BullCBX
Well-known member
Man where to start. Such a nice weekend here in north GA and was really looking forward to some riding with some local friend. Friday after work we all met up in Ellijay at a friend’s cabin and were using it as our base of operation for the weekend. Saturday morning we’re loaded up and headed out for a full day. Up thru Blue Ridge, Copper Hill, Ducktown, then down to Ocoee Lake. A quick turn north on Hwy 30 to head toward Tellico Plains then disaster struck. We were following behind a small car for the first portion of 30 and when we came to the first “curve” we’re running about 20-25. Take this first LH curve and make it about half way thru it and the front tire decides it doesn’t like the grip it has on the road and decides to move a little farther to the outside. I feel this and tried to stay with it, but once we touched the outside strip, it was all over. Down we went. Luckily, the TN DOT had recently worked on this curve and added some width to the shoulder before dropping the grade down to the creek and both the bike and I stayed up on the shoulder. Not going fast, I assumed I’d get up, collect the parts and pieces from the bike and we’d continue on our way. It was then I looked down at my hand and realized this was going to be a long day. Somehow my glove was gone on my RH, and the whole back of my hand was bleeding. After the initial shock, I realized the skin from the back of my hand was laying over my fingers and something had peeled my hand like an orange. Keeping a cool head, I had a riding companion give me a towel out of my tank bag and got my hand wrapped up to try and stem some of the bleeding. After wondering around in semi-shock, I fond my missing glove impaled on the wind shield framne on the left hand side of the bike. I have no idea how my right hand got on that side of the bike but it appears when the shield snapped off, the frame caught my glove right at the wrist and we went separate way. Anyway, spent a lovely day in Cleveland TN in the ER and was given 43 stitches in the back of my hand. I have to say there are a lot of great people up that way, and a special thanks to the older couple on a HD who stopped and provided some first aid supplies. My riding partners were great in that they were able to get the bike over to the hospital for me and even rode back over that evening when I was released and loaded in my truck for me. Its friends like that that makes riding so special. The first insurance estimate seemed kinda high, so I’m keeping my fingers crossed (even though they are sore) that they don’t try and total my ride.