A Bad Blue-ridge Parkway Ride.

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senecahome

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This is a dictated post by my son.

A Bad Blue-ridge Parkway Ride.

Hey guys this is a difficult post but thought you might want to know.

Saturday April 27 I was on a group ride headed North on the Blueridge parkway in VA. At milepost 101 on a sweeping right hand turn I continued straight across the southbound lane and left the parkway going down the mountain side. Since I remember nothing I assume I blacked out for a while. The rider in front of me luckily saw me in his mirrors when I went off the road and was able to get EMS onsite within 15 min.

To retrieve the bike they had to use a large 60 ton rotating wrecker with a boom and spool out over 150ft of cable to be able to hook up.

Fortunately where I exited the road the park service had done some clear cutting down the hillside and I apparently missed any large stumps. EMS spent about an hour pulling me off the mountainside then flew me to Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital where I've been recovering in the Intensive Care Unit.

Injuries include torn colon, fractured sternum, scapula, clavicle, ribs, spine and abdominal trauma. Fortunately the spine injuries are treatable with PT but they had to remove approximately 3/4 of the colon.

Bike injuries... totaled. My son is working with insurance to hopefully get access to the bike. If he's able to we hope to get the bike back and there will likely be a parts list posted later.

Looks like I'll be stuck here another week or two maybe more.

Glen
(this is cross posted on other forums)
 
This is a dictated post by my son.

A Bad Blue-ridge Parkway Ride.

Hey guys this is a difficult post but thought you might want to know.

Saturday April 27 I was on a group ride headed North on the Blueridge parkway in VA. At milepost 101 on a sweeping right hand turn I continued straight across the southbound lane and left the parkway going down the mountain side. Since I remember nothing I assume I blacked out for a while. The rider in front of me luckily saw me in his mirrors when I went off the road and was able to get EMS onsite within 15 min.

To retrieve the bike they had to use a large 60 ton rotating wrecker with a boom and spool out over 150ft of cable to be able to hook up.

Fortunately where I exited the road the park service had done some clear cutting down the hillside and I apparently missed any large stumps. EMS spent about an hour pulling me off the mountainside then flew me to Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital where I've been recovering in the Intensive Care Unit.

Injuries include torn colon, fractured sternum, scapula, clavicle, ribs, spine and abdominal trauma. Fortunately the spine injuries are treatable with PT but they had to remove approximately 3/4 of the colon.

Bike injuries... totaled. My son is working with insurance to hopefully get access to the bike. If he's able to we hope to get the bike back and there will likely be a parts list posted later.

Looks like I'll be stuck here another week or two maybe more.

Glen
(this is cross posted on other forums)
I am praying for your recovery. Please keep us updated.
 
This is a dictated post by my son.

A Bad Blue-ridge Parkway Ride.

Hey guys this is a difficult post but thought you might want to know.

Saturday April 27 I was on a group ride headed North on the Blueridge parkway in VA. At milepost 101 on a sweeping right hand turn I continued straight across the southbound lane and left the parkway going down the mountain side. Since I remember nothing I assume I blacked out for a while. The rider in front of me luckily saw me in his mirrors when I went off the road and was able to get EMS onsite within 15 min.

To retrieve the bike they had to use a large 60 ton rotating wrecker with a boom and spool out over 150ft of cable to be able to hook up.

Fortunately where I exited the road the park service had done some clear cutting down the hillside and I apparently missed any large stumps. EMS spent about an hour pulling me off the mountainside then flew me to Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital where I've been recovering in the Intensive Care Unit.

Injuries include torn colon, fractured sternum, scapula, clavicle, ribs, spine and abdominal trauma. Fortunately the spine injuries are treatable with PT but they had to remove approximately 3/4 of the colon.

Bike injuries... totaled. My son is working with insurance to hopefully get access to the bike. If he's able to we hope to get the bike back and there will likely be a parts list posted later.

Looks like I'll be stuck here another week or two maybe more.

Glen
(this is cross posted on other forums)
Sorry to hear about your misfortune. Here's hoping for a speedy recovery for you.
 
Wishing you a speedy recovery! Don't try too hard to remember - it may come back over time or it may never come back. A friend of mine was in a major motorcycle crash last summer and he still doesn't remember a thing. He remembers riding down the highway then waking up in hospital.
 
My thoughts go out to you Glen.
Sounds like you took a real bashing from your injury list.
The bike is not important at present, just get your body and mind back on track to fitness again.
Best wishes, John (UK)
 
Last edited:
Wow. I hope you heal well and overcome any recovery hurdles quickly. These events give pause to reflect on how precious life is.
 
A Bad Blue-ridge Parkway Ride.

Hey guys this is a difficult post but thought you might want to know.
Wow…. Glen, though not as extensively, I was seriously injured from a MC crash just eight months ago. Now, I’m doing great and planning my next adventure and so will you! At the time it felt life changing, but now it’s more like just a bad dream.
Hang in there!
 
Thank goodness for modern medicine. I was also in a terrible crash and recovered to live a normal life. The nurse's advice: keep a "POSITIVE ATTITUDE" that alone, makes a huge difference. (More difficult than it sounds) Wishing you a speedy recovery.

Pete-o
 
This is a dictated post by my son.

A Bad Blue-ridge Parkway Ride.

Hey guys this is a difficult post but thought you might want to know.

Saturday April 27 I was on a group ride headed North on the Blueridge parkway in VA. At milepost 101 on a sweeping right hand turn I continued straight across the southbound lane and left the parkway going down the mountain side. Since I remember nothing I assume I blacked out for a while. The rider in front of me luckily saw me in his mirrors when I went off the road and was able to get EMS onsite within 15 min.

To retrieve the bike they had to use a large 60 ton rotating wrecker with a boom and spool out over 150ft of cable to be able to hook up.

Fortunately where I exited the road the park service had done some clear cutting down the hillside and I apparently missed any large stumps. EMS spent about an hour pulling me off the mountainside then flew me to Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital where I've been recovering in the Intensive Care Unit.

Injuries include torn colon, fractured sternum, scapula, clavicle, ribs, spine and abdominal trauma. Fortunately the spine injuries are treatable with PT but they had to remove approximately 3/4 of the colon.

Bike injuries... totaled. My son is working with insurance to hopefully get access to the bike. If he's able to we hope to get the bike back and there will likely be a parts list posted later.

Looks like I'll be stuck here another week or two maybe more.

Glen
(this is cross posted on other forums)
An update.
Grateful thanks to all of you who prayed, sent caring thoughts, and other support. After 45 days in the hospital, I have now been home for 2 weeks. Home health is coming here so hopefully the therapies have me on a good track. Fortunately my extremities are OK so walking is possible. Main issues right now are endurance, a fistula that is draining, and only about 50% use of right arm. Hopefully all will improve with time. I greatly appreciate your continued thoughts and prayers. -Glen
 
An update.
Grateful thanks to all of you who prayed, sent caring thoughts, and other support. After 45 days in the hospital, I have now been home for 2 weeks. Home health is coming here so hopefully the therapies have me on a good track. Fortunately my extremities are OK so walking is possible. Main issues right now are endurance, a fistula that is draining, and only about 50% use of right arm. Hopefully all will improve with time. I greatly appreciate your continued thoughts and prayers. -Glen
Great to hear! It is going to be a long road back. Please keep in tough and let us know about your continuing progress. I expect it is far too soon to consider whether this is the end of your riding. I know I would have a difficult time getting back on, even if there were no long-term physical issues.

Good luck with your recovery. (45 days is a LONG time in hospital!)
 
Hi guys. Sorry it's been so long is posting...just haven't been checking the forum. I got home June 13. And I am making progress but it is slow. I can now walk 1 mile at a time, so legs are pretty good. The fistula on my belly is still draining - but very little - so really not an issue. I still don't have full use of my right arm. Had a nerve conduction study last Friday but don't know the results. Also doing outpatient physical therapy so hopefully the arm will improve in time. I'm told that nerve damage takes a long time to heal, so I just need to be patient and do the exercises.
Really appreciate your concern.
 

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