Sun

I had ridden 5 days in the rain and there was salt and sand and heavy water. As I set up the bike this morning I noticed slight rust on the chain—not bad for phi’s oil after a full day of riding the day before.

The front hub rang like a beehive. I thought it could be dealt with later. I paid the woman $R35 and hit the road. But it made a terrible noise. It was rusted thoroughly. It would soon self-destruct if I didn’t pull out the bearings on each race and apply new grease.  I figured I could ride 90k to the next town and then fix the issue. But after a few kilometers the sound was unbearable. I decided to make it to the next town, 30k away, Langeiras do Sol. There I would repack the front hub, even the rear hub. 

I rode through the noise which got stronger as the kilometers progressed.  I accepted chaos was normal. I would repack the hub and move on. Bt the noise was terrible. What damage was I doing riding?

I arrived in town and passed the first two hotel—no, I thought, no way. I rode around I saw a hotel near the town square and near the grocery. She was full, but knew a hotel near the bus station. But that would violate a rule—don’t stay near the bus station, as it’s rife with crime and rif raf. I rode 7 blocks over to the hotel near the bus station. I spoke with the wife and husband who owned the place. I spoke with the brother-in-law who offered me corn crisps, his facebook, and the history of his bicycle (it was 16 years old, the rear derailler and cassette recently replaced).

I found my tools a grease and deflated the front tire to remove from the front brake. Upon removing I realized there was nothing wrong with the hub but there was a piece of wire stick between the front fender and tire which accounted for the terrible noise. Realizing there was no problem. I knew I was free to get new earphones (which had just crapped out) and get food.

 I wandered the streets for new earphones. I spotted what I thought were good ones and payed down $R25. I opened them and realized they were shit, the kind you get on an airplane. I needed food and got a beer and a meat pastry for $R5 and then hit up the grocery for lime-water-cachaca, pizza, and beer. I ate my late lunch in the courtyard of a church as ants attacked my feet. As I walked back I saw an old dark skinned man with a bag sitting by a store. He looked like a traveler. His hand was badly infected and looked like he would lose his pinky. I offered him a bottle of booze—a 500ml 15% concoction of cachca, sugar, water, and lime juice.  He took a sip. I took a sip. I left him with the bottle.

 New method for erva mate.