The Old Doc...

Yesterday, I decided to go to work.  This would be my first time back since the accident.  My wife tried to discourage me from returning so soon.  I've been out over a week and feel that I can manage.

I felt fine in the morning, having taken a couple of Motrin pain killers.  By the afternoon, the pain relief was non-existent.  I was beginning to feel the pain throughout the right side of my body, limping a little more and losing some mobility.

Today, I called in sick.  I needed to recuperate a bit and I have an existing doctor's appointment.  This would allow my wife to drive me, instead of me getting behind the wheel again.


After going to see the doctor today, I was told that physical therapy is necessary.  I head to the desk to make a future appointment with the suggested doctor and am told that I will not be able to see him until December 2 at the earliest.  I figure I should be fine by then and would need to cancel said appointment.  I really think I'll be over this by then.  Of course, I thought I'd be fine by now.

On the way home, I picked up my new prescription of pain relievers.  These should be better than the over-the-counter variety I have been taking since I didn't care much for my last prescription.

Anyway, I look forward to going to work again tomorrow.

Ride safe!

Bike Totaled...Totally!

I managed to speak to the service manager at Skip Fordyce Harley-Davidson in Riverside, Ca regarding the repairs of my bike the other day.  I was hoping to have a few improvements made, if possible.  One of them would be the addition of the Road King style freight train headlamp in lieu of the smaller Heritage model.  I figured since the current one was smashed and in need of replacement, I should be able to just fork out the difference and get the upgraded model.  To my dismay, I was told that the bike was in need of over $19K of repairs and would thus be totaled.

I called the Geico agent today and he confirmed that the bike would be totaled.  He would call me back later with a settlement figure.

Looks like I'll be in the market for a new bike when I can muster up the strength to do so.  This of course will be after the pain subsides.

One Week Later...

Well, it's been one whole week since my accident.  I can say that I've healed quite a bit, but if you were observing my methods of getting around and doing ordinary things, you wouldn't believe much has changed.  Today, I'm able to prepare my own shower and dress myself.  These were things the wife had taken care of previously.

I finally get to see how the other half lives, with the wife chauffeuring me around for a change.  I think I'm beginning to enjoy it - her driving still scares the crappolla out of me.

I still suffer from pain throughout my right side of my body.  My back, shoulder, upper arm, ribs, and leg are all giving me some grief.

The one good thing that I have to look forward to is one less pill starting tomorrow night.  That's right.  I'm done with my antibiotics.

My stitches in my leg are scheduled to be removed on Tuesday.  After that, the slow healing process of the remainder of my injuries will commence.

Ride safe.

Accident Update

My friend Donna visited me in the hospital and forwarded the pictures that she had taken of me while in E.R.  Most would say there aren't any pictures that are very flattering of me, but these are definitely not. Fortunately, they aren't pictures of my junk, which was exposed often throughout my stay.  Due to the popularity of Seinfeld, you often hear that cold water causes shrinkage - try extreme pain!  I'm glad those pictures aren't in the mix.


Take a gander below for the aforementioned photos.

I really feel that I'm lucky to have lived through it, let alone leave the scene with nary a broken bone.

Ride safe.

Motorcycle Accident

I was on my way to work Friday morning on my faithful motorcycle. I was cruising along the highway that clings to the side of the mountain as usual. I don't recall moving at a high-rate of speed, but I hit a curve and proceeded to brake. The rear tire locked up. I released and applied the brakes again. Once again, it locked up. I continued over the double yellow lines and into the lane of an oncoming S-10 pickup.

I awoke on the ground, feeling as if it were all a dream. As I gained focus, I noticed several people walking about, one of which appeared to be a Sheriff's Deputy or Highway Patrolman. I was loaded into a vehicle of sorts and once again lost consciousness.

I was taken to Loma Linda Medical Center. Throughout the day, I would be attended to by doctors and nurses. Friends and family would visit. I must have appeared to be a complete mess, dozing off in the middle of conversations and waking at the sound of my own snoring.

It's been over 4 days since the accident and I still haven't regained total control over my body. I had a dislocated hip and torn rotator cuff, in addition to a concussion, bruises, and swelling throughout the right side of my body. I suffer from dizzy spells and pain throughout the day.

The bike looks to be in pretty bad shape. I hope it can be repaired, but it may be in need of replacement.

Here's a couple pics from the local tow yard.

It may be awhile before I can ride again.  Be careful out there.

This Weekend's So Cal Rides and Events

There are a few things happening this weekend that might require my attention.  First, there's the last bike night of the season at Skip Fordyce Harley-Davidson in Riverside this Friday.  Second, Roadhouse Biker Church in San Bernardino is hosting a ride to Oak Glen, followed by a BBQ on Saturday.  Also on Saturday, the 15th annual Run for the Grizzlies will be held in Big Bear, Ca. Westminster Harley-Davidson will be hosting demo days on both Saturday and Sunday. And finally, Skip Fordyce will have a poker run to support one of it's employees who has suffered a stroke.

There were a couple of others that I have missed, but it does look like it's going to be a great weekend with plenty to do in the Inland Empire area of Southern California.  I know that I will attend several of these events.

If you need a break from riding your bike and want to check out some bitchin' cars, you can head to downtown San Bernardino for the annual Route 66 Rendezvous.

Have fun and ride safe.

ABATE 2nd Annual Poker Run

ABATE 27 was gracious enough to host another poker run.  This was their second annual event.

Having been to the inaugural event last year, I kind of knew what to expect - a good time with lots going on.  There were raffles, vendors, bike games, etc.  I only participated in the poker run, raffles, and food intake.

Keeping with my personal tradition, I didn't fare well in the poker run.  I ended up with a pair of fives after nearly succeeding in getting my all-time worst hand.  The raffles, on the other hand, I ended up with more decals for the wife's car.

Grub was provided by the American Legion Post 79 at Fairmount Park in Riverside, CA for a nominal fee.

The poker run was decent, with a few stops scattered around.  No attractive young ladies wearing bikinis this year, though.  Refreshments were provided at each stop.

As with most rides and events, I managed to snap a few pictures.  Here they are for your viewing pleasure.

Rick, Butch, and Kevin at the first poker stop hosted by KCAL 96.7 FM.

John and Marlon comparing poker hands.

The American Legion parking lot

The slow ride contest.

Due to lack of participation for the wienie bite contest, this is what was offered.

As usual, the ABATE 27 members were very hospitable and friendly.  I enjoyed hanging out with them and enjoying the day at the park.

I hope you enjoyed the words and pictures.

Renegade Classic Bike Night in Riverside September 11

Renegade Classic leather shop in Riverside held one of their bike nights tonight. This one had a decent turnout. There were quite a few bikes and bike enthusiasts present.

We purchased a couple pairs of sunglasses that were on sale. We seem to go through them fairly quickly around my house. As a matter of fact, the Mrs. managed to break a pair at the event.

Food was to be had with a donation. This would be in the form of meatball subs, pretzels, and cookies. The kids were pleased.

As usual, there was also a raffle. We fared well at the last one and decided to purchase some tickets again. This occasion was met with empty hands at the end of the night. Oh well. You win some, you lose some as they say.

While there, I got the scoop in the form of a printed advertisement that the store is going to be hosting it's 3rd anniversary party on Oct 23, 2010. The card states that live music (typical of their bike nights) will be present, along with a calendar model contest, a raffle (also typical), food, vendors, and biker carnival games. This would not be one to miss.

A few images of the bikes on hand tonight would be dutifully found below.

Obviously, this one isn't a bike, but it sure is cool and was also present.

5th Annual Kern River Run 2010

The 5th Annual Kern River Run was experienced by my friend Kris, the lovely Mrs. Knight, and yours truly this weekend. We rode up Friday and enjoyed the festivities, including a meal that included one whole hog served on a platter with sides.

The event was free. The only cost, other than the petroleum used to get there, was the cost of the dinner. That was a mere $7. A breakfast of Honey Buns and coffee was also available at no cost.

We arrived and were immediately escorted by one of the females that assisted in organizing the event. She would lead us around the campsite in order to find a temporary spot for our tent - our temporary home. Our initial walk would lead us to find a fully undressed woman on the beach, another half-naked woman in a raft floating nearby, and other topless vixens mingling with other onlookers.

Friday night was a sight to be had. Many, if not all but my lovely wife, chose to bare it all and put on a show. The show included a stripper-style pole tied to a overhanging limb of a tree on the designated "Nude Beach." Things started off fairly tame, but ended up being downright naughty. No one would complain.

After the first night, we had to head home and pick up the kids from our sitter. We would miss the Saturday night shenanigans. I'm told that the Saturday night events would be much more extreme than that of Friday - Friday was shocking as it was.

We did get to do a bit of riding north of Kernville. The area was breathtaking with the river and bountiful supply of trees.

A trip to Kernville was also planned. A brief stop at the Kern River Park allowed us to visit the cool shops and pick up some local brand of cola, candies, and a t-shirt for the wife. We hoped to finally take that rafting trip we had been meaning to do, but, unfortunately, the river was no longer flowing as much as it was during the last few weeks and the shops weren't offering the excursions until next season. Looks like we'll be heading back next summer.

As usual, here's a few photos taken during the weekend (I did get some of the ladies, but want to keep this a family friendly site).


Here's a shot of the river, north of Kernville.

Here's the welcome wagon.  This vehicle belonged to a couple that heads up the run and keeps things organized and entertaining.

Some of the temporary domiciles can be seen below.

I managed to capture a rare image of a few of the drunkards - actually, I kept my limit pretty low.
(Left to Right: Me, Mrs. Knight, and Kris).  One of the other two (hint: not my wife) managed to put away about 14 containers of beer.

With all of the action going on, I had to capture a shot of a beaver.  This one's safe for minors.

This Weekend's Events in So. Cal

There are a couple of interesting events coming up this weekend that I'd like to attend. The first is the 5th Annual Kern River Run. The second is the second annual ABATE 27 Poker Run.

The 5th Annual Kern River Run is an adults only throwback to the ol' biker party days. This one isn't for the faint at heart. There's word of nudity and lawlessness. Careful when following the link. It's not for minors.

The ABATE 27 Poker Run is going to be held at Fairmount Park in Riverside, Ca. This event includes a poker run that I participated in last year and had the fortune of riding with Jimbo from KCAL 96.7 FM. Rumor has it, he'll be participating again this year. The stops were great, with the first one taking place at Cold War Shooters in San Bernardino - a gun shop that had bikini clad young ladies posing for pictures while allowing you to select your card for your hand. Biker games were also held and it was cool to watch.

Looks like a fun weekend to be had.

Roadhouse Biker Church Ride to Cedar Glen Malt Shop

Once again, I was fortunate enough to join the Roadhouse Biker Church for a ride. This time our destination was The Cedar Glen Malt Shop.

We met as usual at the Hideout at 10 a.m. Approximately 30 bikes made their way to the location. Kickstands were up at 10:30 a.m.

The route took us up the 15 freeway. We exited in the Cajon pass in order to take a brief detour along Historic Route 66. We returned to the 15 freeway and exited 138, taking us past Silverwood Lake and into Crestline, where we would stop to pick up additional vehicles for the trip. We proceeded through the town of Crestline, catching a glimpse of Lake Gregory. A short while later, we found ourselves at the Lake Arrowhead Village, the conclusion of our trip.

It's funny, but once again we didn't make it to our original destination. This would lead to some laughable commentary by Pastor Denver during the Saturday night sermon at the Roadhouse Biker Church. Since we had such a large number of people in attendance for the ride, the group was worried that The Cedar Glen Malt Shop wouldn't be able to accommodate all of us. So, we spent the afternoon walking around the Lake Arrowhead Village and consuming tasty ice cream from one of the parlors there.

All in all, it was another awesome trip into the mountains. The cooler weather was enough reason for me to attend the ride and end up in my neck of the woods, so to speak. I enjoyed the ride and the company. It was great and I look forward to the next one.

Here's a few images taken on the trip:

The group gathering at the hideout.

A brief stop to pick up more travelers.

Bill, Owen, and Pastor Denver near the lake.

Pastor Denver, Owen and Butch after a prayer and preparing to head home.