Queenstown -> Burnie

Ambulance version:
Flis was feeling worse rather than better despite now normal GI, so we called health direct (Aussie version of our 811) and they directed us to the nearest ED, which thanks to our efforts yesterday was only 1 minute away downhill. They figured Flis probably had appendicitis, but weren’t equipped to do surgeries there, and recommended immediate transfer to the nearest hospital with a surgical team: Burnie.

With some drips in, and some pain relief, she eventually swapped places with an empty stretcher and went the remainder of the 2.5 hour drive with the Burnie ambulance team to North West Regional Hospital.

Bus version:
After retrieving Flis’ toothbrush, the battery pack, and switching out our sim cards (which miraculously resulted in both of us having service again), I left Flis with Aaron, and settled down to the project of figuring out how to get two bikes and all our gear up to Burnie. The next bus wasn’t until Sunday afternoon, so I had a day to pack and plan.

Accommodation options in Burnie were slim. (Next to nothing available within riding distance of the hospital). There was free camping near the hospital, though, which would do for me. I put out feelers to a like-minded-sounding Warmshowers host. Maybe she could store the extra gear or something.

I checked with TassieLink, the bus company, and confirmed there would be room for me and two bikes, but they needed me to remove the front wheels. No problem. Oh wait, F had her multitool not me, and I need the pliers as well as the hex keys to be able to remove my front rack. How tight a fit was it?

Our Airbnb host kindly agreed for me to check out late so I didn’t have to spend 4 hours languishing at the bus stop.
I puttered, and I ate and drank like anything, cursing myself for getting all those groceries. Among other things, how was I going to drink down 2L of milk?

It was a pretty miserable day all round.

In the morning, I had two pieces of great news: Flis’ surgery went well and she was discharged from the hospital before I got out of bed, and Lee-Anne from Warmshowers was game to host us in Burnie and offered to pick us each up from the hospital and bus station respectively. Brilliant!

The bus was already running late even without my interference, and I hadn’t dismantled the bikes, so loading was a bit chaotic. I got them both on after turning the handlebars and removing one wheel.

I had just time to pick up F’s prescription and a few dinner ingredients (there was space on the top off my front rack that wasn’t full yet, ha!) before Lee-Anne arrived.

So, we would strongly not recommend appendicitis. Getting it while on tour is especially not ideal, but we’ve both been in travel situations where this would’ve been a lot worse! At least we were beside an ED, in a place where we speak the language, and not far from appropriate medical care. And traveling with a buddy who can deal with the other logistics… even if said buddy did convince you to ride 93km with a ruptured appendix first. Oops!

Alice