Each bike gets a full service and safety inspection prior to storage. Ty performs the visual inspection for us, and his airframe training has been invaluable once again. His detailed inspection revealed a sheared subframe bolt on Gary's bike that would have led to a catastrophic failure of the frame if left unattended. Nouakchott does not have the specialist equipment required to extract the broken bolt, and we will need to spend a day before next year's trip effecting these repairs.
The mechanics had never seen bikes like these before and made all sorts of outlandish excuses to the boss in order to leave their duties and assist us. With quite a crowd of mechanics around, it made light work to complete the services. They are a great team of young guys, and we are particularly indebted to Ameer, the Syrian supervisor, who acted as translator, advocate, welding supplier, and all round mate for the day.
Full workshop facilities for five hours, 12 litres of oil, and a veritable team of mechanics totalled to the princely sum of 5000 ouguiyas each ($22 Australian dollars). Fantastic.
The bikes are scheduled for a detailed wash and clean, before a final inspection tomorrow and then crating the day after.
