Just a quick update. Yesterday, I was fighting hard against the odds. I had a rapidly disappearing tyre and had found some solutions for get another tyre ahead. I was wet and cold, but I kept on. Then I realised that my chain had a problem. Luckily I stopped and noticed that the chain was totally loose. Without a spanner at hand and confronted with a degrading chain, I called it a day. I was probably only miles away from a chain failure, the chain coming off the sprocket. I checked into a hotel and now, after a good breakfast, I will buy a spanner and limp back south. As far as the chain will carry me. It will need more and more tensioning, but maybe I can make it. Wish me luck.