About 25 years ago I dozed off while coming back from the Kentucky Derby on my Goldwing. Had worked all day Friday, tried to sleep after work but was too geeked and headed out at 2 am.
Arrived about 8:30 am Saturday, partied with friends at the Derby while sipping 2 or 3 mint julips throughout the day then turned around to ride home around 7 pm Saturday evening.
On the expressway several hours later I awoke with a start thanks to a couple honking thier car horn in the adjacent lane.
Thought jeez I need to get off this thing and stretch, started to do just that. Stopped just as I was about to step off thanks to more honking and the sudden wind blast as I cleared the shield. I had already swung a leg over and was standing on the left side footpeg while the right foot was going for the pavement whizzing by at 80 mph !
Thats when I really woke up , climbed back in the saddle shaking while my brain screamed a stream of run- together-expletives at myself. Wide awake now , I immediately pulled off for the next rest stop.
Couple in the car followed me in, said they had watched me nod out for the previous 10 miles or so and would honk until my helmet popped upright only to see me nod off again within a few miles.
I consider myself very lucky, try that crap nowadays and many would just crank up the video camera to catch the action.
This came back to me last night on the way home from Reno. Saw a sign on the llinois tollway mentioning legal alcohol limit is .08% and thought wow, I don't have my limit ! Then I remembered, hmm yes I got my limit alright ...
