Night ride 07/26/08

[dirt dame 559]

I was excited to see such a good turnout for the night ride. When I got to the Four Corners area, people were still arriving and the temperature was still plenty warm. When all were assembled we had 14 riders. Besides myself, there was Spaugh and Brianna, Papaalex, Walker1, Shocknawe, KLRoger, Fakename, Kevin, Crmyers, Sandiegoland, Esefa, Bikeslut and a guy named Ben. There were lots of different sizes and types of bikes along with all different levels of skill amongst the riders.

This year, I brought the KLX300 with me, since it is equipped with a much better headlight on it than last years TE450 and that made a big difference for me while negotiating the shadows and the rocks at night. The lens was cracked and low beam didn't work due to a faulty handlebar switch, but it worked out great.

We decided to string out to cut dust down and head down Kernan. I don't think everybody was clear on the concept of what was supposed to happen next. The easy way group would head down the road to Bear Valley, while the more technical group would go right up the other side of Kernan. We would all meet at the Pine Valley cul de sac. Only KL and myself ended up going the Bear Valley way. Ben took pavement all the way and the rest went up Kernan, except for Bikeslut and Shocknawe. I'm still not to sure where they ended up, but ultimately Shocknawe bowed out of the ride and never arrived at Pine Valley.

KL and I met up with Ben at Pine Valley and waited for the rest of the group to come in. Everybody arrived except Walker1. Spaugh said that he had been right behind him just a few minutes ago, so he hopped on his KTM and went back up Bear Valley road to look for him. A few moments later he returned and announced that Walker had broken his leg! He took Fakename, Sandiegoland and KL back up the road to stay with Walker while we formed a plan of recovery. Kevin shuttled Spaugh in to retrieve Walkers bike. Ben rode right down to the sheriffs station that was just a stones throw away, to report the incident and Brianna was on her cell phone relaying information back and forth from the accident scene which was not far from where we were. A Sheriff SUV, a cruiser, a small fire rescue truck and a big fire truck all arrived. The big truck didn't go in. By now it was almost 8 pm and there was nothing more that any of us could do, so a few of us went down to the burger joint for some food before it closed down for the evening. The rest of the crew stayed put at the cul de sac. Fakename went to get his truck so he could take care of Walkers bike. By the time the dinner crew got back to the cul de sac, a damper had set in on the evening and it wasn't quite so much fun any more. It was also around nine by now and a few people decided to bow out. That left seven of us to continue, which we did. We went up into the Lagunas and split into two groups. Sandiegoland and I went back down Pine Creek road, while Kevin, Papaalex, Crmyers, Spaugh and Brianna went on to Thing Valley road. The night was fairly cool and it appeared as though the entire Laguna Mountain population of mice were hopping around on the blacktop of Pine Creek road as we headed down.

Sandiegoland and I got back to Four Corners at close to 11:30 and loaded up our gear. We met up with Spaugh, Brianna and Papaalex down on Morena Stokes road as they headed up. Kevin and Crmeyers had split off to the casino for some fun and the night ride was pretty much over. The night was beautiful and clear with a zillion stars in the sky. The air smelled wonderful.

Our staging area

at Four Corners

KL following me down a nice trail

Concerned riders wait for the emergency vehicles to show up.

There's one now.

Later in the night somewhere out on the trail....

This rattly snake was in the wrong spot; just a couple miles up the road he would have found all the mousies he could ever eat in his life!

So that was our night ride, not the best in the world. I hope Walker is doing okay this morning and I pray that he will make a speedy recovery. For the rest of the riders; good to see you all, thanks for coming out and joining in. Maybe next time will work out better.

[ozzy 0]

So what happened to bikeslut? Did anyone look for him?

[dirt dame 559]

So what happened to bikeslut? Did anyone look for him?

Bikeslut appeared shortly after it was discovered that Walker1 broke his leg. He came from the direction of Pine Valley, so I would have to conclude that he didn't make his way over Kernan. He was explaining what happened with Shocknawe, but with all the commotion going on about Walker, I forgot what his story was.

I am pretty sure that Sandiegoland had taken a picture of Walker under his bike too. Perhaps he'll post it.

[sandiegoland 0]

After dirt dame and Ben rode off east from the Kernan road crossing, Crmyers and I decided to get a head start on the rocky climb up Kernan to Bear Valley. We waited a bit near the top to look and listen for the rest of the group to start up from the road crossing, then it was onward for us. I figured the fast group would make better time if we got our dust out of the way. I had a pretty good run on both sides of Kernan. The last time I rode the north side I was reluctant to call it a total success. I thought I'd made it through unscathed do to a little too much good luck...

After we did the old head count (as dirt dame mentioned), Spaugh went back to check on Walker1 who had just been behind them, and unfortunately had to report back of the fracture. Spaugh suggested someone (or a few) head back up to stay with him while someone arranged for a way to transport him out so I went up, followed by Fakename and KLRroger.

Walker1 apologized for scuffing up the night ride... I said no matter, it wasn't even dark yet! He seemed unstressed and coherent. The bike was still sitting up above him and before we moved it up and around him I asked if he wanted the scene recorded for prosperity. Sure, why not he said. Who could refuse...

Walker1 relaxing in the backcountry...

Big grin and a thumbs up!

Fakename arriving on scene

A break in the riding, but still a chance for some nice cool temps and some rider chat just the same!

My camera had reset to default when I changed the batteries, so it kept powering on with flash which prevented me from experimenting with some cool night shots. All I could get was these fake ones when we were getting set to get going again.

The ride up to Sunrise Highway was pretty cool. We did choke down some dust, but it was all good!

Thanks for the ride planning and all who showed. It was good to meet and ride with some of you for the first time. I hope Walker1's injuries aren't too severe...

[bikeslut 1]

The relatively uneventful story of Shock n Awe and Bikebut...sic...after Spaugh sorted out some things on shocks ktm, fn and sna went for a short shake-down...after turning down the carb, we were ready to head down sdar trail...I elected to ride sweep...shock and awe was both...he loved our trail...some much that he wanted to do it again...then he got tired of waiting for me, so he ran back up top to ride some more...when I was mountain biking a lot, I used to have an expression..

[bikeslut 1]

The expression: the best rider is the one that has the most fun...glad you had fun Paul...

Walker- assuming you had surgery? That would be one of the reasons not to take aspirin, but I'm sure the pain was significant...you were a trooper...I'm sorry some of the other guys are not as sensitive as I am to a brother in pain... Wait until the leg is healed and the wife settles before you decide anything...

[paulmbowers 236]

I'm sorry some of the other guys are not as sensitive as I am to a brother in pain...

Bikeslut as Mr Empathetic.

Riiiight.

[Crawdaddy 96]

A few moments later he returned and announced that Walker had broken his leg! So that was our night ride, not the best in the world. I hope Walker is doing okay this morning and I pray that he will make a speedy recovery. For the rest of the riders; good to see you all, thanks for coming out and joining in. Maybe next time will work out better.

Walker - Hope you're on the mend ASAP. Keep the wheels down and the chin up!

[bikeslut 1]

Hey wile e coyote- suuuupergenius...mr empathy here...

Any word on gary? I didn't know if you guys exchanged info before he was carted off...

Ozzy- Shucks! Didn't know you cared...

Shock n Awe, let me know next time you want to ride...we'll go out to Lark and have dirtbiking 101, and you can unlearn some of those street biking habits... Also carguy and ride orange have an off roads skills class that may help (come to think of it, it would probably help a lot more that my tutoring...I tend to yell a lot)

[dirt dame 559]

Any word on gary? I didn't know if you guys exchanged info before he was carted off...

Ozzy- Shucks! Didn't know you cared...

His phone number is in members only contact info.

I just talked to him. He's going to have to have surgery and a rod in his leg. He shattered both bones in his lower leg and broke four bones in his foot. He was eating lunch when I talked to him and having the morphine drip. He wants to thank everybody for their help and said that it was a really great ride up till the accident and that he is sorry that it turned the evening into a bummer for everybody. He will probably post something later, as his wife brought him his laptop.

[sandiegoland 0]

His phone number is in members only contact info.

Good point Mimi...

If anyone calls, please update us... and ask if he doesn't mind hearing from the rest of us (or if he needs some rest, etc..) Would love to say hi and give some well wishes... but don't want to have five people waking him at once.

[sandiegoland 0]

Shock n Awe, let me know next time you want to ride...we'll go out to Lark and have dirtbiking 101...

I can always use some more sand practice too... there's few "soft spots" in there if I recall...

[dirt dame 559]

His phone number is in members only contact info.

Good point Mimi...

If anyone calls, please update us... and ask if he doesn't mind hearing from the rest of us (or if he needs some rest, etc..) Would love to say hi and give some well wishes... but don't want to have five people waking him at once.

Check post #10. I edited it after I called him.

[sandiegoland 0]

I just talked to him. He's going to have to have surgery and a rod in his leg. He shattered both bones in his lower leg and broke four bones in his foot. He was eating lunch when I talked to him and having the morphine drip. He wants to thank everybody for their help and said that it was a really great ride up till the accident and that he is sorry that it turned the evening into a bummer for everybody. He will probably post something later, as his wife brought him his laptop.

Thanks Mimi. In hindsight it was good to get his bike away from the scene right away. He was tempted at first to ride it down when we first picked it up.

That breakage is some serious damage!

[paulmbowers 236]

Shock n Awe, let me know next time you want to ride...we'll go out to Lark and have dirtbiking 101, and you can unlearn some of those street biking habits... Also carguy and ride orange have an off roads skills class that may help (come to think of it, it would probably help a lot more that my tutoring...I tend to yell a lot)

I'd be happy to hook you up to a radio and "coach" - at teach you my bad habits.

I don't yell.

Where IS Gary? At UCSD?

fn

PS: Anyone want to buy some DRZ parts? I have everything except the frame, or anything else with a VIN on it. ; )

[dirt dame 559]

Where IS Gary? At UCSD?

fn

I am not sure where he is. He had one health plan for one place but then his wife switched him over to Scripps, but he didn't know about that when he got injured

[ozzy 0]

Hey wile e coyote- suuuupergenius...mr empathy here...

Any word on gary? I didn't know if you guys exchanged info before he was carted off...

Ozzy- Shucks! Didn't know you cared...

Shock n Awe, let me know next time you want to ride...we'll go out to Lark and have dirtbiking 101, and you can unlearn some of those street biking habits... Also carguy and ride orange have an off roads skills class that may help (come to think of it, it would probably help a lot more that my tutoring...I tend to yell a lot)

Ozzy- Shucks! Didn't know you cared...

With Bill going to utah so much lately your the only monday rider I got left

[ShocknAwe 0]

First, let me say thank you to Macgyver for repairing my bike and Bikeslut for holding my hand on an incredibly fun trail. And thanks to all for their patience. I ended up riding the SDAR trail 4 times. I want to ride it again - some real scary spots going downhill and a good mixture of everything. Bikeslut got a work out helping me pick up my bike and a free show for watching me slide around and crash. I guess the free show cancels out his repair and tutoring rate. Thanks Bikeslut. I'm going to change my screen name to Easy Rider until I graduate from dirt bike 101. I owe you and the Macgyver who repaired my bike in a matter of minutes a meal.

Now onto the eventful stuff. I didn't do the night ride because I had plans and just wanted to get my feet wet on my new KTM 400 (once it started). So I load my bike up at 4 Corners early and start talking to some motocross riders. Next thing u know I got the bike off the trailer and am riding the "easy" #2 trail. Well, 95% of it was easy and then there were two sections of boulders (not rocks, these suckers were huge). I couldn't get up either. Well, I probably could have, but it was dark and I was alone. So I backed out and went down another trail. Mind you, I had know idea how close are far anything was. I didnt know if other boulders were lurking behind the next bend. I did, however, know that I was only a few miles hike from the 4 Corners. Eventually I found a few folks camping and they pointed me 3 miles from Four Corners.

The story is that my bike wouldn't start, I wrecked a bunch of times, I called it an early night, went night riding anyway (alone), got stuck twice, had a tremendous workout, found a safer trail after wrestling my bike out of dirt and rocks for 20 minutes, and made it to Four Corners. Only stars lit the sky - perfect temperature - and it was time to strip out of those sweaty clothes and let mother nature have its water back. Once done, I ran into Usefi off road - literally. I missed his skid off the road by 30 seconds. It was a very eventful and adenturous night.

Then I rode Amago track this am. I have to pay attention to work for a couple of weeks, but will be ready for another ride soon thereafter.

Thanks again and take care (especially Walker1)

[Spaugh 1]

Gary hope you have a speedy recovery. You took it like a man. Next time you break 6 bones, don't ask to get back on the bike, its a bad idea.

I guess I better change my screen name to macgyver . SocknAwe you ought to get another fuse in place of the spare you are now running on. That spare is there for a reason. Do some homework and get acquainted with your machine. It likes its valves to be adjusted occasionally. It doesn't like to be treated like a toaster...

Nice riding with everyone. Thanks mimi and steve for leading the way into the night. I got got back to 4 corners about 1AM and shared a few cold ones with Alex and made it safely home (Briana is the designated driver) by 2AM.

I'd like to do it again before summer is over. Maybe a night ride through anza borrego with hondapilot present??

[Chief Gunner 2]

I'm sorry I missed this one! We will have to get together for another soon!

I'm also sorry to hear about your incident Walker, I've been there and it hurts like hell! I broke my right Tibia on a ride in Novemeber of '07 after washing out the front wheel in 3rd hauling ass up Nate Harrison...

After reading the write up about what happened and after my own experience I felt that I must pass this on to you, even if they mentioned it in the ER.

As a friend and a member of this fine group of people I feel that I should pass this on to you.....

Please be Careful with your injury, my broken Tibia ended up being a "Bone Marrow Edema" and it caused a blood clot to happen (Deep Vein Thrombosis) that could have killed me.

Thankfully they put me on blood thinners (Lovenex and Coumidin blood thinners for 6 months) to prevent a PE (Pulmanary Edema) which is what happens when a clot breaks free from an extremity and passes through the heart and clogs the passages in the lungs.

I am no doctor but you need to know that DVT's are the single #1 silent killer ! (Many heart attack victims are actually DVT victims ).

Monitor your injury closely! If it feels cool to the touch and aches up to or past your knee with excessive swelling and numbness in your toes get to an emergency room ASAP!

I know it hurts like hell but you have got to keep the blood flowing, do not elevate it too much without wiggling your toes and swinging your leg a bit to keep the blood flowing.

Good luck, heal fast and get back on the bike and I'll see you on a ride soon!

[RogerTOWM 0]

Gary, I hope you are doing alright. Please take care of your recovery. Chief Gunner had some good points. I’m sorry I didn’t do better with holding your leg while we moved you. Guess I was scared of hurting you so I didn’t support it enough. You were a real trooper the whole time…even if you wouldn’t share any of your morphine in the ambulance. What hospital did you finally get to? Let Fake Name sell those tires and let’s buy some knobbies for the next time. I just don’t have any confidence in deathwings for the dirt.

One good thing came out of this. We found out how sensitive Bike Slut is! Wasn’t he the one asking Gary if he could spare some extra morphine?

Anyway Gary let us know if there is anything we can do for you and if you would like visitors.

[Guest crmyers]

Gary, you are a stud , the sense of humour while rolling around on the ground broken was great. Make sure you get x-rays to share. Also don't be stupid like I have been ,take all the pain medication, being in more pain while being stoic is only good in the movies. Also to respond about the bike parts for sale they will not fit my Honda but is a certain helmet with a light thingy , mohawk deal for sale? Chin up Gary just think with a rod in there it will be harder to break next time, oh and are your vacation tickets for sale too? Hey rest and recoup. See Ya. Charlie.

[Ride-Orange 2]

Wishing you a speedy recovery Walker1, sorry I missed the whole experience.

I'd like to do it again before summer is over. Maybe a night ride through anza borrego with hondapilot present??

These are a few of my favorite things (AB & HP)...

Hopefully the mighty 525 will be ready to roll by the time y'all set-up the next one.

[Guest Numbskull]

Walker1/Gary Sorry to hear about your setback. I am just now weaning myself off the crutches so your welcome to borrow my wheelchair as long as you need. call me and I can drive it over. One device that helped me keep the swelling down was the Polar Ice Machine (ask your doctor) If you need help don't hesitate to call me. Michael 619 850 2742

[paulmbowers 236]

It's a bit frightening when part of the SDAR conversations include the borrowing of orthopedic devices.

Phone call:

Hey, Skeeter? Who's got the traction sling checked out today? Anyone seen the heart lung machine? Will you call him and see if he's done with it? I got 50 crutches in inventory, and none of them match!