Stew’s First Big Crash

Injury – I guess it was always going to happen, but were we expecting to be the catalyst ourselves? No.

30 miles into our ride we’ve come down from the mountains, we were just looking for a caffe bar to stop for a rest during the hottest part of the day.

Next Stew warns me about an oncoming car, I pull in. He says he doesn’t know what happened but he saw his wheel heading for mine. He pulls the breaks, but it’s not enough. My bike wobbles, but I manage to recover myself. Stews falling. I hear him shout. He falls for ages, so long I have time to stop my bike, turn around to still see him crashing across the floor. 😢

My heart sank. Stew manages to walk himself to the side of the road and I run to retrieve his bike then join him at the side – before you say anything I guarantee if I had gone to stew first he would’ve told me to get the bike! 😜

We sat at the side of the road with 2 amazing strangers. One man speaks English, he runs back to his car for a first aid kit and sends his young boy to grab the ice cold water. Stew drinks while the man cleans his wounds. Stews in a bit of shock I think, the grazing on his knees and hips are nasty. A second stranger, Abdullah Jupa keeps Stew cool splashing water on his head. He then flags down a van, luckily it was empty and Stew’s bike is loaded inside. The van driver agrees to take Stew to the nearest town where there is a hospital, the only downside – there’s no room for me! I had to bike around 10k alone and anyone who knows me will know that’s a feat! There’s absolutely no way stew can bike with his knees in the state they are.

The van and Abdullah who flagged the van down drive in convoy to the hospital with me falling behind. I text stew to let him know I’m happy cycling , Garmin set up and I know I’m on route. I know all he will be thinking is about me and my awful sense of direction! Luckily it was a straight road!

By the time I arrive in town Stew has been dropped off at the pub! He’s sipping a water and he’s happier, the colour is back in his cheeks. We’d already cleaned the wound but with the space given to us in the bar and kindness of the bar owner we had room to clean it properly. No hospital required.

We sat in the bar as you can see pictured. On the left is the bar owner, a really kind person. He speaks little English and helps us sort Stew out. We are sat in his bar again as we wanted to eat here after everything he’s done for us. Next you see Abdullah, he stopped for Stew, flagged down a van, drove to the bar with him! He then later booked us a hotel, walked us there, made sure our bikes were safe! What more could you ask from a total stranger? On the right, before Stew of course is a gentleman who joined us – he spoke great English and was able to translate so Stew and I could communicate with Abdullah who spoke little English.

We cannot thank these people enough! Abdullah wouldn’t even take a beer off us! I wish so much I had thanked the other man at the roadside. I wish Ivtook his details so I could’ve taken the time to thank him properly. Incredible kindness received from 6 strangers. ❤️

Happy to report, Stew is fine. Walking is painful. He’s bruised and swollen and we won’t be cycling for a few days, but it could’ve been a lot worse!