It’s been a huge week; I hardly know where to start.
Yesterday I had my 6-weekly checkup and X-rays at the Fracture Clinic at Wollongong Hospital. It’s always a trial. First you have to get a parking spot that’s not too far away so I don’t have to walk too far. Then I have to go and register at the clinic so that I’m early in the queue. From there I have to walk to the other end of the hospital to have the X-rays taken and then back to the Fracture Clinic and wait until my name is called and the Orthopaedic Registrar can see me and tell me what the X-rays are telling him about my recovery and healing. Well, it went relatively smoothly yesterday. For a start I got the ONLY disabled parking spot at the front of the hospital, YAY! Then, when I finally got to see the doctor it was Richard, a Polish gentleman who I have seen several times before and whose judgement I have come to trust. Richard’s manner could be seen as abrupt, but I’ve figured out that it’s just the way he is and he actually has quite a sense of humour and is very patient with my stupid questions. Oh, and he rides a Ducati St4 so he can’t be ALL bad!! 🙂
Anyway, it’s all good news. The gap between the two broken ends of the femur has closed right up and knitting of the bone is now taking place. This has been the result, not of the rod sliding up inside the femur but rather the screw that secures it in the knee bending quite a bit. To be honest, I don’t care too much what has caused it, I’m just grateful that it’s happened. I don’t have to go back for 2 MONTHS now and Richard said that, if the screw bends too far they’ll just take it out and replace it anyway.
It is looking now as if the various pins, screws and plates that they put in me last year will be staying permanently due to my age. I don’t really care as long as they do the job and don’t inconvenience me.
Most importantly, Richard told me that I could go back to work!!! Yes, work. I’ve nearly forgotten what it is! I am to take it very easy and not do too much and stop if I am finding it too much, but he said there’s no reason why I can’t go back on a limited basis and feel it out as to how I can manage. To say that I am a happy bunny is a wild understatement.
So, on the personal front, it’s been fantastic.
BUT, on the bike restoration front, it’s been equally brilliant. On Sunday one of my Facebook friends who lives in California and races a Post-Classic Z1 there, contacted me and said that he had some good news for me. As the regulations in his division are a little more liberal than what they are here, he is allowed to run flatslide carburettors on his bike. As a consequence, he has a set of carbs that are gathering dust on his workshop shelf. AND, here’s the amazing bit, he is sending them to me to use on the Shadowfax, FREE OF CHARGE!! Yes, you read right. A set of perfect, 29mm smooth-bore Mikuni carburettors (they look exactly like the 28mm standard ones that I have but are much more efficient) are presently in the system on their way to me from Southern California. Edwin Haazer, you are a legend, mate!! AND, yesterday, he emailed me the parts manual and servicing details as well!
And here they are…magnificent, yeah? I’m rarely speechless as those who know me will attest, but this one just knocked me out!
Another FB friend (an old buddy from Canberra Road Racing Club days, in fact), is also going to lace up the wheels for me, saving me an inordinate amount of money! All I have to do is get the spokes. Mmm, it’s coming together. I fitted the front wheel bearings this morning so progress is being made.
I’ve got two very busy weekends coming up in succession. This weekend I will be at Eastern Creek raceway commentating the final round of the St George series (a 2-day gig) and then the following weekend it’s off to Wakefield Park for a 2-day meeting with PCRA calling the races there as well. Busy, busy.
I’m sure there’s lots of MotoGp news that I should be updating, but I’ll leave that till tomorrow. Have a great day, mine’s looking excellent.