As John and Paul said…
The long and winding road that leads to your door will never disappear. I’ve seen that road before. It always leads me here. Lead me to you door.
Today was an interesting and long day. If you are reading this then you have an interest in the adventure that I started on, or heard about it from someone. Today was the end of the adventure for now. Not sure when it was, probably sometime after noon, I was heading into the town of Soldanta, Ak on the Kenai Peninsula. I can over a ridge and started down a slope. I was a good distance from a motorhome, but they decided to make a last minuite decision to turn into a turn off. As I got closer, I applied the breaks and the rear of the bike began to fishtail. That is about all I remember.
I then remember being put into an ambulance. Nothing more.
Then I remember being at the hospital. Not much else after that.
By the time I started remembering it was a few hrs later. Here is what I am told happened. When the bike began to fishtail, I was told I got good control of it, then it finally gave way, and I whacked my head pretty good on the pavement. Fortuantely I was wearing a helmet like I always do. The helmet has a crease in it. So I guess it was a good whack. The suit I was wearing provided excellent crash protection as well. Kevin, who also went down (ditched the bike to avoid me) said that my face was blue/purple so I got a good ringing. He said the trooper kept asking me some questions, and I was almost giving some sarcastic anwser, so the tropper goes to Kevin and asked is he always like that. Well then I kept repeating the same quesion over and over again, so they decided to call the ambulance again (they had called it off before).
At the hospital, they did lots of x-rays, and didn’t find anything. It was more of a trauma situtation, so Brandi will be scheduling an appointment with my Dr. for Thrusday or Friday. For now, I am just really sore. It hurts to move, breath, bend. However, nothing is broken. Not even my spirit. It’s why it was called and accident. There was nothing I could have done to avoid it except not ride. Basically it was slippery conditions and with these retarded motorhome drivers it’s not health (I sound like a local now). Anyhow, I am fine. Kevin’s bike however looks horrible. My KLR that I was riding snapped a footpeg bolt, and that’s about it. It did take the hit hard. Hip Hip Horray for the Red 06 KLR I was riding. Kevin’s v-storm looks bad, but isn’t really damaged bad. Just replace some bolt on parts and it’s as good as new.
What does this mean, well I am a bit banged up right now. Really sore, so I am going to come home tomorrow and rest. No trip to Key West on a bike. I physically won’t be able to do it. When life gives you choices, you just need to make sure to choose the right ones. I have learned alot about myself on this trip, and learned alot about the adventure type of travel. I am completely taken by the beauty that is Alaska, and I can assuredly tell you this won’t be my last trip.
A special shout out to Phil from Motoquest. Phil has to leave work, and come and get Kevin and I. It was a few hrs drive each way from Anchorage. Not only was he cheery about it, he was very informative, and an exceptional guide on the way back. He even called a place to find us a room tonight. We had a nice dinner with him and had some great conversation. Tomorrow, we will meet him for some breakfast, then head into Anchorage. Tomorrow evening, we catch a redeye back to Texas where I rest a bit.
Thanks for everyone’s prayers and thanks to God for having HIS angels of mercy protecting me. This could have been much worse then it was.
BTW the motorhome people, turned into a pull out. We are pretty sure they saw the wreck but kept on going.
Based on what Kevin and the Trooper said, it wasn’t my fault and I tried to recover the best I could. That atleast kinda makes me feel better, although it doesn’t help the physical… It’s helps the emotional pain.
The main reason for writing this is to write down what I remember. Kevin said I would get a test tomorrow to see what I remember and what day it is it, so we’ll see if I pass. The bell was rung pretty good. In fact it’s still ringing.
It’s not a matter of if you crash, it’s when. Are you ready to handle it?
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