Bigfisch
Registered
Yesterday started out just beautiful up here in Bakersfield. My 0115 (1:15 AM for you non-military folks) wake up call came. I got all suited up (there are the KEY WORDS) and ready for the EPIC ride for Scars birthday down in San Diego.
I rode out of here on HWY 58 through Tehapchi (a couple of higher speed wide open turns here, but very cold), on the 14 through Mojave (very boring, but warmer) on to the 138 to meet up with Bubba, MikeU and klatu848. Very nice to see a familiar face at 0445 and new ones. We dropped our buckets back on and headed down the slab on I-15 to meet up with the rest of group.
We made it to Scars engine room, only to notice that we were late (darn fog!) so we high tailed it over to Denny's' for some eats. There we met up with the man of the hour and the rest of the hoons who made it in for the ride. A couple of folks were only there for the eat and meet and were not able to make the actual ride with us.
So breakfast is done, we head up to Starbucks for our final meeting place to gather riders. Met another Busa rider and his wife who were 2UP with another group that morning. It was really cool! With the word, we all geared up and headed out for the ride. It was a beautiful sight to see all the machines of different sizes and makes out for ride together.
We all hit the slab and make it to Gopher canyon, there we split into two groups. All is beautiful at this point. Gopher Canyon and Lilac were the driest and cleanest that I have seen in a very long time! Very nice to be able to ride through there at speed without worries of foreign objects on the road. Then we started Sage (I think the actual spelling here is incorrect) road on our way to gas up on the 79 in Temecula. I was in the second group in the #2 slot behind Scar. All is going well till I miss judged a nice left handed turn.
Going into the turn I was scrubbing off speed with both brakes (going about 35-40 MPH). I tapped the back brake (ducking and hiding from Lamb), heard the read tire skid and then went off roading. I thought I would be able to save it in the soft gravel, until the front tire hit berm of dirt. Imelda and I went airborne. Scar said that he saw me in the air away from my bike.
This is what I remember. I closed my eyes and went limp after the dirt riding didnt pay off. Quick tire chirp, tires in dirt, Derrick flying off Imelda, someone on the chatterbox saying rider down, rider down, landing hard on my back, something VERY hard hitting my ankle, seeing Imelda doing a barrel roll and her and I coming to rest about 30+ feet from where we parted the road.
When I realized that I stopped moving, I rolled onto my back with a little effort and opened my visor so someone could see that I was awake. I don't remember who it was that showed up first, but it was honestly (in my mind) about 10-15 seconds till I had someone asking me if I was ok. Time of accident about 1140.
Here is where I have to give HUGE PROPS to all who offered and helped out. Our 2 new riders to the group that day Mike and Ken, Bubba who even offered to ride HOME with me back to Bakersfield, Lamb for getting my bike back to FBC for help Scar to helping me up taking Imelda for a test ride. There are more to mention but I cant remember all the names right now. You know who you are! I know you by face and I thank you from the bottom of my heart!!
Imelda suffered minor damage. Some scratched plastic on the left side. Broken mirrors and on the right side broken plastics. There is a beautiful dent on the right side of the tank. Bubba took pics for me, so I will be waiting for those.
I have 2 bruised ribs (on the left side), a bruised kidney and a broken right ankle. We got Imelda to Fun Bike Center about 2 something and my wife came to pick me up and take me to Bakersfield. I got to the ER about 2000 (8 PM) and left about 0230 this morning. I clocked into work at 0250 and stayed till 0630. I am the boss and had to take care of things this morning.
I am at home now, resting.
My moral is (someone correct me please) ATGATT! The ER doc who saw me about 8 1/2 hours after it happened said that had I not been wearing my boots and leathers it would have been much worse. She even looked at the jacket, pants and boots to see if she could tell what else could have gone wrong. So gear, gear, gear. I will be buying a new bucket after this downing. No visible damage, but I am just not sure and will not risk it!
The group of SOCAL riders are the best bunch of guys that a rider could ask for. There with you from start to finish! The good and the bad! It is such a wonderful feeling to know that so many care, even if you rarely see then! Thank you all so very much!!!
I rode out of here on HWY 58 through Tehapchi (a couple of higher speed wide open turns here, but very cold), on the 14 through Mojave (very boring, but warmer) on to the 138 to meet up with Bubba, MikeU and klatu848. Very nice to see a familiar face at 0445 and new ones. We dropped our buckets back on and headed down the slab on I-15 to meet up with the rest of group.
We made it to Scars engine room, only to notice that we were late (darn fog!) so we high tailed it over to Denny's' for some eats. There we met up with the man of the hour and the rest of the hoons who made it in for the ride. A couple of folks were only there for the eat and meet and were not able to make the actual ride with us.
So breakfast is done, we head up to Starbucks for our final meeting place to gather riders. Met another Busa rider and his wife who were 2UP with another group that morning. It was really cool! With the word, we all geared up and headed out for the ride. It was a beautiful sight to see all the machines of different sizes and makes out for ride together.
We all hit the slab and make it to Gopher canyon, there we split into two groups. All is beautiful at this point. Gopher Canyon and Lilac were the driest and cleanest that I have seen in a very long time! Very nice to be able to ride through there at speed without worries of foreign objects on the road. Then we started Sage (I think the actual spelling here is incorrect) road on our way to gas up on the 79 in Temecula. I was in the second group in the #2 slot behind Scar. All is going well till I miss judged a nice left handed turn.
Going into the turn I was scrubbing off speed with both brakes (going about 35-40 MPH). I tapped the back brake (ducking and hiding from Lamb), heard the read tire skid and then went off roading. I thought I would be able to save it in the soft gravel, until the front tire hit berm of dirt. Imelda and I went airborne. Scar said that he saw me in the air away from my bike.
This is what I remember. I closed my eyes and went limp after the dirt riding didnt pay off. Quick tire chirp, tires in dirt, Derrick flying off Imelda, someone on the chatterbox saying rider down, rider down, landing hard on my back, something VERY hard hitting my ankle, seeing Imelda doing a barrel roll and her and I coming to rest about 30+ feet from where we parted the road.
When I realized that I stopped moving, I rolled onto my back with a little effort and opened my visor so someone could see that I was awake. I don't remember who it was that showed up first, but it was honestly (in my mind) about 10-15 seconds till I had someone asking me if I was ok. Time of accident about 1140.
Here is where I have to give HUGE PROPS to all who offered and helped out. Our 2 new riders to the group that day Mike and Ken, Bubba who even offered to ride HOME with me back to Bakersfield, Lamb for getting my bike back to FBC for help Scar to helping me up taking Imelda for a test ride. There are more to mention but I cant remember all the names right now. You know who you are! I know you by face and I thank you from the bottom of my heart!!
Imelda suffered minor damage. Some scratched plastic on the left side. Broken mirrors and on the right side broken plastics. There is a beautiful dent on the right side of the tank. Bubba took pics for me, so I will be waiting for those.
I have 2 bruised ribs (on the left side), a bruised kidney and a broken right ankle. We got Imelda to Fun Bike Center about 2 something and my wife came to pick me up and take me to Bakersfield. I got to the ER about 2000 (8 PM) and left about 0230 this morning. I clocked into work at 0250 and stayed till 0630. I am the boss and had to take care of things this morning.
I am at home now, resting.
My moral is (someone correct me please) ATGATT! The ER doc who saw me about 8 1/2 hours after it happened said that had I not been wearing my boots and leathers it would have been much worse. She even looked at the jacket, pants and boots to see if she could tell what else could have gone wrong. So gear, gear, gear. I will be buying a new bucket after this downing. No visible damage, but I am just not sure and will not risk it!
The group of SOCAL riders are the best bunch of guys that a rider could ask for. There with you from start to finish! The good and the bad! It is such a wonderful feeling to know that so many care, even if you rarely see then! Thank you all so very much!!!
