Run for the Wall

06/06/2004

Well, I finally went on a Run for the Wall (http://www.rftw.org) ride.  I won't go into the details of what the ride is, the web site does a super job of that.

I traveled along the Central Route starting from Limon, Colorado.  Now, from the beginning this ride, for me, was jinxed.  First, we had a very sick dog - Marbles.  We found a guy dumping Marbles off on the side of the road five years earlier.  We picked her up and was the sweetest dog we've ever had.  She'd been sick for a long time but we only knew of her sickness for about two months.  We were certain that Marbles would get better so I headed out on the ride.  While I was at Pikes Peak Harley-Davidson, Lisa called and told me she was taking Marbles to the emergency room.  I left and we ended up admitting her.  There was nothing we could do until Monday so I headed out for Limon to begin my adventure; Lisa would let me know if I needed to come home.

When I arrived at Limon, dinner had already been served and the bikes had been gassed up already for the next days ride.  I found the KOA and setup my tent.  I set my alarm for 0500 hours and took my shower at night so I wouldn't have to compete with everyone the next day.

While at Pikes Peak HD I met a couple of other folks doing the ride.  You'll see pictures of them along the way.

The next day, I had breakfast with Jason and Ron (it's funny but over the next week faces would become very familiar and even though there was over 400 bikes on Friday, I knew most of the faces (except the new riders).  I made sure my FNG (F...ing New Guy) pin was in place and that I had plenty of water for the days ride. 

I won't go into all the locations we visited, the web site covers that very well.  What I will cover is my experience on this fantastic ride.

We stopped for lunch in Oakley, Kansas.  As we approached the town, riding in pairs with approximately 20-30' between each pair, I was awed by the number of people who waited on overpasses and waved as we passed.  There were veterans from various wars that would be in their uniforms or VFW (Veterans of Foreign Wars) uniforms who would salute as we passed.  As we entered Oakley, the reception was awesome.  It seems the whole town turned out to greet us along the way.  We parked on a street and lunch was provided in one of the local buildings large enough to hold the crowd.  It must be noted that this wasn't store-bought food but hand prepared food.  The men, women and children who prepared it were also serving us.  And there was plenty of water.  It was, in a word, incredible.  It was also emotional.

This event occurred all along our route.  The biggest turnout (that I'd seen) was in Rainelle, West Virginia.  The entire elementary school was closed down and the children were lined up in front as the motorcycles passed in formation.  We then came back and parked on the road alongside the sidewalk in pairs.  Lunch was served in the cafeteria followed by autographs for the children, a ceremony on the field in back of the school (lots of ceremonies during this trip) and then setting up of tents on the field.  I gassed up for the next, fateful, day and parked my bike near the tent. 

Around 2200 hours (give or take 30 minutes, it became rather hectic), we were informed that a major storm with the possibility of tornados, was heading our way.  I immediately dragged my sleeping bag and pad to the gymnasium (it became rather crowded and it was already crowded) and then broke down my tent as quickly as I could and packed my gear.  I then hauled my gear to the gym.  The individual next to me was an EMT (emergency medical technician) whom I would meet again the next day.  After I was settled, I moved my bike to a location that was protected from the wind along three sides and then hoped for the best.

The storm hit and it hit hard.  We could hear it roaring outside and the rain on a metal roof is deafening.  I, however, found that I had setup right under the air vent and water from the storm came pouring down on top of me and my new neighbor.  We laughed at our luck and moved our sleeping bags further away from the wall.  Now, everyone began tripping on our sleeping bags as they went to the restrooms and showers.  Once the storm abated and the water was cleared away, we moved our bags back towards the wall before someone became injured (like us) from everyone tripping on our bags.

When I awoke, I found that my bike was ok.  I packed up my bike and the group headed out.  We started out with occasional rain, temperatures that required me to keep my liner installed in my Darien Aerostitch jacket.  But traveling through West Virginia was fabulous.  To ensure we enjoyed the ride and because of the roads, we traveled in single file after we left the town.

Between 1030 and 1100 hours, is when the accident occurred.  It happened on I-81 near Fishersville, VA.  There were two cars on the right side of the road.  One who was just waiting for us to pass and another driven by a young woman who was impatient to get through us to a lane we weren't occupying.  While everything I relate is not from firsthand knowledge, the results of her actions is firsthand.  She tried to cross in front of the pair of bikes (we were back to riding in pairs) in front of me (remember I said earlier that the distance was 20-30') from the onramp.  There was no way she could possibly make that without causing damage which she did.  I first saw her car as she slammed on her brakes and the tires skidded.  I then saw the two bikes in front of me sliding and they tried to brake.  With only 20-30' between us my reaction time was limited.  So were my options.  I was riding on the outside of the lane (part furthest away from the medium) and couldn't move to the left without hitting the bike next to me.  I couldn't go to the right without hitting the car that caused this whole mess.  So I was forced to go forward and try to maneuver in-between the two bikes.  This actually looked possible until both bikes went down and towards the middle.  I do remember saying to myself, "fuck."  Then I went down.  I also remember my head about to hit full on to a red bike's (later identified as a FLHTC) rear luggage carrier (King TourPak).  I also remember thinking to myself, "fuck."  I hit the carrier rather hard.  Then I was on my back looking up at the sky.  The guy I'd met the night before during the storm was tending to me.  My foot was sore as was my shoulder.  Initially I had a hard time keeping awake.  I suspect that was more shock than actual damage.

The emergency crew cut off my new Darien Aerostitch jacket and liner.  My pants and boots were trashed (on the right side where the ankle hurt).  At the hospital (Augusta Medical Center in Fishersville, VA), x-rays were taken and it was determined that I had a spiral fracture of the right foot.  A temporary cast was put on, plenty of drugs were given for pain and the RFTW pickup crew took me and my bike to Fairfax, VA.  My bike and I were dropped off at Patriot Harley-Davidson by Top and his partner (sadly, I don't remember his partner's name but both were incredibly helpful during this ordeal).  At Patriot, they noticed I was wearing jeans (well, half of my jeans anyway), no shirt and a hospital gown.  They purchased me a new Patriot t-shirt and made me feel at home while they processed my bike.  My son, who was to meet me from Ft. Bragg, NC where he's stationed, was informed of my condition and where I was. 

Jimmy arrived on his bike and looked for a car rental service nearby.  He found one but it had already closed.  Folks from Patriot put me and my gear in their truck and took us to a nearby motel where we stayed until I left for home on Sunday.

The next day, Jimmy rented a car, we shipped my gear back home (the folks at UPS were very helpful), picked up my pain medication and were joined by my daughter, Deanna, from New Jersey.

On Sunday I headed back home.  Monday was a holiday but on Tuesday I went to the Air Force Academy hospital where I underwent surgery to insert a plate and six screws into my foot.  More pain pills.  On Thursday I had to go back when they found that one of the screws was too long.  It was replaced with a shorter screw.  More pain pills.

That brings us up to now.  My mother left yesterday.  Lisa, my wife, left on Tuesday evening for a teaching gig in Texas on Wednesday.  My mother arrived Wednesday morning and took care of me until Saturday; Lisa returned home Sunday night.  The stitches are planned for removal next Friday and I don't know what will happen after that.  My bike is being moved from Patriot HD to Pikes Peak HD.

Now, about the other two riders.  I was the lightest injured of the three.  One went into a coma.  He came out of his coma and has since been released; however, I don't know how extensive the rest of his injuries are.  The other rider suffered a dislocated shoulder and a broken collarbone.  Both have been released as of last Thursday.

You're probably thinking that 400+ bikes is a long time to wait for a driver in a hurry.  Well, actually, no.  You see, the organizers of the RFTW plan large breaks within the pack to allow vehicles to move between the lanes.  Riders also slow down to allow vehicles to pass between the lanes.  Therefore, there was no reason that this accident should have occurred.

I'll heal but my summer is gone.  There will be no riding for me this summer.  I can't drive a car because it's my right foot that's injured.  Maybe I'll be able to drive when a walking cast is fitted.  I can't travel right now to client sites to help them resolve problems.  Approximately $6000.00 of gear is damaged and will need to be replaced.  And I didn't get to complete the run.  Mostly I'm just angry.

Three riders, their families are undergoing changes to their lives and pain.  My wife had to cancel a teaching trip next weekend to be here to take me back-and-forth to appointments.  The young woman who caused all this has no injuries and, I'm sure, is still enjoying her everyday activities.  To her this was a speed bump that over time (maybe a couple of days or weeks) she'll forget.  To us, we have weeks or months of recovery, damages that must be repaired and dealt with, family members who have seen their lives turned upside down, fear and pain that we have and must deal with.  For us it wasn't a speed bump.  Will she learn from this? I hope so but...

Pictures can be seen at My Photo Album

Live to Ride,
Ride to Live