Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
'I was just going to the toilet,' I replied.
I never told Chris about the experience, and never let on that what I'd left in the
woodpile was my last pair of underwear.
The following day it was time to test my knee. Out on the muddy street, it was
clear that neither the clay nor the cream had helped. The same nagging pain flared,
making a 300-metre ride an excruciatingly long distance. It was bitterly frustrating
and disappointing that such a small injury could cause such havoc. If it were major,
at least I would have known with certainty that I couldn't go on! We had ridden
just 400 kilometres in a 10 000 kilometre journey.
As a last resort we walked to the nearby town of Lippin Bor to look for another
doctor, to no avail.
By the time we stumbled back to Novi Vashki another huge meal was waiting
for us, and Babushka wasn't taking no for an answer. After squeezing in half a
dozen eggs, piles of drop scones and cottage cheese we lay on the couch.
'Christ, at this rate we won't be able to ride by the time we get out of here!' I
said, with a groan.
'I know,' Chris replied, with a giggle.
Moments later, Babushka wandered in to inspect my knee. 'So, how is it feel-
ing?' she asked.
'Um, well, it's not any better,' I said, in a near whisper.
'Well then, you know what we have to do? If the clay hasn't helped, then you
will have to urinate on your knee!' She said it with all the seriousness and iron-fis-
ted determination that she brought to all her tasks. I had to do some fast talking.
After convincing her that the clay had worked a treat, we wheeled the bikes
out onto the street. We hugged and thanked her profusely. I promised myself that
I would never forget her zest for life and the way she battled her cow with such
humour.
Back on the road there was a sudden rush of tension. Chris's legs moved faster
and faster as if he were in a race. Several kilometres down the road I decided to re-
apply the cream. No sooner had I done so than the pain went - it literally vanished.
'Chris, mate, I don't want to jump the gun, but I think that cream works!'
'What, really?'
'Yeah, I think I have just been going about it the wrong way. This must be some
kind of anti-inflammatory.'
———
