said fifty, kangaroo hits a night on roads in that part of the world. And that is disregarding the odd wombat, raptor feasting on road kill, emu or wild bull! Some of those roads are a true charnel house. Think, think and more phone calls. A courier company runs a service daily from Mackay to Moranbah, a mining town a paltry 158 kms to the north of Capella, departing Mackay mid-morning and arriving at Moranbah “about” 2:30 in the afternoon. Once again, “No worries, I will be at Moranbah at 2 and back in Capella by before 5.” Saying that, Cormanus rode with me to a rural tyre service where I left Last Blast, pillioned me back to our camp site, stripped the top box off his CB, gathered a handful of straps, cords and a water bottle and blasted off towards Moranbah.
So, how to fill in the rest of the day in Capella? It is well over 30deg C during the day in Capella at this time of the year, so I decided to ponder this question over a cold beer at the Hotel Capella. I pondered this question for a considerable period of time. After some time, almost sated with pondering and a meat pie for lunch, it occurred to me that neither heat nor flies, nor the beasts of the road, nor the loneliness of the Aussie bush, nor yet the big rigs that degrade the tarmac of our roads, would deter Cormanus from his appointed task. It should be apparent to you, dear reader, that I was truly pondered.
Cormanus arrived back in Capella, having ridden from Moranbah with an Angel GT strapped to the back of his CB, before five o’clock. With some above and beyond the call of duty from Anthony at Lacey’s Tyres, Rural & Industrial, Capella, Last Blast was re-shod and ready to go at 7:30 next morning.
I never did get a photo of Cormanus’ CB with that tyre strapped to it but I live in hope that one may, eventually, turn up.
Cheers, and thanks again mate.
![[Image: 0e40d5b6fa0ef11b26fb9a0be3f7a060.jpg]](https://cb1100forum.net/forum/uploads/imp/201605/0e40d5b6fa0ef11b26fb9a0be3f7a060.jpg)
