An E-Ticket Ride
Ten years ago while riding in Alaska, I crashed my bike outside Beaver Creek on a wet, WOODEN bridge coming from Fairbanks. My friend and I had been riding through many days of rain in Canada and Alaska, as well as crossing many a bridge on our trip. We woke one morning to wet roads but no rain...what a nice change! So off we went heading toward Haines at about 65mph, I was in the lead, when I came upon a(nother) bridge. I slowed to 55, and it was then I noticed a small-hand written sign attached to the bridge itself that said, "Caution, wooden bridge slippery when wet." Well, I kept my throttle steady, wondering in the back of my mind, "who would still have a wooden bridge on a main highway." And I almost made it, but the back end came around, thankfully just as I came to the other side, and that's when bike and I separated. Bike tumbled down a grassy ditch, I slid down the middle of the highway on it's wet surface.
As my friend slowed and rode by me, he was looking down at a hysterical fool, as I was laughing my ass off inside my helmet, thankful I was unhurt, and, well enjoying the adventure of it all. I got up with nary a scuff on my jacket, my bike however was fairly trashed. The irony of the story, was eventually a vehicle came by with a man who not only helped us get the bike back up on the road, but told us that he was the highway maintenance official for this section of road. He was the author of the sign, and let me know that I was the 12th motorcycle to crash on that bridge....THAT MONTH!
With tape, glue, and wire we repaired my bike and I was able to continue our trip, all the way back home to my home in Albuquerque. While I could blame other things, it was my arrogance and/or inattentive-ness that caused me to crash. Motorcycling, like flying is terribly unforgiving of any carelessness on it's operators part. But what a fun adventure.....
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28-Jan-2012, 02:45 PM (865)
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