Hello dear followers,

Today has been one of the most exciting and adventurous days of the expedition so far. There have been a lot of ups and downs along the journey, but in the end everything worked out well and reminded me once again how kind and helpful people can be.

I started the day in Port Macquarie after a good night of rest and a chance to dry out my camping equipment. My first task in the morning was to replace my surfboard, as the previous one had broken earlier in the trip. I had no intentions of learning how to surf, it hadn't even entered my mind, but I was gifted a surfboard on the very first day by my B&B host and Michael found a way to modify the trailer to carry it. Surfing has become a really enjoyable part of this journey whenever I reach the coast, so I decided to buy a new board before continuing south. By around midday I was ready to leave Port Macquarie and head further towards Newcastle.

The route today took me inland for a while along quieter back roads between Port Macquarie and Moorland. Much of the area is covered in thick forest that almost feels like jungle. The vegetation is dense, the trees are tall, and the road winds through long stretches where there is hardly any sign of civilisation. It is a beautiful place, but it also means that when something goes wrong you are truly out in the middle of nowhere.

Not long after leaving Port Macquarie the weather began to change. Dark clouds rolled in and after about two hours of riding the rain started to fall. Around the same time I noticed something was wrong with the trailer that I am towing behind the trike. The trailer carries a heavy load with camping equipment, my extra battery, and other gear, and the dirt roads today were extremely rough and bumpy.

At one point the trailer actually detached from one side of the trike where it mounts. When I stopped to inspect it, I discovered that the locking mechanism had failed. It looked like a small spring had broken, most likely due to all the vibration from the rough dirt roads and the heavy load the trailer is carrying. Without the spring the lock would not stay engaged properly. Fortunately I always carry some small repair items with me, and I was able to temporarily secure the mechanism using a strong cable tie. It is not a permanent fix, but it was enough to keep the trailer attached so that I could continue riding.

After fixing the trailer I continued along the dirt road through the forest. The road surface was very rough, full of bumps and vibrations, and after a while I began to notice problems with the drivetrain as well. First, the front chain came off a couple of times. Each time I had to stop, put the chain back on, and continue riding, but I could see nothing visibly wrong even though the front chain was suddenly very loose.

Unfortunately the situation got worse. After climbing a long hill the rear chain that goes between the motor and the rear axle suddenly snapped completely. I walked back and found the chain laying on the road behind me and looked at it more closely, I saw that the connecting link that joins the two ends of the chain together was completely missing. My best guess is that all the vibration and rough riding on the dirt roads caused something in the drivetrain to gradually loosen until the link finally disappeared. I am not completely sure, but the conditions today have certainly been very harsh on the equipment.

At that moment I realised I was in a difficult situation. I was deep in the forest between Port Macquarie and Moorland with a broken chain and no easy way to continue riding. I started thinking that I might have to pitch my tent by the roadside for the night.

Back at Trike Bike headquarters, Michael had already begun organising a care package for me. He was preparing to send a new chain, spare chain links, and instructions to the nearest post office so I could repair the trike and continue the journey. Luckily, as it turned out, that package will not be needed now.

After waiting for a while on the roadside, a very kind man stopped to see if I needed help. When I explained the situation, he offered to return home and bring a trailer so he could pick me up. I felt extremely relieved because the thought of being stranded there overnight was not very appealing with the heavy rain and enormous amount of bugs in the area, including the biggest mosquitoes I have ever seen.

Even more surprising, when we were looking at the broken chain he realised that he actually had the perfect quick link to repair it. Within a short time we were able to reconnect the chain properly and the trike was working again. We made sure everything was tight and adjusted correctly, and I think I am perfectly prepared for continuing the journey tomorrow.

He then invited me back to his house where he and his wife welcomed me warmly. They offered me dinner and a comfortable place to stay for the night. After such a long and eventful day, their hospitality meant a lot.

Now I can finally relax and go to sleep knowing that the trike is repaired and tomorrow I will be ready to continue the expedition again.

Days like today are challenging, but they also show how generous and helpful people can be. Encounters like this are a big part of what makes this journey so special, and the Australian hospitality, especially in times of need, is surely the best in the world.

If you would like to see more footage and updates from the journey, you can follow the adventure on Instagram at @beyond.nils.

Key Takeaway: Even when unexpected mechanical problems and rough conditions threatened to stop the journey deep in the forest between Port Macquarie and Moorland, the day became a powerful reminder that determination, quick problem-solving, and the incredible kindness of strangers can turn a difficult situation into one of the most memorable moments of the expedition.