The day of my crash will live in infamy. If not in my memory. I do remember being very excited to be pedaling my butt over the loveliest mountain countryside road on the home stretch in the North coast of Spain!
Thems The Brakes Kid
The weather was cooperating with crisp clean air filling my lungs as I had the words of a trail hiker in the White Mountains of New Hampshire ringing in my ears.
Today seems like a great day to push yourself to see how far you can go. I remember dragging ass that day thinking I could not make the peak. He must have read my mind but that one sentence was all it took to put some pep back in my step.
The same was true that day in New Hampshire and this day in Spain! I felt unstoppable and unfortunately it turned out to be true! ALMOST.
The Harder They Come
My rear brake pad was non existant and I was controlling my rapid descent with only a wing and a prayer and a front brake pad that was heating up the front aluminum rim so much it was warped.
I saw the road signs for Palamos and knew I could ride wide on the banks of the curves and only needed ten more kilometers to sit and eat my lunch.
Things were going great until the last bend and I was skidding on the sand covered highway. I remembered my training to brake on the straight way heading into the turn and set your line but I was picking up too much speed!
The last thing I remember is tapping the brake and thinking, I got it, I got it, I got it! Then feeling the bicyle slip out from beneath me and the rock wall heading my way with terrific centrifugal force!
The Harder They Fall
I woke up in the Emergency Room with blood soaking my clothes and the hospital staff yelling at me and pointing.
What do you mean you do not have a phone?!? You need a phone!!! I felt like Donald Sutherland in Invasion of the Body Snatchers except it was Invasion of the Brain Snatchers. I have met too many people recently who tell me their phone got them through college. (ChatGPT did their homework) I realize they struggle with simple concepts and basic math skills.
I was in extreme pain and did some <a href=”pages/deep_abdominal_breathing_meditation.php”>deep abdominal breathing exercises</a> to allow my body to go into healing state and brain to release some acetylcholine, dopamine and endorphins while the nurses attempted to throw some sutures in my skull.
One nurse left the room and left the other nurse to do the job. Assisted by yours truly. She was shaking so hard she could not hold the line and had ask me to put my finger on the stitch while she tied the knot in seven sutures.
Does God Take American Express?
I wish to thank the police, ambulance and medical staff and the two dudes from France who first found me after the crash as I needed medical attention fast! Thank you
Contrary to popular belief, I was not hot dogging it down the mountain; I just could not get my brakes fixed due to TD Bank randomly silencing my debit card due to losing my phone. I was feeling safe and did not notice the front rim warping more and more as the day grew longer. Still I am happy to be alive and kicking it old school now on the coast of France!
Please Remember To Live Your Dream Today
Bicycling Europe was my dream 30 years ago and I thank tha lawd awmighty i kin still do it today! I am greedy for my next breath and I understand life is precious and if you catch me complaining about something that does not add up to a hill of beans in the Grand Scheme of things. Please remind me to close my mouth and open my eyes so I can see the beauty all around me!
Remind me I am really living the dream and I never want to wake up! in turn I will remind you to start living your dream today! If you are waking up to the same BS, different day; Ask yourSelf how long do you want to be in the BS business? Do you know what I am saying?
The Only Thing You Need To Change Your Life Is To Change Your Life
Continuing the journey into France I realize bicycle shops are a great place to rest your mind, body and soul as well as fix those little ghosts in the machine. <a href=”https://la-petite-vitesse.org/”>La Petit Vitesse in Pays D APT Luberon</a> is where I met a true Spirit Guide in the flesh who also seems to be embarking on his second life on the trail. Stop and say hello to Greg.
