Great day - Bad ending - Good news.

Great day.
My annual Daddy - Daughter ride was this Saturday, September 17. I REALLY enjoy this tradition and the time spent with my daughter Kaybi. It's also fun having friends and family come along with us, Stan and two of his daughters, Christy, and Becky, my daughter-in -law Tiffany brought her dad, Roy, and my grand-daughter Alyssa. Tiffany is heavy with child so she, her dad, and Alyssa rode in a car.

So three bikes, five motorcyclists, and three cage riders set out on a chilly, rain threatening day. The Saturday before, while on another ride I saw a lonely, beckoning, back-country road that seemed anxious for me to ride it. That night I had a dream about that road, so the next day, (last Sunday) Beverly and I returned and followed that lonely road to it's end which happened to be a Utah State Park; Lost Creek. This isn't the first time I've had this experience, here is a poem I penned a few years ago about the same thing;

The Road

I saw a lonely road today, it seemed to call my name.

I've heard that voice a thousand times, it always sounds the same.

It matters not what kind of road it is, street, highway, or dusty ole trail.

They bid the same each one to me; "come see my sights, come on and smell my smells."

They speak with a quiet seductive tone, that pierces straight to my heart.Their siren voice whispers in my ear; "to go round the world you first have to start!"

I gazed down that road,...I heard the call....yet, felt an emptiness deep inside.

For me the choice was made long ago, I have duties from which I can't hide.

I take a long, last look down that lonely road ignore the call turn and go on my way.

But I mark that road on the map in my mind and think, maybe, just maybe, another day.

I chose this route for the Daddy-Daughter ride.

And it WAS a chilly day! We rode up Emigration Canyon, to Hennefer, then on to Croyden where the road to Lost Creek begins. Following it to the State Park, we stopped at the reservior and tried to rub some feeling back into our hands - then we rode the few miles back to Taggart Grill for some wonderful lunch. If you are interested, Taggart has a very excellent Portobello Mushroom burger, with or without the meat patty - get the patty and fries, go in hungry, clean your plate, waddle out fat and happy!

Looking off the patio at Taggarts.

This guy and his girlfriend were hanging out by our table.

During lunch we decided on our route home. Stan has the best knowledge of how to get on our chosen road so he led this part of the ride.

Bad ending.

We were on the East Canyon road, SR 66, when it happened. Stan is a safe rider, and cognizant that his daughters are still learning, so he was leading at or below speed limits on this curvy road, but for reasons still unknown Becky lost control of her bike and ended up in a shallow ditch on the side of the road. She was face up in ankle deep water, she was concious, but hurting! She had bounced and tumbled over boulders and down the embankment into the water.

There is a camp ground a few hundred yards away from the crash site, but other than that we had the area to ourselves. As my daughter ran uphill to get cell service and call 911 I went to Becky to talk to, and try to reassure her. Within seconds (maybe 30 or so..) there were two men behind me, one stated they were medical professionals of some sort (I think he said they were EMTs, but can't be certain) when he said that I immediately stepped back and let them take over. I can't express how relieved I was that someone who knew what they were doing was there to help! As I stepped back I saw that they had their SUV parked on the road to protect the crash site.

Within a couple of minutes three other medical pros were there. They all three were Doctors and had well stocked first aid bags. Becky was in excellent hands! (I believe the bicycle riding Drs were from the east coast, and on vacation here) additionally some people from the campground came with blankets to cover Becky. Surprisingly soon, considering our somewhat remote location, the police, then the ambulance arrived. They all acted competently and Becky was transported to the nearest hospital.

You can see where the path of the bike is, the bike, and the responders working on Becky.

I didn't get the names of any of the Good Samaritans, I wouldn't recognize them if I saw them, but I thank them from the bottom of my heart for the care they so freely gave when needed!

Good news.

Becky will spend the next few days in the hospital. Luckily tests on her head and spine came back as good news. Her wrist was operated on, and her elbow was re-located, and she has numerous bumps and bruises. Her full face helmet is scratched and dinged, her jacket and jeans were cut off at the scene.

Right now I'm certain she doesn't think so, but I saw the entire incident; the mileage marker pole she narrowly missed, the barbed wire fence she came within a couple of feet of grating along, the bowling ball sized boulders she tumbled over and through and having seen all that I think she is very, very lucky. Part of that luck is that she didn't give up on trying to ride the bike, she stayed with it and very nearly regained control..but it was not to be.

As for the Daddy-Daughter ride? It was a lot of fun up to that point. Next year? Probably not.

ps. Just got home from a visiting Becky at the hospital. She is in good spirits and seems to be doing as well as can be expected.

pps. can anyone tell me how to keep the random spaces out of my blog posts? I edit over and over and yet they are still there.