Niblik (![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small} niblik) wrote,@ 2008-07-19 01:59:00 |
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WE ALL LIVED!
A friend of mine and myself went motorcycle riding tonight. Him and his wife were on his bike leading the way and I was in "staggered" formation behind them to the right. A staggered riding formation of motorcycles is done in one lane -- as two motorcycles can fit in one lane. The staggering is a means so that both motorcycles are not side by side.
This is a practice we have done several times. Tonight, we went down to Galveston. Our intention was ride some (Galveston is about 40 miles from Houston) and go to a restaurant and watch ocean while chit-chatting. Galveston is also on the Gulf of Mexico -- the immediate beaches at Galveston are not the prettiets, head south along the ocean highway over the toll bridge and the good beaches can be found. All the tourist areas (restaurants/etc) are located in Galveston, though. Traffic along the "sea wall" is a four lane road with a middle turn lane. We were heading to a place that would be on the left, so we are on the inside of our side of the two lane. My friend closest to the center and I was on the outside (staggered) of that inner lane.
A GSXR (suzuki motorcycle) pulls up alongside me in the far lane out. No problem. Friendly enough guy. I notice he was cruising the "sea wall" (sea wall is a term used in Galveston because the road that runs along the ocean is on a cement reinforced wall and above the ocean -- the wall was built to reduce damage from any storm surge). I see that Mr. GSXR ("gixxer") is showing off because his left hand is not on his handle bar (clutch = left hand). Usually the clutch hand stays near/on the clutch (without engaging the clutch) during traffic (or engaging the clutch a lot for shifting a lot as stops/slows happen). My mind goes, "yep, he's down here posing"
Now, the Sea wall offers parking for the beach in the form of parallel parking. There is also a nice extra wide sidewalk (bikes, roller bladers, even bicicyle carts).
Thus, on one side, the tourist stuff exists. Two lanes. One middle turn lane. Two more lanes. Parallel parking. Large sidewalk. Drop off to sand. Ocean (Gulf of Mexico).
From out of nowhere, a ("black" ?) white pickup truck jumps off of the sidewalk, through a blank space in parallel parking, right into the GSXR.
I got to watch as the GSXR sort of explode in front of me leaving debris on the road.
The truck was driving so recklessly, it pulled out of that gap directly into an oncoming traffic lane -- and went the wrong way down that lane. Yep, he was going the wrong way. BAM, he slammmed right into the back of that GSXR.
The GSXR was thrown sideways at my friend's bike. My friend manages the recovery. Him and his wife go down but at a slower rate. The GSXR ends up being under my friends motorcycle. His motorcycle's oil pan was ruptured -- at the least.
Now the puzzling part. I should have rolled straight on top of that GSXR as it was thrown into our lane from an angle. Then it should have thrown a few pieces of itself at my friend and his wife.
My friend suffered a gash in his leg - he went for stitches. His wife, unharmed. Me, unharmed.
My motorcycle took no damage. I rode over only one small bit of debris (if that).
The truck took off and kept on going.
The adrenalin is wearing off, finally. I keep almost falling asleep while attempting to write this. I did just half-doze for a few moments. I will post this and re-read it tomorrow to see how it sounds.
The important things:
We all lived!
My friend had to have stitches in his leg. His wife was uninjured. His bike died from an oil leak (all the oil drained out pretty fast - not pretty).
I lived, no bike damage.
The GSXR rider lived -- his bike was "disintegrated". He suffered a bad gash would on his knee. His arm and hand were torn up pretty good. He probably had a mild concussion. But, he was conscious and aware -- even trying to sit up.
The truck was running from another accident it had had -- by riding on the side walk.
The driver of the truck was found -- he crashed the truch into his house because he was trying to park around bakc and hide it.
A friend of mine and myself went motorcycle riding tonight. Him and his wife were on his bike leading the way and I was in "staggered" formation behind them to the right. A staggered riding formation of motorcycles is done in one lane -- as two motorcycles can fit in one lane. The staggering is a means so that both motorcycles are not side by side.
This is a practice we have done several times. Tonight, we went down to Galveston. Our intention was ride some (Galveston is about 40 miles from Houston) and go to a restaurant and watch ocean while chit-chatting. Galveston is also on the Gulf of Mexico -- the immediate beaches at Galveston are not the prettiets, head south along the ocean highway over the toll bridge and the good beaches can be found. All the tourist areas (restaurants/etc) are located in Galveston, though. Traffic along the "sea wall" is a four lane road with a middle turn lane. We were heading to a place that would be on the left, so we are on the inside of our side of the two lane. My friend closest to the center and I was on the outside (staggered) of that inner lane.
A GSXR (suzuki motorcycle) pulls up alongside me in the far lane out. No problem. Friendly enough guy. I notice he was cruising the "sea wall" (sea wall is a term used in Galveston because the road that runs along the ocean is on a cement reinforced wall and above the ocean -- the wall was built to reduce damage from any storm surge). I see that Mr. GSXR ("gixxer") is showing off because his left hand is not on his handle bar (clutch = left hand). Usually the clutch hand stays near/on the clutch (without engaging the clutch) during traffic (or engaging the clutch a lot for shifting a lot as stops/slows happen). My mind goes, "yep, he's down here posing"
Now, the Sea wall offers parking for the beach in the form of parallel parking. There is also a nice extra wide sidewalk (bikes, roller bladers, even bicicyle carts).
Thus, on one side, the tourist stuff exists. Two lanes. One middle turn lane. Two more lanes. Parallel parking. Large sidewalk. Drop off to sand. Ocean (Gulf of Mexico).
From out of nowhere, a ("black" ?) white pickup truck jumps off of the sidewalk, through a blank space in parallel parking, right into the GSXR.
I got to watch as the GSXR sort of explode in front of me leaving debris on the road.
The truck was driving so recklessly, it pulled out of that gap directly into an oncoming traffic lane -- and went the wrong way down that lane. Yep, he was going the wrong way. BAM, he slammmed right into the back of that GSXR.
The GSXR was thrown sideways at my friend's bike. My friend manages the recovery. Him and his wife go down but at a slower rate. The GSXR ends up being under my friends motorcycle. His motorcycle's oil pan was ruptured -- at the least.
Now the puzzling part. I should have rolled straight on top of that GSXR as it was thrown into our lane from an angle. Then it should have thrown a few pieces of itself at my friend and his wife.
My friend suffered a gash in his leg - he went for stitches. His wife, unharmed. Me, unharmed.
My motorcycle took no damage. I rode over only one small bit of debris (if that).
The truck took off and kept on going.
The adrenalin is wearing off, finally. I keep almost falling asleep while attempting to write this. I did just half-doze for a few moments. I will post this and re-read it tomorrow to see how it sounds.
The important things:
We all lived!
My friend had to have stitches in his leg. His wife was uninjured. His bike died from an oil leak (all the oil drained out pretty fast - not pretty).
I lived, no bike damage.
The GSXR rider lived -- his bike was "disintegrated". He suffered a bad gash would on his knee. His arm and hand were torn up pretty good. He probably had a mild concussion. But, he was conscious and aware -- even trying to sit up.
The truck was running from another accident it had had -- by riding on the side walk.
The driver of the truck was found -- he crashed the truch into his house because he was trying to park around bakc and hide it.
