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Re: [ST] One more time... (Long)



  Excellent save Brett!  Glad to hear that you are seemingly alright - I hope that remains the case as you work through the post-accident aches.  
   
  Matt Heyer

-----Original Message-----
From: st-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:st-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of
BrettWilson21@xxxxxxx
Sent: Sunday, February 19, 2006 4:36 AM
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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