A very eventful start to the ride for me. I did my best to give a safety briefing and warn everyone on the rutted muddy roads that we would be heading down, and just over 5 miles into the route I went down and ate a lot of humble pie.
Well we make our way to the sand pit without further incident and while we are watching one of the other groups come through, DANNYROTH’s bike decided it didn’t want to go anymore. Pazzoduc & Texas DR, and Alejo were instrumental in getting him going again.
With that done, it was Pazzoduc’s bikes turn to be difficult. That’s right, after giving up close to 2 hours of his time to warn others to stay left in the sand pit and to help get another bike rolling again, his bike wouldn’t start.
Eventually after Texas DR went on ahead a purchased a set of jumper cables Pazzoduc was back in business. So now with all bikes repaired and running, almost 3 hours since we arrived the sand pit, we are now moving again.
I am in the lead heading down the road with Texas DR & Pazzoduc right on my rear with DANNYROTH riding sweep. We make maybe 3 miles and I no longer see 3 head lights in my mirrors. I pull to the side with Texas DR and we wait a minute or two. When Pazzoduc or DANNYROTH do not show up we turn around. I am now heading back from which we came with Texas DR right behind me. We pass a couple of muddy & sandy sections and still no DANNYROTH or Pazzoduc. I am starting to get a little nervous. Ultimately I round a corner with a bridge right in front of me and I see Pazzoduc’s KTM on the side of the bridge, and Alejo’s chase truck on the bridge…. But I don’t immediately see DANNYROTH or his Bike.
I hop of my bike and sprint up the bridge and I see Pazzoduc securing DANNYROTH’s bike at the extreme edge of the bridge. My heart was clearly in my stomach at this point. I ask where is Danny? Pazzoduc pointed to where Alejo is helping Danny climb out of the brush and fence line. WHAT HAPPENED?
Time stood still as I a put all of this together. It appears that DANNYROTH got his front and rear tires on either side of the runners on this wooden bridge and high sided. When he went down the bike landed on top of his leg on top of the bridge, while the rest of his body, Head/Shoulders/Trunk, were dangling over the side of the bridge. That is a mental picture that will stick with you for some time.
Anyway, DANNYROTH is now dangling upside down over the side of the bridge and eventually falls into the water head first, approximate 12 to 15 feet below. I can only imagine what was going through his mind during all of this.
Alejo is the first to arrive on the scene, which had to be an OMG moment. Think about it. He is driving the chase truck and rounds a corner leading up to the bridge and all he sees is a bike on its side at the edge of the bridge and no rider to be seen.
I am sure he will post up with his take on the whole deal.
So, after Pazzoduc explains to me what went down and I go to meet Alejo & DANNYROTH coming out of the brush, trying to get Danny to tell me that he is alright or otherwise. To my surprise he is all smiles and in an “aw..shucks” demeanor tells us he is really sorry for falling off the bridge. You got to be kidding me right. Stand still and let me check you over (going into Paramedic/Nurse mode now)…
To my amazement Danny appears to be no worse for wear. He has a couple of strawberries on his legs from the bike and bridge but other wise he is checking out ok.
Alejo helps him get out of his wet clothes and into dry clothes, while Pazzoduc, Texas Dr and I load up his bike in the back of the truck.
Eventually we get our composure and head back on the roads. I can only imagine what the phone conversation was like between Danny and his wife while enroute to the lunch spot.
I had a very good laugh at Danny’s expense, you see, one of the other riders had a gear shift get bent earlier this day, and DFW_Warrior was the elected rep to ask Danny for permission to snag his off his bike. Well DFW_Warrior, very politely and in a most elegant manor asked if it was alright. DANNYROTH was contemplating his response, and prior to him saying yes or no, his wife answered for him. “You can take that and any other piece off that ***** bike”.
DANNYROTH. You scared the living daylights out of all of us, but I am so grateful we are able to talk about it now together and even laugh together.
Post up and tell us your side of the story.