This is an official action day. John and me find a camp site for the next couple of days and start setting up by the time the van arrives. The riders are way behind. The mine trip leaves eventually, about 12 or 1pm from memory. They're packed in quite tight, even though someone else pulled out of going when they saw just how ridiculous it was. They will be spending roughly 14 hours in there, and I'm glad I'm not in with them.
Charlotte is all fired up to arrange a public meeting tomorrow and get into doing stuff. She wanders into town and comes back with the news that there's a state cabinet meeting in town and she's met the Premier and his environment minister. And taped the interview. Very lucky to have found them, and I suspect that they were less than thrilled - come to "the country" to impress the farmers and miners, and have to deal with greenies instead.
Monday 21: an official rest day. After the other day quite a few people are unhappy about the group process, most having fallen for the line that everyone is being up front about what they want. "how could it go so wrong when we all wanted the same things?". We didn't, I believe. Argument between those who want a rest day and those who want a meeting.
Went into town with Evan in the van, did washing, had a shower, ate and hung out. The mechanic is happy to see us and quotes lower than expected for a new oil seal and stuff that needs fixing. After the mine trip Alan is not happy. Sunny also drove on a flat tyre for a while, wrecking it completely, so we get a new tyre. Rode in later with the trailer and did some brazing on the dropouts to get the wheels more parallel. One axle is narrower than the gap in the dropouts, so there's a bit of play. I braze in there then file the gap to exactly the right size. And as close to parallel as I can get. The mechanic was good about it and quite interested in the trike/ trailer combo. Free!
Arrive back and the meeting is going strong. The van is poked, it will be at least a day to get it fixed. We no longer have time to fart around, so the group will ride tomorrow without support! Horrors!
The meeting ends without any great joy, and I don't pay much attention. If they make it work, good, but I'm not going to attend meetings until it does. I explain to people that I still care, and I'll still discuss it with some people, but I'm not going to put energy into the group until I'm more confident that I won't get burned again.
They do decide to do the full 100km that was planned, despite the lack of van. And 100km the next day too, but that should be with the van. Not sure what the contingency plan is after that.