July 4th Eve Ride

[BigAl]

This ride started the way a lot of rides around here started, but ended very differently.

Call a few friends up and agree to meet at a certain time and go to a certain place.

You see one of the riders that started is in the hospital.

Hit a truck on State Hwy 116(The Devils Triangle) in Petros Tennessee.

Yes hit a truck not the other way around, spun out in a sharp turn and glanced the front wheel and nailed the back wheel of the truck.

It was surreal, as I was about 20 feet behind him and managed to stop well short of the accident. Estimated speed 40mph.

Truck unharmed, bike scraped only, but rider has a broken ankle for sure, road rash, back spasms, and many bruises.

But will ride again.

He is wearing the orange T-Shirt and riding the XR-400 Honda.

He was also wearing a full face helmet and heavy hunting boots,, gloves, but not his usual armored jacket that is vented.



We made it albeit two riders short, with the guy who was driving the Truck being a Paramedic, he helped my buddy out and we got him a ride to

 a cool spot. it was 95 on the side of the road,

to a friends house, then called his wife , who when arrived told him he should be in the hospital, and immediately transferred him to said Hospital.

The ride contiued and got at least two more shots.




Tequitos Mexicanos

[hubcapsc]

Howdy Al... sorry your buddy got hurt, hope nothing else turns up hurt...

-Mike

[BigAl]

Just got a call Mike and looks like it's not as bad as I was thinking it was.

His ankle is in fact not broken. Thanks Lord.

Here is your bike at the same spot we were today.





Take note of Mike (HUBCAP SC), he is stopping at a stop sign, feet down, wearing good safe apparel, my Buddy wishes he had that jacket

that Mike is wearing, as a part of his riding gear , during that episode he encountered on The Devil's Triangle.

[Smokinjoe-VRCCDS#0005]

Who crashed Al ?  Do I know him ?   The bike does'nt ring any bells and I can't make out the face in the picture  ???

[BigAl]

You know him.

Jerry G. R. O. S. S.

He bought a used bike so he could Keep Up with Lamb.

XR400 and it's a Kick Start Model.

Thumper Heaven today.

KLR650 has it's uses.

I was close enough to look at him right in the eyes as he thought he was gone from this world.

Scarry  stuff.

Thank God he is all right. But banged up badly. Will be 100% in time.



AL

[Smokinjoe-VRCCDS#0005]

You know him.

Jerry G. R. O. S. S.

He bought a used bike so he could Keep Up with Lamb.

XR400 and it's a Kick Start Model.

Thumper Heaven today.

KLR650 has it's uses.

I was close enough to look at him right in the eyes as he thought he was gone from this world.

Scarry  stuff.

Thank God he is all right. But banged up badly. Will be 100% in time.



AL

Yep I know him I've not seen him in several years....Good to hear he'll recover....Thanks for the ride report Al 

[Big IV]

Glad to hear your friend and riding buddy is doing well, and better than you immediately expected, unfortunately bad road happens. Thanks for sharing.

My July 4th Eve ride was to the Snake. My wife recommended it yesterday. So, this morning we headed up Hwy 321 through Boone, then up 421 into Shady Valley for lunch. Polish dogs and onion rings. Then on toward Bristol so we could see the lake. We took a side trip down to Holsten Dam, a TVA dam. Then back up and down and around 421 to Shady Valley again. We took 91 south to Elizabethton. Why isn't that road named? We took 19E to 194 to 221 to 181 into Morganton which has fast wide curves. It was a fun day.  

We didn't have a big group. It was just my wife and I today. I can't think of a better way to spend a Sunday afternoon.

Where did everyone else ride on July 4th Eve?

[Highbinder]

Sorry to hear about your friend Al, I hope he has a speedy recovery....all of the gear all of the time, is a good motto, even when its hotter then hell....

We rode of to Mingo County, W.Va. yesterday, thats where all the coal miner wars were...I remember Joe asking one time if we thought if american troops would fire on american citizens, just ask those miners...they opened up on them with machine guns in order to protect the owners of the mines from the unions...question answered...from there we rode over to Ky. stopping in Pikeville for some supper and then back home....today we rode Va. 16 grapped a late dinner outside of Marion and then rode home...just got in from town, we went down to see the local fireworks display....have fun tomorrow and we'll see ya down the road...