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Re: [ST] One more time... (Long)
- Subject: Re: [ST] One more time... (Long)
- From: "Anthony Scerri" <tscerri@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Sun, 19 Feb 2006 21:47:16 +1100
Bloody hell Brett!
Thank God that you are OK - that is the main thing.
Secondly, did you get any details of the kayaking kretins?
I daresay that you will have to report the accident to police...it would be
justice to see that dynamic duo (not) charged with conduct recklessly
endangering human life or whatever counterpart you have in NSW.
I hope that the pain fades very quickly.
Cheers
Tony Scerri
-----Original Message-----
From: st-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:st-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of BrettWilson21@xxxxxxx
Sent: Sunday, 19 February 2006 20:36
To: ST@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [ST] One more time... (Long)
Saturday morning.
I had dropped my girlfriend off at 0815 to pick up her CBR6. Its finally
running as it should.
I head off to an appointment in the city (Sydney). The roads are quite busy
on this spectacular Saturday morning, so I decide to ride extra cautiously.
Down the big hill in the left lane and I cross the famous Spit Bridge. The
traffic is banked up & stopped in the two right lanes, but my lane is clear.
Having
been caught out before by impatient cage drivers diving out of the que, I
slow
to about 50kmph. A bus is stopped to my left and there are parked cars, nose
to kerb beyond that. Something doesn't feel right. Suddenly a pedestrian
appears in front of me having emerged from amongst the stationary traffic on
my
right.
My annoyance turns to shock as I realise he has a companion and between them
is a very large kayak!
He see's me and stops, perfectly blocking my way forward.
I mean, what else would you do with a two man kayak, but carry it across six
lanes of arterial traffic? You certainly would not think about the very real
danger you're posing and walk 150metres to the pedestrian traffic lights...
Every escape route is blocked, so the only option is emergency braking. I
dont feel like wearing a kayak as an emblem today. To my great relief the
non ABS
05 ST digs its front tyre into the tarmac and slows rapidly.
Just as I'm preparing to breathe a sigh of relief and take a deep breath in
preparation for the torrent of abuse I'm about to unleash on the single
biggest
act of utter stupidity I've seen for some time, (about a week), I hear the
unmistakable sound of screeching tyres behind me.
I know whats coming.
"Oh F**K" appears in my head as does the presence of mind to ease the front
brake slightly while I still have forward momentum. Despite the nano second
of
preparation the impact feels like...well...pretty much like I've been hit in
the back by a car.
We're punted forward and to the right, into the next lane. Fortunately, some
of the traffic has moved and I'm in clear space. For what seems like an
eternity, I'm a passenger. "Dont fight, dont fight, she will recover, we're
still
upright". Control returns as fast as it went and I make a controlled stop. I
turn to my left to find I have an audience, standing agape. Two of which
have a
large kayak still between them. There's debris behind me and I realise my
Triumph top box has burst open and disgorged its contents. Fortunately the
car
didnt run over my back pack.
I shout my first obscenity at the kayak bearers. It doesnt get past my
visor,
but I think they get the gist. Both vehicles are moved to the side of the
road and I immediately head for 'lead kayak man'. As my helmet comes off,
with
adrenalins pumping, I hear the words "I'm really sorry mate..." After a
tirade
that, with the benefit of hindsight, I'm very pleased with, he is still
trying
to justifying his actions and making lame noises about paying for the
damage.
'Second kayak man' has disappeared. I successfully fight the urge to render
said kayak unseaworthy. "Everyone does it", "Its just an accident", "Its a
busy
road and we have to get across". I indicate the pedestrian lights and ask if
he teaches his children to act in the manner I had just witnessed. More lame
excuses and justifications.
The driver of the car is Stacey. She's bearly 20 years old and inconsolable.
Her boyfriend is at a loss for what to do next.
The Triumph is largely unscathed apart from the bent number plate, scuffed
'coal shovel' and broken plate light. The Hyundai is in need of a
replacement bon
net (hood), bumper, grill, air dam and probably more once the bonnet is
opened.
By the end of the day my neck and shoulders were killing me. X-rays show me
to be ok, but the final analysis is pending. For some reason I look like I
have
two slightly black eyes.
The bike is getting checked on Tuesday. It still rides ok, but I'm worried
that the axle, swingarm or frame may have suffered.
I've just turned 36. By good luck, good training, the grace of The Divine or
a combination there of, once again, I'm still here.
Hope everyone is well.
Brett.
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