Headed back home, we came by a small country store in a curve- we always have to watch the vehicles  here. I guess maybe there’s a blind spot, or folks aren’t expecting bikes to come around. Anyway, a Jeep pulled out in front of us, just as we’re getting to the store. Instead of making some acknowledgment that they’d pulled out in front of us, and trying  to make sure we were safe, they just kept on coming out into our lane at their own little pace.

I normally have a surge of fear kick in- will we be able to stop or swerve around them, or will we end up sitting in their backseats?  I geared down, then started blowing my horn at them; I’m not sure how effective that was, since my horn sounds like the Road Runner on the cartoons – beep-beep, beep-beep.  It apparently meant nothing to the driver of the Jeep because they just kept trucking along their merry way.

As I said, normally a healthy fear kicks in to make sure I’m taking care of business, but this time righteous anger rose up, and I could feel the dragon wings on my shoulder blades trying to break through my t-shirt and denim vest as I leaned forward.  My horns were trying their best to push my helmet off.  I geared back up and instead of settling in beside Randy, I kept speeding up. I could almost feel myself and my bike lifting into the air as I prepared to breathe fire on the Jeep and it’s driver.

After a few minutes, though, I remembered who I was, and slowed down enough to fall in beside Randy. Of course, the rest of the ride home was spent in repentant prayer- after all, it’s not up to me to spew flaming daggers at drivers who won’t pay attention to what’s going on around them…

Note to self: make sure my newly acquired dragon is seated correctly on rear seat before the next ride.

At one stop on our way home, I must have stepped in some gum. It stuck right at the ball of my left foot and I didn’t notice it until we were on our way. By then, it was warm enough to stick my boot to my floorboard, which was very aggravating while trying to change gears. I could move my foot, but it was more of an effort than usual.
Since we were still in the foothills, we were going up and down hills, and around curves. I know I should have stopped as soon as I realized how much trouble it was giving me, but I decided to just wait until we stopped either for gas or a rest break, but I didn’t. That was my first mistake.
As we rode along, we gradually fell in line behind several vehicles. Since the road was only a two-lane local road, we didn’t get a chance to pass them, so we were going along about 50 mph or so. That ended up being a blessing. As we were riding along, meeting bikes and waving, (and me still worrying with the gum on my boot) the first vehicle in line needed to turn left, so they had to stop for oncoming traffic.
Since I was distracted by the gum (and the bikers we were meeting) I didnt’ start braking quite quickly enough. When I did, I got on the brakes too hard – my back tire was squealing and it started sliding around to the right. The road conditions didn’t help- it was a local road that had lots of tar poured on top of breaks and cracks, which made it more slippery.
I let off a bit, which stopped the sideways slide, but I was still too close to the car ahead of me, so I had to get right back on the brakes; I did finally get it stopped without going into the other lane, which still had traffic in it. If I’d laid the bike down, it would have gone under the SUV in front of us, or into the oncoming traffic, which was still mostly bikers. I’d hate to think I caused other bikers to go down because of my being distracted.
I’ve talked it over with Randy- we were pretty much riding axle to axle so I wasn’t going too fast; I just didn’t start braking the second I should have- only a second or two, but that’s all it took…
I’m still not sure if I ended up using the front brake as well; if I did, it was God helping me do it, because I didn’t jerk it. I do know at one point I was thinking ‘did I let off the gas’ but I knew I wasn’t because the engine wasn’t racing- guess you have crazy thoughts go through your head at times like that.
We couldn’t pull over immediately because of the road and traffic conditions, which was even harder for me- I wanted to stop and lay down and cry right there. But believe me, I stopped at the very next spot I could find and got the goop off my boot and the floorboard. I also was super-careful not to follow too close until I could take care of it.
I will not make that mistake again- I’ll check my boots just like I check my tires, and if I notice something that feels ‘off’ I’ll stop as soon as I can, to correct it.
I know the good Lord was right there with me, because I didn’t panic, I got the bike stopped without laying it down, I didn’t immediately faint from fear, and I didn’t throw up all over my bike when it was over. (and oh, did I want to).
I’m just thankful I had some help to get the bike stopped, and I didn’t hurt anyone else. I’m also thankful the folks behind us slowed up and gave me plenty of room – they could see I needed some space and they gave it to me.
I’ve learned several lessons on this trip, but this was by far the most important.