How to Hit a Tree, By ME!
A DC friend on a Triumph Scrambler wanted to go riding one Sunday morning so I obliged. We met around Georgetown then shot up River Rd and through some twisties to the good stuff.
Scenic Monocacy River Bridge
In Frederick.
Cruising up through Catoctin Mtn Park
Just getting lost in WV. My GPS unit was kaputt.
Caledonia State Park, PA and the beautiful lakes
And thebeautiful rules. Do this, don't do that, can't you read the sign!?!?!
Buggy Parking...wherever the hell you please.
Cheerio good chap. I'll take the fish and chips.
Any road with grass in the center is good for me! This is riding up to Bear Valley outside Shippensburg, PA.
Doing his best snowmachine pose.
We have a leisurely ride back, albeit hot, from PA and are cruising along Mt. Nebo Rd when we come to a rise. He is leading quite a ways ahead of me, we are both going about the speed limit (I know I was because I wasn't leading :evil).
This looks like any hill. Very low visibility over the rise so I hug to the right side of the road in case an oncomming trailer or truck is in the center.
OH SHIT!?
This tree had fallen across the road and taken out the telephone lines.
I braked hard nad swerved to miss the tree. My ABS kicked in but the debris and sticks in the road caused the wheels to lock. Either that or these are HIS skid marks before me. I'll never know for sure.
I narrowly missed the tree with my kneecap and my cylinder but caught the edge of the trunk with my right side Jesse pannier which was bent and ripped clean off the bike. I was able to maintain control and pull over. All of my case belongings lay scattered on the road and through the ditch.
The homeowner out front saw the commotion and came out to help. I had already called 911 to report the incident and the tree in the road, was on the phone with my insurance company and had gone back over the hill and moved some brush into the road on the approach to force any oncoming vehicle to slow down before hitting the blind tree (as I did).
He kindly offered to help beat my case back into submission so I could strap her to the bike.
Good old BFH
He was very proud of his Harley. Adrenaline was wearing off and I was very sweaty.
All strapped.
And a final visit to pick up my chatterbox lost in the ditch.
I then proceeded to take the broken and bashed case on a tour through our nation's crapital.
Where, true to form, everything is broken.
Had some delicious Indian food with my buddy from a local carry-out place then beat feet home on 295.
Progressive Insurance wound up agreeing I was not at fault and covered the purchase of brand new Jesse cases and racks. I took up a claim with Montgomery County, MD for the deductible and progressive will attempt to get their expenses covered as this was a county maintained and owned roadway with an unsafe hazard.
I got the new Jesse cases installed last night and head out on my first adventure with them tomorrow afternoon :wings
