What a great vacation!!

[DrBob]

Well, I am back in Atlanta after a great trip. i actually got back last week, but have been too busy to post...

Went from Atlanta to Paducah, KY, for the Intruder Owners Club fall gathering at the Executive Inn Riverfront Convention Center. Three days of riding, drinking, and general mayhem. We rode in Missouri, and down in the Land Between the Lakes in helmet-free Kentucky. I led a small group ride, and unfortunately we were going 85+ when we crested a hill and ran smack into a federal marshal in the national forest...he pulled out and was content to only pull over the last guy in line while the rest of us waited a few miles down the road. Sorry, Ray! You took one for the team- 85 in a 50, manditory court appearance...more later on poor Ray! I also met a young lady named Wayna from the convention center, who hooked me up with two tickets and 'all access' backstage passes for the Willy Nelson show in December...her way of making sure I'd be back

Then it was a long day of travel, up Illinois, across Indiana and Ohio to just past Pittsburg, PA. 784 miles in one day...but it seemed shorter, as I hooked up with a couple guys for the last 400 miles of it, and we sure did have fun! You just meet the nicest people on a cross-country motorcycle trip: made some new friends, and even had one wonderful old woman give me a hug and lead her church group in prayer for my safe trip when I stopped for lunch in a small Illinois town...

After visiting in PA, it was across the state to NY, CT, MA and up to Vermont. Wonderful country, with the mountains and turning leaves. Saw mom and dad in New Hampshire for a couple days, then rode across that state to hit Maine, and headed down the East coast, hitting New York City, New Jersey, Deleware, Maryland, DC, and Virginia.
Then I got a phone call...Ray had gotten home safe from paducah, but was sitting in his driveway waiting to ride after work when a young lady dropped her sunglasses, leaned over to pick them off the passenger floor, ran off the road and hit him. Hard. Very, very hard. Went into cartiac arrest three times, had to be flown to University of Kentucky Hospital. He was on life support for three days, broke his neck in two places, broke his arm in 12 places, and basically broke every bone on the left side of his body from his cheek bone to his toes. He is alive and concious with no signs of spinal cord injury, and in good spirits, but they had to take off his leg.
So I rode across Virginia and West Virginia to get to lexington KY and see him and his wife Tammy. After a couple days there it was back to Atlanta last Monday.
But I didn't stay long...went back up to see Ray Friday night (he is doing absolutely great, and will be home in about three weeks), came back Saturday, led a ride to NC and the dragon Sunday.
So in 20 days I hit 21 states, turned about 5000 miles on my Intruder 800, and generally had a great time! This weekend I'm off to Savannah to lead an overnight for the Southern Cruisers...

Pray for Ray!

[Louis]

Oh welcome back

[Freakinout]

Sounds like a great trip (except for ray)

We need pics now.

[DrBob]

ahhh...pics! Coming soon- must get down tomorrow and have them developed...

[sparrow]

He was on life support for three days, broke his neck in two places, broke his arm in 12 places, and basically broke every bone on the left side of his body from his cheek bone to his toes. He is alive and concious with no signs of spinal cord injury, and in good spirits, but they had to take off his leg.

Man, I don't think I've ever heard of something so tragic happening to someone sitting in their driveway. That's nuts! I mean how fast was the car traveling that hit him? I would assume this was a residential area. But to lose your leg over something like this, that would be tough to accept. Glad to hear he's in good spirits though, he must have one heck of a positive attitude.

The trip sounds awesome. I imagine it took some serious planning to put something like that together. Cheers on a good ride!

-Sparrow

[TL chris]

We're pulling for you Ray!!

[Louis]

I admit to not having read your post completely the first time.

Best thoughts to Ray. That's really sad. Hope he pulls out okay from thir terrible ordeal.

[Poosey]

Gald you had fun DrBOB!!!

Lexington huh? You were only 25 miles North from me, Glad you made it safe!

[B_Wayne]

Originally Posted by Louis

I admit to not having read your post completely the first time.

Best thoughts to Ray. That's really sad. Hope he pulls out okay from thir terrible ordeal.

That really sucks for Ray...no more rides for him. Lets just hope that he comes through this ok. My best wishes for a speedy recovery.

[SuzukiGirl1]

Wow...That's really sad about your friend. It's good to hear that he's doing okay.

I can't imagine losing a limb...it makes my stomach hurt!

[LayinLo]

Tell Ray he's in our prayers. We definitely will be pulling for him to make an amazing recovery. Keep us posted?



Glad you had a good trip.

[tlwisner]

That sounds like a good trip, except for Ray who sounds like his luck has become very thin. I'm glad to hear he's going to pull through but sickened at how negligently people drive. That person who maimed and almost killed Ray will probably see less punishment that Ray will for his speeding ticket. Something smells bad in that scene...

[DrBob]

Originally Posted by Poosey

Gald you had fun DrBOB!!!

Lexington huh? You were only 25 miles North from me, Glad you made it safe!

No kidding? I'll post in advance next time I go to see Ray, and maybe we cab get together for a beer.

[DrBob]

Originally Posted by sparrow

Man, I don't think I've ever heard of something so tragic happening to someone sitting in their driveway. That's nuts! I mean how fast was the car traveling that hit him? I would assume this was a residential area. But to lose your leg over something like this, that would be tough to accept. Glad to hear he's in good spirits though, he must have one heck of a positive attitude.

The trip sounds awesome. I imagine it took some serious planning to put something like that together. Cheers on a good ride!

-Sparrow

Ray lives off a state road, not a subdivision, so she was going about 50. She still had her head under the dash when she struck him, so she never saw him and never touched the brakes. Ray's mom lives next door and heard the "bang!", so she ran outside and wa the first one on ethe scene. The rescue station was only a couple miles away, and the helecopter was able to land in the street right next to him, which is the only reason he lived.
A kind-hearted nieghbor quickly ran around and got everyone's garden hoses, and washed the blood and other bodily reminants off the driveway so that when Ray's kids wouldn;t see it.
He is doing better and better everyday. his wonderful wife Tammy, his mother, and his faith in the Almighty are his support.

As for me, I had a wonderful trip. As for the serious planning...I really put the whole thing together on the fly as I went, calling my folks and my friend in Pittsburg a day or two before I showed up to see if they would be around. The best vacation to me has no firm itinerary, just me, my bike, and a debit card. Sometimes I bring a map. This time I didn't.

[DrBob]

Originally Posted by SuzukiGirl1

Wow...That's really sad about your friend. It's good to hear that he's doing okay.

I can't imagine losing a limb...it makes my stomach hurt!

Yup, that would be quite a blow to me too. But he has a good attitude, and pointed out something to me I had not thought of: you use your arms and hands for everything, but only use your leg to walk (and you can do that with e fake leg), so if he had to loose one at least it was the leg. He and I are already designing a hand shifter with a hydraulic clutch on it so he can ride a 1500LC with the prosthesis.

[LayinLo]

Originally Posted by DrBob

He and I are already designing a hand shifter with a hydraulic clutch on it so he can ride a 1500LC with the prosthesis.

That sounds real interesting. Pics?