On breakages and boobs
Even the tyres suffer on the rough roads. Martin and Will tackle the flat.
You may recall my references to the bone-crushing, tooth-shattering roads we have been driving on.
About 90 per cent of the time, I sit in the second last row, right over the rear wheels. I spend a lot of time airborne (yes, I faithfully wear my seatbelt which is a lap-sash only) and I can’t count the number of times a colossal bump, or a series of bumps, has caused me to bite down hard—sometimes getting my tongue or the inside of my cheek to boot.
Unfortunately, my comment about tooth-shattering was way too accurate. I now have broken two teeth.
About a month ago, I realised a chunk of a lower wisdom tooth was missing. It’s disarming and disheartening to find a little piece of tooth wandering around in your mouth. At least it’s not painful. Then yesterday, another chunk gone; this time from a small molar behind a lower incisor. Again it’s not painful, but I know there’s little chance that either tooth will be repaired before I get to Canberra.
I’ve spent a lot of money on my teeth and I like to stick with my own dentist. As soon as I have an internet connection—which may be in several days (namely when you’re reading this)—I plan to email him and ask for an emergency appointment in December. Hope he gets a chuckle out of an emergency ‘planned’ so far in advance.
But the breakages persist. This morning I trod on my glasses while we were trying to get the tent down in a brisk wind. One arm is badly bent, but the whole is holding together for the moment. I hope I can get them fixed in Lhasa, Tibet.
That makes three breakages close together, so I hope that’s the end of such dramas.
As for the boobs, I rather suspect that by the end of the trip mine will be dangling down to my waist, looking like two stretched-out sport socks with a billiard ball dropped into each toe.
Don’t forget to pick a number.
Where to next? 
Hi,
You are lucky that your broken tooth/teeth was not more serious and needing to be pulled out and not being in a more modern country with good dentists. Further, I am surprised that the truck can hold up so well with all the rough roads you have traveled on… a flat tire is minor.
Sy S.
LikeLike
The truck is very well built. I’m often amazed by how well it survives the rough roads.
LikeLike
ahhh peggy sad to read that u lost ur 2 teeth but happy that u didnot get pain.. here we spend 4000/- rupee just to take off one teeth so as far as i think ur way is good… ultimately teeth will off from mouth either u pay or not… 😀
LikeLike
Fortunately I didn’t lose the teeth, just broke them. And the dentist was able to fix them both, so I was lucky.
LikeLike