Not a ride anyone likes reporting. Short story short, all of us finally injury-free and able to pull some time away from our hubs, kids, school n’ sports and work schedules for a few days. Lost the first day to sig-alerts on almost every freeway and we had Sun stuck in her driveway ready to roll, but couldn’t leave because her street had been blocked for a 10K running through her neighborhood. Perhaps, better taken as a sign of things to come. First day a wash, but everyone arrived by evening. Had some laughs around the campfire and looked forward to an early start in the morning.
Began as a quiet morning, weather cooler (supposed to be 80, but felt like 90), a few deer wandering behind camp and egg burritos for breakfast on the grill. By the time we sat down to eat and enjoy a cup of coffee, camp had turned into an expressway of out of control kids on quads firing off from every direction, racing through campsites in flip flops n’ pajamas sending plumes of dust sprinkling unto our breakfast. I’ve only ridden Gorman a few times, perhaps better during the week with no crowds.
Not much to say after this, other than Sun had just ridden here 2 days prior showing HV to a guy visiting from out of town and knows this place with her eyes shut. Off we went, Sun leading the ride. Felt like old times, everyone’s mojo fell into place. Didn’t matter how the weekend started or where we were headed, just happy to be back riding with these gals again. Little did we know, 15 mins out from breakfast, we’d round our last corner of the day.
I was 3rd back when I came around the corner and hit the brakes to a skidding halt finding Sun pinned under her bike. Did a double-take, wasn’t expecting to see her down. Much less screaming to get her bike off her. By her tracks, she went high on a berm and seemed to have washed out. In my panic (thinking her screams were from her pipe burning her leg), I actually tripped and fell in my downhill scramble to get her bike off her. Was like one of those dreams where you're running as fast as you can, but going nowhere. I ended up flying over her, just missed hitting her in the head with my boot and landed face down in front of her. Remember thinking, what an idiot, did I really just do that?!! When I got her bike off her and looked down and saw her leg and foot twisted, knew this ride was done. Never fun placing a 911 call. Especially, when the call is for a family member or friend. Thankfully, we had maps, cell signal and weren't too far from one of the park’s entrances. Our focus now turned to keeping her as comfortable as we could till help arrived. All I can say is... it was a VERY long and hot 40 min’s waiting for the medics.
When the medics arrived and began accessing her medical history, i.e., any known drug allergies and got her IV going and ready to piggyback in pain meds, they ask if she's ever had morphine (keep in mind she’s been writhing in pain and digging her nails into my arms and legs and screaming for nothing but drugs for the last 40 mins), and, what does she say… "Morphine!??” (Like… that’s all you got!??) “Oh, that might make me itchy!!"
O.M.G. you've got to be kidding!!??
This isn’t CVS pharmacy, sorry kiddo this is the ONLY tool they can carry in their box. For goodness sakes hit her over the head and give her the drug NOW!! Luckily, they were cleared to give to her. We then cut her pant leg and the buckle straps to get her boot off, which they had to get another tool to do. Her leg was placed in an air-splint and off she went in the helicopter to the nearest trauma center. As you’ll see in the vid, the morphine worked perfectly as she was caught filming inside the helicopter and was told to turn it off.
She had surgery the next day, plates and screws for a tib-fib spiral fracture about 4 inches above her ankle and a fractured rib. Sorry to have our day cut so short and having one of us on back on the injured list.
The good news is, the "Sun" will shine again. Get well soon my friend!!
Began as a quiet morning, weather cooler (supposed to be 80, but felt like 90), a few deer wandering behind camp and egg burritos for breakfast on the grill. By the time we sat down to eat and enjoy a cup of coffee, camp had turned into an expressway of out of control kids on quads firing off from every direction, racing through campsites in flip flops n’ pajamas sending plumes of dust sprinkling unto our breakfast. I’ve only ridden Gorman a few times, perhaps better during the week with no crowds.
Not much to say after this, other than Sun had just ridden here 2 days prior showing HV to a guy visiting from out of town and knows this place with her eyes shut. Off we went, Sun leading the ride. Felt like old times, everyone’s mojo fell into place. Didn’t matter how the weekend started or where we were headed, just happy to be back riding with these gals again. Little did we know, 15 mins out from breakfast, we’d round our last corner of the day.
I was 3rd back when I came around the corner and hit the brakes to a skidding halt finding Sun pinned under her bike. Did a double-take, wasn’t expecting to see her down. Much less screaming to get her bike off her. By her tracks, she went high on a berm and seemed to have washed out. In my panic (thinking her screams were from her pipe burning her leg), I actually tripped and fell in my downhill scramble to get her bike off her. Was like one of those dreams where you're running as fast as you can, but going nowhere. I ended up flying over her, just missed hitting her in the head with my boot and landed face down in front of her. Remember thinking, what an idiot, did I really just do that?!! When I got her bike off her and looked down and saw her leg and foot twisted, knew this ride was done. Never fun placing a 911 call. Especially, when the call is for a family member or friend. Thankfully, we had maps, cell signal and weren't too far from one of the park’s entrances. Our focus now turned to keeping her as comfortable as we could till help arrived. All I can say is... it was a VERY long and hot 40 min’s waiting for the medics.
When the medics arrived and began accessing her medical history, i.e., any known drug allergies and got her IV going and ready to piggyback in pain meds, they ask if she's ever had morphine (keep in mind she’s been writhing in pain and digging her nails into my arms and legs and screaming for nothing but drugs for the last 40 mins), and, what does she say… "Morphine!??” (Like… that’s all you got!??) “Oh, that might make me itchy!!"
O.M.G. you've got to be kidding!!??
This isn’t CVS pharmacy, sorry kiddo this is the ONLY tool they can carry in their box. For goodness sakes hit her over the head and give her the drug NOW!! Luckily, they were cleared to give to her. We then cut her pant leg and the buckle straps to get her boot off, which they had to get another tool to do. Her leg was placed in an air-splint and off she went in the helicopter to the nearest trauma center. As you’ll see in the vid, the morphine worked perfectly as she was caught filming inside the helicopter and was told to turn it off.
She had surgery the next day, plates and screws for a tib-fib spiral fracture about 4 inches above her ankle and a fractured rib. Sorry to have our day cut so short and having one of us on back on the injured list.
The good news is, the "Sun" will shine again. Get well soon my friend!!
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