Today is Thursday....these are the words I hoped I would never hear in my journey...it was just a small part of the last few days, but perhaps the most significant part of the journey to date, that important that I had to let you know first..
The words went something like this..." Sir, stay on the floor, please don't move..the ambulance is on its way..can you tell me where you hurt ? Can you move your hands...don't try and move your head ...!
These were the words I heard over and over in my mind, as I lay sprawled across the highway, laying first on my stomach, then trying to move out of the oncoming traffic, flipping myself over with all my strength but finding it almost impossible to move..it took all my strength and determination just to get on my back, but I could not get up..I lay there waiting for what seemed like an eternity, as rescuers, both ordinary heroes and paramedics were quickly to the scene...thank you Travis..today you came to my rescue...
Today was the day that I had in the back of my mind, a day of dread and fear, it was the fear of every cyclist, the day you get hit by a car....for me, the irony of the matter was I had just crossed the state line from Tennessee back into my home State of Virginia..I was home, literally I was now cycling into my home State. Having entered into Bristol, Virginia cycling through the town, with moderate bouts of rain for the past hour, I was elated to have crossed into my Home state, and then it happened...
As I approached a railroad track that cut through the main street, I slowed down to take it with caution, I moved to align my front wheel with the track so as not to be going across the track at an angle...a car came right past me to my left, forcing me to move sharply to the right....why ..why did you not slow down, why were you overtaking me on a crossing, why did you not give me the respect as a cyclist on the road and give me the room..if I had been a car you would have given me the room....but no..you decided to run me off the road by clipping my foot sending me spinning through air....don't you know you could have killed me with your stupiditity?
There I lay on my back, my crumpled bike lay 15 feet away from me, I could only think I needed to get out the road before oncoming trucks hit me...I put my hand up...I knew I was not dead...I knew I could move..the gesture prompted the response..." Are you sure..man, you were hit hard, your head bounced off the road, your body was was twitching for at least 10 seconds..we should wait till the ambulance gets here..."
"I am okay ..will you help me up..." Travis held my hand in friendship and compassion..and pulled me to my feet....
I was okay...three people had called the paramedics and police..after seeing me being knocked flying ...the ambulance had arrived, I was in shock and taken to ambulance to be checked over...
My hips, my back and my neck were all hurting, my shins were cut, my face was bruised..I had a huge muscle knot on my calf..but I could walk, and talk and converse freely as I was being checked over...the paramedics wanted to take me to the hospital...I probably made a mistake by not going...but I insisted that I knew I was going to be fine I just needed to wash up, and calm down.
My blood pressure was taken my vital signs were normal, there was no sign of concussion even with a bouncing head on the road...The paramedics reluctantly let me go after hearing the story of me twitching and being semi-comotose for a minute..." man..he was just bounced all over the road, and his body was in spasms and he was just laying there, unable to move...."
Thank you to the driver whoever you were for writing the tag number of the driver, that was quick thinking, Thank you for the police officer first on the scene who calmed me down and soothed me, thank you to the paramedics who cleaned me up and made sure I was still working...and thank you Travis for consoling me and helping me to my feet...
My bike did not fair as well as me, the handlebars were destroyed, crumpled, completely bent around...I was distraught even more..Chris and my father in law were just pulling up to the scene of the accident having been informed and seeing the ambulance and police sirens, they were expecting the worst and hoping for the best...My bike, my bike...its all I could think of, my trusted Cannondale that had brought me 2500 miles was in a bad way...
I absolutely know I had my guardian Angel on my shoulder today...not only did he save me from serious injury...people had commented, " How did you get away with only a few scratches " Literally after skidding and tumbling across the road, I walked away with no blood being lost...But I crashed within walking distance of the biggest Bike shop in Bristol ..repairs were at hand..
After I finished giving the police officer all the information about the incident, he informed me that one of the gentleman who helped me was also a police officer, just not on duty...and had witnessed the whole scene..he informed me of the bad news that the driver had stopped, looked at me..got back into his car and drove off...
Can you believe that...he assured me, that after having the information from the witnesses on the scene, they had enough information to serve a warrant and charge this person with a felony for hit and run with injuries....
I don't know what upset me more, my bike being crumpled or hearing that that the man who hit me was a much elderly gentleman...I could only think of my own father..
We went to the bike store, Mountain Sports in Bristol to have emergency repairs done..two hours later with a new set of handlebars, grips, and makeover my Warhorse Bike was ready for another shakedown...
It had given me time to settle my nerves and gain my disposition..I was jovial and pragmatic about the incident, what was done was done..I just had to thank my lucky stars I was not more seriously injured...even though I was in pain, I had to get this ride finished and I was so close to the finishing line...
The loss of over three hours in cycling time had seriously dented my abilty to get the required mileage today...but having managed to get back onto the bike and cycled into the dusky sunshine and warmth of the retreating sun, I was still able to get 90 miles riding today.
Now let me briefly tell you about yesterday...yesterday was a welcome home from my family in Greenville TN. Greenville is where my brother in law, Bill and sister in law live, Sharon (not forgetting my nephews Blake & Mitch!)...right off Old Lee Highway or as it is in TN State road 11 ...it was exactly as the guys at Cookeville said it was going to be, hard steep and grueling...Ohhh and to think I have driven it hundreds of times and never noticed how much it went up and down...it was a ride and a half...but it was a pleasant day and there was a reward at the end of it, I was getting to see my extended family for a few hours, take a bath and sleep in a big bed for one night....
We packed up early Thursday morning, for this last leg of the journey. My father in law was joining Chris and I for the leg up to DC...my father in law brought with him some of the most delicious home baked walnut cookies...I was able to eat them throughout the day whilst riding..they were much tastier than the protein bars I have been used to...
In ending my log for tonight we have now covered 2532 in 28 days...we have just over 330 miles to go and three days left...
Tomorrow I have to find out how my body feels, I am on pain killers now, there is no doubt that I have hurt my back neck and hips...the adrenaline was keeping the pain away for most of the day, but now that I am relaxed and sitting in the RV everything is beginning to stiffen up...
I at least learned today that a) there are stupid people on the road...b) I have a hard head, c) I am lucky...and finally d) someone really wants me to finish this ride....
Got to go for now ..see ya'll tomorrow fingers crossed...
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Posted by: enurirueben | June 23, 2011 at 04:02 AM