Every Day Brings a New Story. The Oakey American Air Museum has confirmed this. Whenever I finish writing my daily notes, I wonder how long I can keep this up. What if tomorrow’s ride is just a routine 100–150 km stretch? What will I write about then? It often feels like nothing new can happen. Yet, every day surprises me, and today was no exception.
I planned to cover 170 km today. With a strong tailwind—a rare gift for cyclists—I could afford to dream big. Riding with the wind at my back, my bike almost flew down the road, hitting speeds of 30 km/h. I felt unstoppable.
A Flat Tire and a Souvenir
That momentum didn’t last long. As I sped along, I spotted a metal license plate lying by the roadside. Braking hard to pick it up, I realized something was wrong—my front tire was losing air. Yesterday’s optimism was short-lived: another puncture.
Worse yet, the tire was slashed and completely unusable. Luckily, I carried a spare, though it was just a basic road tire—a temporary fix. I carefully fitted my last gravel inner tube, patched the remaining spare tube, and set off again. Gravel roads were no longer an option. At least I had a unique souvenir to bring home—a shiny license plate.
Chasing a Childhood Dream
Approaching the town of Oakey, a sign for an American Aviation Museum caught my eye. The thought of visiting tugged at me. It was a detour of about 15 km, plus time spent there. I checked Google and discovered the entry was free. Decision made—I couldn’t resist.
As a child, I’d dreamed of becoming a pilot. My grandfather was an aviation mechanic, and I grew up near the Bechyně airfield in the Czech Republic. I even applied to flight school once. This visit would be a chance to relive those dreams.
Arriving early, I had some time to kill. I circled the area, passing the American military base nearby, and finally reached the museum entrance. A large jeep stood behind the gate, occupied by an even larger security guard.
The Conversation:
Guard: It’s closed.
Me: I know, I’ll wait.
Guard: No, it’s not opening. We’re repairing the road.
Me: I just passed through—there’s no construction.
Guard: This road, to the museum.
Me: The road’s fine, and no one’s working on it.
Guard: It’s closed.
After 10 minutes of back-and-forth, I gave up. I was 200 meters from fulfilling a childhood dream but had to turn back. I’ll admit, I was close to tears.
American Aviation Museum Oakey
Gravel, Mud, and a Stroke of Luck
Instead of directing me back to my original route, my GPS sent me on a detour. At first, it was fine—just 10 km to reconnect with the highway. But after 2 km, the asphalt ended, replaced by gravel.
What now? Take a risk with this makeshift tire or backtrack? I chose the risk. Halfway through, I faced another obstacle: a flooded road. Skirting the barbed wire fence and slogging through mud, I managed to bypass it, though I ended up filthy.
Eventually, I reached Toowoomba, the halfway point of today’s ride. The city was large and well-kept, with bike lanes even on the highway. I decided to look for a bike shop.
Miraculously, I found a shop that stocked the exact same Tufo tire I’d ruined earlier. For those unfamiliar, finding Tufo tires in Australia is like finding gold. It’s hard enough to get them in Slovakia! I stocked up on tires, tubes, and patch kits, ready to tackle anything ahead.
A Thrilling Descent
After a quick lunch of watermelon in a park, I set off again. Toowoomba sits atop a hill, so leaving the city meant a long downhill ride. The descent stretched 4 km along the highway, and it was steep.
My brakes, already worn, struggled to handle the speed. Road trains crawled down the slope ahead of me, their bulk slowing them down. With little choice, I overtook them—on a 60-kg bike with a temporary front tire. It was equal parts exhilarating and reckless. Please, don’t try this at home.
Rain at the Finish Line
By the time I reached camp at 6:00 PM, I had covered 186 km. As I pitched my tent, rain began to fall. Despite the challenges of the day, I couldn’t have asked for a better ending. A good night’s sleep awaited.
cover photo: Australian Army Flying Museum, Oukey
