As he came running up to help me pick up my bike.
The day started pretty lazy, woke early and attempted to make coffee but my stove wouldn't stay lit and work properly. No matter Sandy rescued us with his trick coffee making mug. A slow pack down and load up, conversation and goodbyes as the riders of the PNW rally took their leave. With only three bikes left and the sun starting to warm the world, Charlie and I said goodbye to Wallowgreen and his beautiful lady wife and hit the road.
I rode with Charlie to Redmond where we parted ways, him continuing south on 97 and I turning west on 123 heading to 20 out of Sisters and connecting to 22 and headed towards Salem. Traffic was average for a nice day on a country road and was moving along between 65 and 70. I hang back around 10 or so car spaces at least for that reaction time needed on two wheels.
The traffic slowed to around 20 while going around a right hand bend which turned left following the river. My spacing is now 3-4 car lengths from the car that I was following and I was slowing further. There was an accident with a Hog rider crashing and being sent to the hospital and leaving the rescue of his bike to his lady. Of course we didn't know it at the time.
I glanced down to check my mirrors and when I looked back the car in front of me had stopped, The highway patrolman said that she was rubbernecking when she stopped, I am now down to 3 car lengths or less and by the time I reacted and got the binders clamped down I am down to two or less. Oh POO, the last thing I want to do is rear-end this dizzy blond, I am stopping, but am I stopping fast enough...it is going to be close...I push harder on the breaks and I guess I pushed too hard on the rear break for it started coming around to the right, I am about 5 feet from her rear bumper, 4 feet, 3 feet, 2 feet, I might make it...no I won't 1 foot off her bumper and the bike is starting to do the old heave ho for a high side throw.
Now I don't want to be heaved into her rear window so I dropped my bod down on the left side and the bike followed onto the Samsonite luggage and Hannigan fairing. Luck for me the gal driving the car decided to drive on as I was deposited down on the road and Scruffy slid for a couple feet.
You almost made it as the rescue worker came running up.........Yes it was close and the only real damage is to the luggage and fairing, all of it fairly easy to fix, I do have a 50 cent piece sized raspberry on my left elbow. I was asked if I was all right over a dozen times in the next few minuets and I just pointed to the gear and said "yes, that's why I wear all this gear" The hog rider was in T shirt and shorts with one of those micro caps they like so much, the patrolman told me when I asked what kind of gear the other rider was wearing. "He crashed, pointing at the hog laying on it's side, "you didn't" he said.
In 54 years of riding that is my first git off in traffic, it can happen fast. Stay safe and wear all the gear.
V
The day started pretty lazy, woke early and attempted to make coffee but my stove wouldn't stay lit and work properly. No matter Sandy rescued us with his trick coffee making mug. A slow pack down and load up, conversation and goodbyes as the riders of the PNW rally took their leave. With only three bikes left and the sun starting to warm the world, Charlie and I said goodbye to Wallowgreen and his beautiful lady wife and hit the road.
I rode with Charlie to Redmond where we parted ways, him continuing south on 97 and I turning west on 123 heading to 20 out of Sisters and connecting to 22 and headed towards Salem. Traffic was average for a nice day on a country road and was moving along between 65 and 70. I hang back around 10 or so car spaces at least for that reaction time needed on two wheels.
The traffic slowed to around 20 while going around a right hand bend which turned left following the river. My spacing is now 3-4 car lengths from the car that I was following and I was slowing further. There was an accident with a Hog rider crashing and being sent to the hospital and leaving the rescue of his bike to his lady. Of course we didn't know it at the time.
I glanced down to check my mirrors and when I looked back the car in front of me had stopped, The highway patrolman said that she was rubbernecking when she stopped, I am now down to 3 car lengths or less and by the time I reacted and got the binders clamped down I am down to two or less. Oh POO, the last thing I want to do is rear-end this dizzy blond, I am stopping, but am I stopping fast enough...it is going to be close...I push harder on the breaks and I guess I pushed too hard on the rear break for it started coming around to the right, I am about 5 feet from her rear bumper, 4 feet, 3 feet, 2 feet, I might make it...no I won't 1 foot off her bumper and the bike is starting to do the old heave ho for a high side throw.
Now I don't want to be heaved into her rear window so I dropped my bod down on the left side and the bike followed onto the Samsonite luggage and Hannigan fairing. Luck for me the gal driving the car decided to drive on as I was deposited down on the road and Scruffy slid for a couple feet.
You almost made it as the rescue worker came running up.........Yes it was close and the only real damage is to the luggage and fairing, all of it fairly easy to fix, I do have a 50 cent piece sized raspberry on my left elbow. I was asked if I was all right over a dozen times in the next few minuets and I just pointed to the gear and said "yes, that's why I wear all this gear" The hog rider was in T shirt and shorts with one of those micro caps they like so much, the patrolman told me when I asked what kind of gear the other rider was wearing. "He crashed, pointing at the hog laying on it's side, "you didn't" he said.
In 54 years of riding that is my first git off in traffic, it can happen fast. Stay safe and wear all the gear.
V
