Moose/Bike meet on highway

[Hook#3287]

https://www.wwlp.com/news/local-news/berkshire-county/motorcyclist-dies-after-striking-moose-on-route-7-in-great-barrington/

Sad.   Young rider out at night, terrible outcome.

One reason I try to not be out in dark.

While moose sightings are rare in Southern New England, they are much more prevalent then 30-40 years ago.

Huge beasts you want to admire from afar.

[Jersey mike]

Must have been a perfect collision to kill the moose on impact unless it was a young moose. Must of been like riding into a brick wall. 

[Jess from VA]

Riding in the dark is out for me.  Eyesight and deer.

But also I avoid early AM and evenings when deer are known to be moving.

My daily riding takes me though a lot of nice twisty 2-lane with the woods on both sides right on the edges.

I've had deer in the middle of the road in daylight.  I stop dead and yell at him, and he just stands and looks at me.  Rev it up and launch (a little) at him and he takes off.  After that, you never stop looking.

[old2soon]

    Sad really.  I've visited Alaska twice in the 70s Winter and Summer. My FIL told me to be Especially Watchful fer them big critters. You hit a moose with a cage or a pickup it WILL end up in yer lap with some nasty after consequences!  I don't do near as much night Ridin or night Drivin anymore as the ol night vision ain't what it used ta wuz.  That young man wil now Never Know the pure joy of RIDING cuz ya can. Rest in Peace BRO!  RIDE SAFE.

[Moonshot_1]

No longer a fan of night riding. Had some close calls. Even the little critters like racoons can wreak havoc.

But my deer story, not mine but a story. Years ago, back in 2009, I was the ride captain of a PGR mission here in NW Iowa. A town called Hartley. This was a KIA Mission so we had a number of RCs come up from the Des Moines area and they stayed at a hotel in Spencer Iowa, about 15 miles east of Hartley. One of the RCs was named Digger. (Digger passed away last month) So anyway, after the visitation at Hartley, Digger and the Des Moines crew headed back to Spencer for the night.

On the way, about half way there, an oncoming car's headlights blinded Digger and as they passed in the night a deer suddenly appeared out of nowhere. Digger hits the deer. Cuts the deer in half. He doesn't crash, stays on the bike and they continue to Spencer.

Diggers got a full dressed Harley. They come back to Hartley the next day for the funeral and Digger's Harley is duct taped together. Lots and Lots of duct tape holding all the plastics together and blood too. It apparently didn't seem so bad at night but in the light of day they were amazed at the damage.

They took pictures that morning of the split deer on their way back to Hartley. Almost defied physics.

He told about how the oncoming lights blinded him, as they do, and never had a chance to even react and just cut right through the deer.

So now, I get the hebe jebies at night when an oncoming car comes towards me. Hate that.

[Jess from VA]

He told about how the oncoming lights blinded him, as they do, and never had a chance to even react and just cut right through the deer.

So now, I get the hebe jebies at night when an oncoming car comes towards me. Hate that.

Heck of a story Moonie.

Yeah, my old eyes hate all bright light, day (full sun) and night.  Wind too.  It's shades and visors for me.

[scooperhsd]

I almost never step outside in daylight without having my prescription sunglasses on anymore, at least if I can help it. My "theme song" is Corey Hart's  "I wear my sunglasses at night" - I'm not quite that .... bad, but it it's close. After my prescription gets things in focus (20/200 uncorrected for me), I have really great night vision, not quite to NVG, but not bad.

Years ago, I noticed that sunglasses (especially polarized) helps greatly in fog.