I am healing up quite well. I can now walk nearly full stride unless I have been stuck driving in Southern California traffic for three hours, always fun. Then I have to limp a bit for a few blocks until my muscles and ligaments loosen up enough to walk near normal. I am still attending physical therapy a couple times a week and working my leg and knee when I can (that California commute thing again) at home.
Slow But Continued Progress
Slow progression continues. I am no longer using my crutches at all now and can walk pretty well with the assistance of a articulated knee brace. I find that walking after have been sitting for a bit (like at work) is a bit tough, but once I walk a bit everything loosens up. In preparing for yet another move (this time to in the Inland Empire south of Riverside California – now commutable to L.A. and San Diego). My leg and knee get pretty wiped out after moving boxes, climbing ladders, etc. But hey, at least I am now able to do these things and just in time as the big move day is just over a week away.
Orthopedic Visit
Been a little bit since I have posted anything, so here goes. Saw the orthopedic doctor (Soft tissue expertise) on 9/22/2017. I was given the OK to start putting weight on my leg / knee as tolerated. My Tibia fracture is healing well and no longer fractured. Granted, I will not be jumping for any rebounds soon (nor could I ever anyways). He was pleased that there was no excessive movement within my knee or tibia. Everything felt intact and where it should be. I begin physical therapy soon (soonest appointment available is 10/19/2017…so long). It is possible that I may not need knee surgery. My ACL is completely torn, my PCL is partially torn however there is evidence that my ACL tear in fact may be an old injury (I have messed up my leg / knee several times in the past pretty bad between playing football and in the military, oh an of course treating my body like an old rusted out pickup truck driven by 16 year old out in the country…..but I digress). After some PT and more time to heal, the assessment will be made as to whether or not my knee goes under the knife.
The Redwoods to Minnesota Motorcycle Trip
Before I decided that it would be fun to crash my bike and break my leg on August 5th, I was planning on taking a long motorcycle trip starting in Chula Vista, CA (San Diego) to Minneapolis, MN. The trip was to start on September 1st with the first camping spot south of San Jose, CA. Day 2 would have taken me into the Giant Redwoods near Weott, CA and camping overnight. Day 3 cut east across California camping not to far from Reno, NV. Day 4 was planned to be all slab (I-80) to Salt Lake City, UT with a stay in a motel (have to shower sometime).
Today would have been day 5.
I had another appointment today with the Orthopedic Doctor following the new MRI scan on Tuesday. Overall the news is better than the original prognosis.
My Injuries confirmed by MRI:
VTX 1300C Officially Totaled
Well it is official, collected the checks from GEICO today for my 2004 VTX 1300C (Jolene) and my Shoei Helmet. Jolene is now the salvaged property of GEICO. Looking towards the future, I am thinking of replacing the VTX with a Harley Davidson Ultra Limited or possibly a Harley Davidson Road King. I am still making up my mind and I have some time to ponder the topic as it’s going to be a bit until I am healed enough to ride. Other items on the shopping list going forward include Rocker Revolution Riding Jeans with CE rated armor, Shoe Neotec Helmet, New gloves, and well just allot of gear lol.
Health Update:
Street View of Location of Crash Site
This is the location where myself and Jolene (my bike) went down, the pavement transition from concrete to old asphalt. The Google street view does not show the blacktop fill in or ridge. So, either the image capture from January 2011 is old enough to not show my nemesis or my brain conveniently fabricated that detail to save me from some self humiliation.
Post Crash Analysis
I have been replaying the crash in my brain (although some details are sketchy from having my head bounce) trying to analyze what I could have done to prevent the accident. Every crash you walk or hobble away from is a blessing and an opportunity to learn from. I think the cause of the crash in simple terms comes down to speed on a Continue reading
So what had happened was……
Basically, I was on a straight road only doing about 40mph. Pavement transition from nice smooth concrete to a huge ridge of asphalt followed by crap blacktop and lots of loose gravel. I was slowing down, hit that ridge of blacktop (saw it way too late to do anything about it) and quite suddenly, me and the bike was down. I didn’t fight the fall and rolled with it. Not too bad but I stinking fractured my leg and a little shaken up.
Spoke with my insurance company today, bike will be examined tomorrow but it sounds like it will be a total loss. I am not planning on buying back the bike if it is a total loss. Plan will be heal up, replace destroyed gear, investigate in other gear that may have helped lessen my injury and then purchase another motorcycle. I am bummed out but also very grateful that my injuries were not truly severe.
Well, on the first recreational ride since May 2017 (I did commute on the bike daily). I crashed fractured my leg in the processs. Damage to the bike is unknown at this point. I am off two wheels for what looks to be at least two months. I will find out more when I go to see the doctor again.
So the Redwoods to Minnesota bike trip is cancelled for 2017.
In January 2017, I moved to from the Minneapolis, Minnesota area to Chula Vista (San Diego) California. I was tired of winter and was looking forward to riding a motorcycle year round. I have been able to take some decent short trips mostly within California but due to financial constraints, I have been restricted to just commuting to and from work since May. So far I have been able to ride up Pacific Coast Highway to Rugged Point (CA-1 is closed due to mud slide damage), Julian, CA, Campo, CA, Palomar Mountain and L.A. I did one trip due east through El Centro, CA to Yuma, AZ. So, as of now, my current Motorcycle Map only has California and Arizona added.
Wanderlust Lyfe 