Where’s the RA? A sad confession from the GOTF

After many kilometres on the tandem, we had become a well-oiled team until we weren’t.

I am afraid that I have to report a very unfortunate event. I lost the RA while out riding. Yup, simple as that. She was on the back of the bike, and then she wasn’t.

So how did this sorry tale unfold? Rather pathetically actually. We were in the closing stages of a very modest ride when we encountered a footbridge near the Stone Store here in Kerikeri. The bridge had a number of people blocking our way, so we stopped. We exchanged some pleasantries with one couple while still on the bike. Well, the GOTF was still on the bike, but unbeknownst to him, the RA had dismounted in the belief that we were going to walk the bike through the foot traffic.

We would usually communicate our intention, but I guess the team have got a little sloppy of late. Anyway, the GOTF, seeing a gap, pedalled off, assuming the RA was still on board. Weaving his way through the obstacles, he accelerated up the hill. Meanwhile, back on the bridge, seeing the distraught look on the helmet-wearing but bike-less RA, about five people were attempting to get the attention of the rapidly disappearing and stoker-less tandem powering up that hill. With the wind whistling through his hearing aid microphones, the GOTF was unaware of the unfolding drama back on the bridge.

It is a solid climb from the Stone Store, and the GOTF was impressed with the speed of the ascent. He yelled out encouragement to the RA, whom he assumed must have had her head down, mouth shut, and pedalling like her life depended on it. About 10 minutes later, as he steered the bike up the driveway to the house, he made a passing remark about the gardening that they had been doing. No response; this was the most intense bit of concentration he had ever witnessed from her. As the bike pulled to a stop, he turned to talk to her. Had she dismounted and headed around the house already? A quick scan of the area revealed no RA. What the….. Where is the RA? Why hasn’t she rung? Oh, there is her phone. He quickly replayed events in his addled brain. Surely she did not fall of while we were in motion? Ah – the bridge stop. She must have got off then. Oh golly, I might be in a bit of bother.

I did the fastest time ever to the end of the road, and as I turned into Kerikeri Road towards the Stone Store, I saw some dark clouds with the RA stomping along beneath them. “Oy, Ruth, need a lift?” was not going to be the appropriate greeting. So after a right royal RA tongue-lashing and some pathetic whining from the GOTF, we had a laugh. The RA is now ‘dining out’ on the experience, and the GOTF? Well, he is just having to suck it up.