My 750 mile x-country ride

[blackc]

Started my x-country ride from Cottonwood AZ on the 28th of May. Everything went well until Central Utah. Good scenery, courteous drivers, and fine people.
Then I went down, in a parking lot of all places. Did something stupid.
Broke a rib and have some internal damage. Didn't feel too bad right after it happened and the scooter is bullet proof. The left mirror was all out of kilter. Since the mirrors are electric it tried to go to the riding position when I switched on the key but wouldn't move so I went for the retract position which it readily did. I then tried to move it out. Out it went with some pops and thumps and straightened right out where it was supposed to be.
Works perfect and didn't even have to adjust it.
The helmet protected my head which hit the pavement pretty hard and the suit kept me from getting any road rash. So there's asphalt on the mirror, helmet, suit, and on the external load.
I decided on a short rest. Actually napped for a couple hours. Then I couldn't get up. After a lot of really slow moves I decided home was the best place to be so I turned around and headed in that direction. It took two days, (325 miles) a lot of which I don't remember much.
I tried to get help at Lee's Ferry but none of the 7 or 8 pay phones would work and the motel people were not interested so I rode down to Flagstaff and since I was only 50 miles from home I went there.
The distances out here are awesome and you have to really plan your gas stops or there isn't any. And there's no place to get help. The cell phone was out of service from the Utah border until about 50 miles from Flagstaff and after that you don't need it.
Other than being in a world of hurt and disappointed in having the ride truncated so soon It's OK.

Cheers

[earlwb]

Bummer on the aborted ride.
Hope you get well soon.

[scootingranny]

Musta been a bummer. Hope you'll be able to try again soon. What caused the accident? I'm a fairly new rider and want to learn all I can and there may be a lesson for me in what happenned to you.

Just glad injuries to you and damage to scoot were not worse.

[blackc]

An update on the go-down. I got over the broken ribs OK and started riding again with the idea I would take off again during late August and complete the ride.

Well, thats over for this year and maybe forever. Going to the Post Office on Monday last I went down again, hard, and this time tore tendons in my shoulder. Was informed this afternoon that it will have to repaired on Monday, August 11 and there will be a long recuperative period. I'm a little depressed over this as I really want to do this ride, but now I'm thinking, maybe I don't have the reaction time anymore to be able to handle the thing properly. Better quit while I'm this far ahead.

I'll be 78 a week from Saturday.

More later

An update: Went in to the orthopod to do the pre op and he showed me the MRI. It isn't just tendons. Everything in there is smashed except the ball. All the bones surrounding the ball are just busted in a lot of pieces. He couldn't believe I was walking around with this mess. It is going to be an extensive repair.

Blackc

[buddymom]

congrats on how far you did go. i'm younger and i wouldn't even try that. glad you were kinda okay and that you made it back. so sorry the second go down was even worse. hope all gets fixed. maybe go with a car behind you just in case next time. and 78 is not old anymore....i hope i make it to that, but not usual in my family.

so keep scootin' and here's a bone for you, maybe it'll help you heal quicker.

t & dawg

[cheap0]

Another bone for your newly-healed rib. Please be careful. And congratulate me, for 2 things:
1. My birthday is apparently the same as yours (but 31 years younger)
2. This is my 100th post.

[blackc]

Thanks to the both of for the good wishes and the bones. I will certainly be hard to back off after all this work getting ready and training to go.

I'll wait a month or two, see how it goes and then decide.

A lot of people are pressuring me and I'll wait until that dies down and then decide on my own.

Thanks again and Happy birthday CheapO

Blackc

[jspringator]

Blackc. Consider a used Miata. Almost as fun as a scooter, and lots safer. More appropriate for long trips for us mature folk.

[mortar235]

you could try out the three wheel scoots for added stability

[HarmZway]

Piaggio Mp3 might be a good choice. A little pricey though, some used ones on ebay around $5000.

[blackc]

Thanks to MRTAR235 and Harmzway.

I think the Piaggio MP3 might be a good idea. Selling my Kymco GV 250 and buying an MP3 wouldn't be too big a jump. I still have to resolve whether or not my reaction times are good enough to do this at all. But thats certainly a good idea.

[blackc]

Had my shoulder surgery on Monday morning. Dr said it was pretty extensive. In OR at 7:00A - out at 1:30PM. Pretty good result though, so look forward to being OK in 12 weeks or so.

Got the mirror off the scoot before I went in and need the right hand mirror base.

The Kymco part # is 88116-KKC4-9000.

I talked to the local dealer and he said he would order it but I have a feeling it's going to be a long wait, so if I can find one somewhere it would be great.

Thanks blackc

[tastroman]

Sorry about your misfortunes. But props to you for accessing your physical ability to ride safely. The day will come when we all have to give it up and I can only hope that I am honest enough with myself to know when that day has come.
Heres to a speedy recovery.

[cheap0]

blackc: happy birthday today! Great news about the surgery.

[blackc]

Hey Cheap0
Thanks for remembering. I feel pretty good today and it's only 5 days since the surgery.
Have pretty well decided to give it up and will put the Kymco up for sale as soon as I get the mirror base and get the scratches touched up.

I am going to look into a used Miata and try touring with 4 wheels.

Thanks again and a bone to you.

blackc

[malport]

blackc, heal fast and get back on that horse, son! Only trade that 2 hoofer for a 3 hoofer...I've checked out that MP3, and the stability in cornering, plus that auto front wheel stabilizer under 3 mph seem like just the ticket for you...for sure you can make that trip on the Piaggio!

[luckeydawg]

Bone for ya blackc, I get alittle sentimental when a getlemen or your age is as spry as you are, I can only hope when I'm your age I can do the same, good luck to you, do what you want, you've earned it, I would love to ride in AZ....God love ya....

[LARC0]

Hello Blackc!

I had finished reading your experience here and couldn't help but admire this. Happy belated B-day sir, and I send a dawg bone to you for your hard-core riding. I hope you heal quick and proper so that may you enjoy more open road experiences.

-m

[blackc]

Thanks for all the goodwishes. I really don't "feel" old. I felt a little down after this latest incident and I'm under a lot of pressure to give it up. I'm determined to let a little time go by and let the rhetoric die down and then I'll decide whether to give up the scooter or not. The only negative was the villain in this incident. That was reaction time, so that's the real nut to crack. Am I good enough to stay out in front of the scooter or not?

On the road I feel real good about the ride. It's a little different in town.

Thanks again

blackc

[blackc]

Just an update..... The operation was 3 months ago next Monday. There's still doubt about whether it's going to work out Ok. Very little range of motion and still painful as h--- when I make the wrong move. Spent a little over $36,000 on medical so far.

But I saved a lot of money on gas................

Scooters for sale in the flea market.

Cheers

blackc

[Rockin Ran]

Hey blackc,
I just read this and man what a trooper you are! You have my respect sir and I hope your healing takes a turn for the better. Heal first ... then take a look at your riding options. There are a few 3 wheeled model scoots out there that might just fit your needs.

Ran

[dangdawg]

blackc,

Seems your story is still inspiring me and others too. Thanks for hangin’ tough.

My mother-in-law lives in Cottonwood. Stay away from her. She can be worse that a train wreck sometimes. Talk about a painful operation and recovery.

We love you and flow you healing energy and I’m sure you improve the standings of the Verde Valley with your glorious presence.

Ride in Peace

[phaze]

black c, i know that it must be hard, to have to give up somethin you love to do. but a topdown miata could be the kick in the pants your lookin for. it sucks you had to blow 36 grand on doctors , that coulda been a corvette lol

i hope you heal fast so you can have some more fun.

[blackc]

Just another update. I've been doing some heavy duty therapy in the last month and just this week I've begun to feel "normal"..................Hoorah.
run the scooter to keep the system clean and the battery up and it works fine. It's in the shop and has good ventilation so I let it run until the fan comes on and then shut her down.

Thanks for all the good vibes and........cheers

[Rockin Ran]

Well git that little Kymmie GV out in the AZ sunshine and ride ya spry ole dawg!!!

Glad to hear your doin better brother! Keep on Rockin!

Ran

[blackc]

Just a short update..........the medical is up another $17,000 making a total of a little over $53,000 todate and still rising.
On the good side the arm and shoulder are now what I consider functional though still somewhat painful.
At least I can get on with things though cannot lift other than light weights.

The scooter is listed in the Flea Market for sale though I have made no other effort to sell it.

Cheers!

blackc

[blackc]

Another update....It's now 5 1/2 months since the surgery and I still have rather limited range of motion. The worst part is being able to use the arm for other than short periods. It doesn't like any prolonged use like driving on a trip.

The good news is I've been discharged by the Doc and the physical therapist. They said it might be a couple years for the arm to really work right but I've come as far as they can get so now it's up to me.

Scooter is alive and well and still for sale. I was looking at used Miata's on Craig list this morning.

Haven't given up on going one way or the other.

Cheers

blackc

[rock]

blackc im glad your doing better.looking foward to u completing your trip hope it on your miata.i think it would be wonderful to read about u posting your trip here.we are praying for u

[earlwb]

Congrats on getting better, I am glad it wasn't worse.
Sometimes stuff just happens.
Good luck.

Last Monday I witnessed a rider drop his 900 pound Harley over on its side, almost knocking me and my ride down. A little loose gravel in the parking space downtown of all things got to him. Loose chipseal on the pavement. I guess they had oiled and laid down fresh gravel recently.
Once a 900 pounder starts to go over, you are not stopping it. it took three guys to get the bike back up.
Another guy piped up, and said, yeah, that's why I got a trike. I am too old for that stuff.

[blackc]

It's been over a month since I updated this post and little news.
I'm over $57,000 in medical bills and its going up as I'm back in rehab for another session.

The scooter is still unsold and I notice it's been removed from the Flea Market. How does that work ? Do they routinely remove after a period of time or what?