The Return

[extrememarine]

I have realized that I have not done a very good job of keeping up on this site since our accident back in September. In the spirit of the forum, Google it. Many who play in the other sandbox have followed along, but this is where it all started for me & the addiction to the FJR. Although it's been a long road, Annette and I have managed to make it through this challenging time in our life due to the support of our extended family found right here. There are no better people than those you will find in the FJR community.

Through the support of our friends (family doesn't want us to ride any more for some odd reason…), I have returned to riding. Although the miles won't be many this year, there will be miles. That, in & of it's self is nothing short of a miracle in our eyes. Annette has been the bottomless well of support and encouragement in my return to riding. The 2009 FJR in the garage is proof positive of that. I so look forward to road ahead, being involved in the community, paying it forward.

As the miles slowly accumulate, the confidence is returning, the pain diminishing, and the pegs will pay….

Ride Hard or Stay Home. Just Ride…

 

[.paul]

Glad to hear you're doing better.

Congrats on teh new scootercycle.

*CHEERS!*

 

[winewhisperer]

I have realized that I have not done a very good job of keeping up on this site since our accident back in September. In the spirit of the forum, Google it. Many who play in the other sandbox have followed along, but this is where it all started for me & the addiction to the FJR. Although it's been a long road, Annette and I have managed to make it through this challenging time in our life due to the support of our extended family found right here. There are no better people than those you will find in the FJR community.
Through the support of our friends (family doesn't want us to ride any more for some odd reason…), I have returned to riding. Although the miles won't be many this year, there will be miles. That, in & of it's self is nothing short of a miracle in our eyes. Annette has been the bottomless well of support and encouragement in my return to riding. The 2009 FJR in the garage is proof positive of that. I so look forward to road ahead, being involved in the community, paying it forward.

As the miles slowly accumulate, the confidence is returning, the pain diminishing, and the pegs will pay….

[SIZE=36pt]Ride Hard or Stay Home.[/SIZE]

I have never met the two of you, but I did follow the posts after the accident occurred during last years EOM. Let me be the first to welcome you back, and wish the both of you only the best in all future FJR excursions.

Gary Green

 

[Niehart]

I would just like to say "Yahoo!" Good for your mind, bad for the pegs...

 

[DailyCommuter]

Right back on the iron horse. Attaboy! My wife with her arms folded stood above my hospital bed after I crashed my SV; smiling and says, "so what kind of bike are you going to get now?" Our SO's must be cut from the same cloth. that's good stuff.

 

[Tyler]

Welcome back. Take it slow... it's not the number of miles but the number of smiles that count. Wishing you the shiny side up from here on out! :clapping:

 

[fjrboomer]

What the two of you have been through and met head on is a fantastic example for the rest of us. Whatever our trials may be in life we will always be able to look at the example you and Annette have set. You are wise to take it slow on putting on the miles to insure you are both fully recovered and ready for some more spirited riding. Take care and both of you stay safe.

 

[jimefjr]

Welcome back : ) I know how hard it is to quit riding...I figured after major surgery for cancer in July'08 I would quit riding after 44 years in the saddle...I sold a brand new BMW RT thinking I was never going to ride again...the catheter came out of my bladder and I was off to the dealer : ) and I pray I will ride many many more years. Have fun!

 

[NSrider]

Glad to see you back and riding. I think the only way my pegs will look like that is if I was to crash.

 

[C&C]

Glad you're both on the mend and welcome back to the fold, however, perhaps the "ride hard or stay home" statement should be directed to the racetrack. (I know, Ill shut up now)

 

[old&slow]

GREAT to hear that you & wife are doing well !!!! :clapping:

We've never met , but I've been reading your posts and progress...

GOOD LUCK & Take Care ,, Dan <<<<<

 

[wheatonFJR]

Welcome back Wayne and Annette! :clapping:

 

[Vermonta]

Hard thing to get out of your blood once you've ridden I know I tried for quite a few years and then came back to it worse than I was before I quit.

Congrats on the come back but by the looks of the pegs you haven't lost much :yahoo: :yahoo:

 

[just roy]

i know i will take abuse for this but remember, Annette was a victim of your aggressive riding. keep the thrill seeking to solo riding. welcome back jarhead.

 

[Niehart]

Roy, when ya get a minute, pull your head out of your ass!

 

[black cherry]

Did Roy say something wrong?

 

[extrememarine]

i know i will take abuse for this but remember, Annette was a victim of your aggressive riding. keep the thrill seeking to solo riding. welcome back jarhead.

Everyone is entitled to voice thier opinion. I would offer the following;

Yes, I do ride hard / aggressive / spirited at times. Those who have ridden with me know that. Jim & Iris were in tow on one such "spirited" ride on Northbound US219 last year. I think they would agree that it was not "thrill seeking", but a product of experience and training. I ride at a pace that is my pace for that moment in time, based on my experience, my training, my comfort level, my interputation of the road conditions, etc. If this is considered aggresive by some, so be it. To others, it might be just fine. Do I alway ride the same pace? No. That is why I have 2 bikes. For days that I want to just cruise, I've got a Harley. When I want to "lean in it", I fire up the FJR.

Do I ride hard with a passenger? At times, yes. Annette has always had the squelch control, we ride at a pace that she is comfortable at. That, at times, has been quite aggressive. She understands, and accepts the risk. She has tapped out before, she has also said, "Is that all you got?".

However, my wingman that day, the bike that was 30 seconds behind, would confirm that our pace that day was not of the aggressive nature. Charlie (red diver) and I enjoy both days with spirited paces and those with a "stop and smell the roses" pace. 22 September was a "smell the roses" pace day on a non-technical road were distraction got the better of me.

Yes, Annette was a victim that day. And I will have to live with that the rest of my life. That is something that I don't wish on anyone. Annette is the reason we have a new bike. Trust me, while laying in Roanoke, I had plenty of time to think on consiquences of my actions. Injuring my wife, almost leaving my 3 kids without a father, etc. At more than one point, motorcycling was done in my life. At every turn, it has been Annette who has encouraged me to at least try. Why? I still can't answer that question. Will I ever have the confidence in my abilities on the bike at the same level again? Only time will tell. Will I ever be comfortable with a passenger again? I can not answer that at this point.

I do appreciate your opinion.

Wayne

 

[just roy]

Wayne and everyone else i posted this for. i posted this on the assumption that friends will say things even if they may hurt a little but are for good reason. i would be the last one to complain about aggressive driving but i have seen a lot of passengers scarred, crippled or dead because of pilot behavior. a good riding friend is paralyzed from the chest down and his EX fiancée is paralyzed from the waist down after an accident where he admits she asked him to slow down. their relationship is over and he can't even bring himself to talk to her because of the guilt he feels. i try very hard to ride safely with my wife on board. but find when the road gets twisty that i still have to remind myself that she is making this risk to be with me and i should use extra caution to ensure she doesn't have to pay for it. so i took it upon myself to remind you like i remind myself to respect your pillion. I'm happy to see that like a good Marine Wayne has bounced back and hasn't lost the zeal for riding that makes us all love the FJR. but even better that as a damn good Marine wife Annette has come back right alongside.(prolly a little in the lead)

i also think we should have a little fundraiser to help Annette get her gear so they will have no excuse to not come to EOM this year. i will donate half of the money i receive for my stem sockets. i have shipped one so far and have another ten almost done. so who else wants to help out?

 

[Greg E.]

Did Roy say something wrong?

Nope!!