Below is what was the running status of both Cynth and
the bike during the weeks after the accident in April 2005 - I leave it here
for you all to see what was happening as the time progressed but thankfully
both are now well and the journey has resumed.Current Status
I've spoken with Cynth this
evening (12th) and she sounds in very good spirits - the bottle of Chilean Red may
have been a help though. I think she's kind of staggered and embarrassed by
the interest and generosity that everyone is showing here and, I don't
think, realised how many of of us have been sharing her Journey with her. She sounded well and
claims her breathing is improving but she has been told not to ride for a
least four weeks which is unlikely to be possible anyway. It seems that the
Doctors wife is insisting that she stays for a while and I got the feeling
that Cynth is enjoying making friends with the real people of Chile and is
so far highly impressed with the friendliness and hospitality of the people
she's met so far - these memories are what a trip is all about and will remain
with her for life as, I'm sure, will all the new friends she's making.
Apparently the
GPS shows that Cynth was travelling at 50 mph when she hit the rock - if she
went into the soft stuff first I dread to think of the speed before impact.
First descriptions of the bike
make it appear that it may be possible to repair it in which case your
pledges may well be required in the next few weeks so......... in the event
that it's decided that Reg should go out to give Cynthia a hand to get the
bike up and away again
are there any folks out there who would be able to
offer their services with anything such as arranging cheap flights, shipping
of parts etc etc or any other type of useful and practical services??
Looking at the new photos below, it looks life the
headstock is well twisted - as used G/S frames are difficult to find does
anyone out there have one that they care to donate or sell????? If you have,
then please mail me from the pledge link
OK folks, it looks like it's all going to happen -
see the Pledges Page
15th April
Todays update:
thanks to Reg a brand new frame and wheel are to be ordered from Germany on
Monday. We have been assured that one is available and should be here in
five days. Pidcock Motorcycles of Long Eaton are supplying and are willing
to sort the shipping to Chile which should be about another seven days -
many thanks to them for their assistance. Most
of the rest of the parts shouldn't be too difficult to get together although
they may have to be shipped separately due to time constraints. Still
working on the parts lists though. The plan is coming together.
16th April
Looks like most
parts are sourced. Still a few to order and Cynth still has to double check
the condition of one or two items but hopefully in around a weeks time the
parts should be ready to ship.
17th April
Looking good so
far - Cynth should be confirming payment details with Pidcock Motorcycles
tomorrow (required before they will order the parts) - hopefully they will
still allow a Club VP discount even if she hasn't been able to produce her
membership card and most other parts are sourced. As I'm told by the sales
guy that to avoid the VAT, Cynthia has to pay direct (not what everyone else
is saying but as he's prepared to sort the shipping to Chile we can live
with it), it does mean that I'm unable to use the fund to pay for the major
shipping costs - so.....hopefully you'll all be happy for me to use it as I
feel is appropriate so I'll likely use a chunk of the donated funds to pay
Cynthia for a major part such as the frame on our behalf. I'll play it all by ear
and keep you all informed here.
18th April
Have most things
sourced but have no idea if Pidcocks have yet ordered the frame, wheel and
brake disc!! Reg tried to order them on Friday on Cynth's behalf and I spoke
to the sales guy on Saturday and he was insistent that he had to confirm
payment details first (fair enough I suppose) so Cynth emailed CC info to
them last night and phoned this morning to confirm only to be told the
salesman wasn't in today and that someone else would phone back....... guess
I don't need to say any more do I? Cynth will phone again tomorrow and given
the chance, so will I but if the order isn't confirmed tomorrow I'll have to
take it to another dealer that I know will look after us even if we have to
arrange the shipping ourselves. Time is running short if Reg is to fly out
on the 14th. Dave Little's son Jess has also volunteered to fly out at his
own expense around the beginning of the month and hopefully should help
Cynth get most of it prepared before Reg arrives - guess it's a good excuse
for a holiday with a difference. I'm green with envy but making a living has
to come first.
19th April
Starting to look
good. Pidcocks have now ordered all of the new parts - the main parts will
be coming from Germany which will take a few days and then all has to be
crated and flown out to Chile which is likely to take another week or
thereabouts. Most other used parts are here although I still have to re-seal
the forks and check them over. Phil Kingston of Euro Classics kindly donated
a pair of yokes but it wasn't till I checked them that I realised the GS has
it's own specific yokes (thanks anyway Phil) so we're back to using the
borrowed ones.
21st April 2005
All the used
parts are now here, prepared and ready to get over to Pidcocks to include
with the shipping package. Still awaiting delivery of a screen and the phone
call from Pidcocks to say the main, new parts have arrive from Germany
(likely to be early next week). Reg's flight to Santiago has now been booked
and he flies out on May 14th but still has to sort flights from Santiago to
where Cynthia is. Mike Spinak kindly offered the load of some standard BMW
panniers but as Cynth is using large alloy ones it's not an option - many
thanks for the offer though Mike.
25th April 2005
All parts are now
together and are currently with Pidcock Motorcycles for packing and shipping
- hopefully the parts will be shipped in the next couple of days which
should allow time for them to arrive in Chile before Reg does. Thanks are
due to John and Richard at Pidcocks for the trouble they are taking over
arranging the packing and shipping by air - I'd have had nightmares trying
to sort that so it really is much appreciated.
28th April 2005
All parts have
been shipped by Pidcocks today and should be with Cynth around the 7th May.
Many thanks, guys. It looks like Reg's expenses will be somewhere around
£1,700/£1,800 so when that's all settled, I'll use any remainder to to
reimburse Cynthia for some of the parts.
4th May 2005
I guess Jess must
have arrived 'cos I've just had a text to say the engine is ready to come
out - fingers crossed that UPS do their job with the shipping!
5th May 2005
Have spoken with
Dave Little who has talked with Jess, and apparently most of the bike is
stripped into large lumps and awaiting the arrival of the parts containers.
The latest photos on Page 9 show some of the damage and from the way the
light reflects from the top frame tube, I'd suspect that if viewed from the
side we'd see a large hump that would show the extent of the frame damage.
17th May 2005
Reg is there but
parts haven't yet arrived - it's hoped they'll arrived tomorrow (18th).
19th May 2005
It seems that
Cynth isn't healing as well as she's hoped so I guess she'll need to make
decisions before too long - only time will tell if the trip continues or if
she feels forced to cut it short. It would be a great pity if she had to cut
the trip short but as she has already done more than most of us ever will
there would be no shame in using common sense at this stage.
Had a text from
Cynth just before 10pm to say that two of the three parcels have just arrived
so.........let the rebuild commence!! Reg is also complaining that it's
getting colder by the day and that he's working outside in 0C - I was
jealous that it wasn't me going out there but I've just changed my mind!
10.10pm - another
text says that the forks are still missing - promised tomorrow but if they
don't arrive it's a holiday weekend and would be Tuesday.
20th May 2005
Parts shipments
have now all arrived and Reg is in action. 8pm text says: "Engine,
gearbox, wiring, back end, steering done. Having well earned G&T's."
23rd May 2005
Had a text at
lunchtime to say that the bike is finished - hopefully there will be some
photos in due course. Reg must have worked hard to get it finished in this
time as he's also had to take Mo (Reg's wife) to A&E with some problems -
she's been pronounced OK though so hopefully all's well.
24th June 2005
Back on the road.
Text says: 'Flown to Puerto Montt. Bike on Dairy truck on boat, ETA tomorrow
PM. Absolutely no snow here.'
Many, many thanks
to all those who have supported Cynth by donating funds to help this all
happen - Reg's expenses won't eat all of the donations so when we know what
is what with the funds, I'll donate the remainder to Cynth to pay for a
specific major part(s) of the repairs and will let you know in due coarse
what your donations bought.
After finalising
all of Reg's expenses for the trip, there is a total of £407 left over and
rather than donating it to Cynthia, she has asked the following:
"Although everyone who
contributed to my rescue fund seemed happy for the balance remaining after
Reg´s foray to Darkest Patagonia to help towards the new parts I needed,
I´ve asked that instead it be donated to the
NABD.
For the non-bikers amongst you,
this is the National Association for Bikers with a Disability; a charity
which provides technical and financial assistance to riders with
disabilities in order to make appropriate modifications to their bikes so
they can still ride. I very nearly needed their assistance myself".
I will be sending them a cheque
for the remainder in the next day or two.
Below are the first photos taken
by flash and then the real story!
