Susan Wins

I cannot say that after 7000 miles of primarily street riding I would take to the dirt. Susan has with passion and I have been both excited for her and fearing for her safety. Well, that fear was nudged along today.

After yesterdays magical tour past the Roosevelt Dam, down the aboriginal path of the Apache Trail which is now a 1.5 lane dirt road, we sent Charlie off with margaritas last night thinking we had done it all. Nope.

Today, Susan and headed into the National Patagonia Forest. Right around Parker Canyon Lake a pickup truck pulling a big ass trailer rounded a 10 mph turn then headed into the next sharp curve right into our path. I had pulled over quickly anticipating the tight fit. Unfortunately, Susan was hard pressed for road surface, pulled far to the right, struck a sharp decline into the ditch and landed just off her bike, which fell at a sharp angle into the muddy embankment. It was all very dramatic and I was very angry at the camping couples crappy curving. We managed to lift the 400 lb. bike from it's 45 degree tilt into it's red mud bath and set it straight up on the road. A bit more effort and we pushed it out of any other oncoming trailers. Deciding to return to Tucson, rather than continue our southward drive to the border of Mexico, we stopped at Sparkle Car Wash and I turned the high pressure hose first on Susan's F650 GS Twin and then on her. Standing in the stall wearing her riding gear I worked the mud right out of her textile suit. Susan is a bit banged up and needs to see her chiropractor. The bike now sports a new right mirror and many fresh scratches. Just like scars, motorcycle scratches are stories to be told.

The bikes are now loaded and we head tomorrow to Castaic, CA. Our class starts late Friday, Thursday calls for sun and we hope to explore the area bright and early Thursday a.m.