Day 23 - Montreal to Trois Rivieres 169km

END OF CHAPTER ONE

We have reached our destination... barely! The bikes almost didn't make it! We have logged almost 6,000km and just 15km or 10 minutes outside of Trois Rivieres (three rivers) a car passes us honking her horn like crazy and pointing to the back of our trailer. I look in the rear view mirror to see our bikes dragging along on the road behind us. What in the blue blazes!!

We are able to pull over, miraculously, to find that the entire frame that holds the spare wheel that holds the bike rack had broken loose from the trailer. The whole thing was dragging behind us. The only thing preventing the whole tangled mess from disengaging and possibly causing a massive accident to the cars behind was a small rope I had used to prevent the bikes from wobbling.

I have to say 'miraculously' again. These are the miracles:

1. That the bikes did not create a massive pile up behind us
2. The biggest damage - as far as I can see so far - is a busted tire (on one of the bikes), a totally worn down peddle (must have taken all the weight) and of course the steel frame - welding required.
3. That this happened so close to our final destination - not 10km out of Maple Ridge
4. That this happened on a road where someone could alert us. We could have dragged the mangled mess for miles and even lost the whole shebang.

How the bikes used to look

Trying to sort the mess out

The rope that saved the day

One of the busted welds

Everything inside the trailer so we could carry on

So, this is the end of the first leg of our journey. Part Two will be the next three weeks here and then Part Three will be the long drive home, possibly via the Maritimes (as much as we can fit in). 

The good news is that we have checked into our little apartment.... more about that tomorrow.