This last year was one for the record books. False start on a Mayan Apocalypse,re-election of a president, and the fact that I almost died a few hours before New Years Eve of 2013. This isn't a small article on a close call someone else had, but my very own. Let me lead you through the gravel,broken glass, and slightly bruised soul to the beginning... All I ask Is just a moment in your day...
I ride a 1981 Honda Magna v750, no windshield, and a couple thousand miles deep. At around 5pm I was riding through the countryside of my little town to go to a little party my cousin was having to celebrate the end of 2012 and the beginning of what was suppose to be a good start to 2013.
The road out towards his house is quite curvy and leads through alfalfa fields. This road is like a vein leading to the heart of which is my town, so its quite active. As I came around to a bend in the road that leads over a set of railroad tracks in disrepair I was alive. My bike was purring at 40mph and the wind was soothing against my face ( Through the vents of my full face helmet ).
What I did not account for was that the tracks and the road in front of me dipped far lower then the side I was facing. Now this road after the tracks bends into a curve to the left. As I hit the tracks the bike was allowed to leap into the air due to the dip on the other side. I was unprepared for the next sensation, The bike landed hard and so did I. As I tried to regain control I became a testament to what many others have faced with what is called speed wobbles. ( Speed wobble is when the front of the bike,handlebars, and tire, begin to shake uncontrollably ) I was about to be bucked off my metal steed.
I had no chance to bail from the bike, It tipped sideways hard and slammed me into the road taking my breath, cracking the visor of my helmet, and bashed and broke my headlight immediately sending shards everywhere. As I hit the road this thousand pound bike gripped this riders leg and was dragging him through on coming traffic for over 50ft. My metal steed was bent on taking me with it moaning against the road giving off sparks and parts. I had enough time to look up and see a car and truck less than 15ft from me and coming right into me...
It was at this moment I knew there was nothing I could do,the bike would not set me free. So I closed my eyes, said my goodbyes, and made my peace. To know you have no control over your fate, and to know you will never be able to do the things you should have done. The people you should have loved, and those you shouldn't have let go. The friends you will never know, the future lovers you will never kiss. This.. however was not to be... and I have 2 drivers to thank for that. The screeching sound of brakes and smell of burning rubber as well as the sound of vehicles hitting dirt and brush made my eyes take in the light again.
These drivers barreled screeching around me, a truck into the fields to my right and a car that braked into the other lane and somehow drifted around me as this bike dragged me off the road and into the brush itself as it came to a stop. It was during the burning sensation of the bikes muffler against my leg trapped under the bike that let me know I was still alive. Its amazing to see how people band together quickly to help another. Here I sit with a hot bike crushing and burning away at me, when I see people run into the field after me and a neighbor down the road running to me to lift this bike off me. The rest for the most part is history....
Here I sit now, with the whole left side of my body bruised,bandaged,cut, with my leg missing patches of skin and a long burn mark across my calf, but I am grateful. I am grateful to see the sun shining through the window, the taste and smell of the air. and knowing that 4 days ago I had made my peace to never see this year. I would not be here now in 2013 if it wasn't for the quick reactions of 2 drivers who risked themselves and there own vehicles to avoid hitting this 25 year old guy.
So this is how my New Year is going. This is my 2013, and I look forward to what the future will bring, because there will be one...
Thank you for whoever is reading this, and I hope you have a better year than mine has been.
Feel free to comment and write back =)
