Sometimes I think about others who are no longer with us when I am on the road. A peaceful drive on the way to Memphis on the backroads brings images into mind of riders that were here when I started this trip but no longer ride in the wind. I dunno, guess I am just too sentimental for my own good. A particular person inspired this post. Jennifer Hanna of North Myrtle Beach.
She is the the first image in the video below. Her husband was killed by a left turning cager 9 months ago. Last week she was killed by a left turning cager. I could talk for years about the idiots that cursory glance to the left for a split second then jam on the gas to make a left turn. I see them all day long. Texting, applying lipstick, facebook posting, etc.. while driving. I wish at times I was a motorcop and give these idiots a huge ticket. But it won’t stop their ignorance, only lighten their wallet.
I just don’t get it how so many people can drive like idiots. If I am in my car I feel a bit more secure knowing I have a bit more protection against these low IQ menace’s to society. But on the bike you have to drive like you are 100% invisible. You have to assume everyone of these idiots, even though they appear they are going to let you pass them ok, will turn left at the very last split second directly in front of you. Each time this happens it boggles my mind. It happened to me in Paintsville, KY recently. The car was approaching me, it slowed down, (no turn signals on) then right before I passed him he made a quick left turn right in front of me into a taco bell. There was a pickup truck in my next lane and both of us had to slam on our brakes. Un friggin believable! He saved 5 seconds out of his life and rolled the dice.
Normally I let it ride and continue on but this time he came within feet of my front wheel. I stopped and looked to my right.He had pulled in the lot and stopped, he was looking in his rearview to see what I was going to do. I turned into the lot and pulled next to the driver door. I motioned for him to roll down the window. I asked him why he pulled in front of me and the truck. He said what they all say “I didn’t see you.” What a joke. I said “You didn’t see me or you didn’t look carefully?” He said “I didn’t see you.” Right!
Some pimply 17 year old kid driving momma’s car. Didn’t even apologize or say I’m sorry. Was just in a big hurry for whatever reason to get a taco. To top it off I did not have my dashcam on. I had left it back at the hotel. I was only going to be gone 10 minutes. What could happen in 10 minutes? Murphy’s Law. 6 months of recording just about everything and nothing much to speak of in way of cager idiots (maybe 4 or 5 incidents) then the one truly close call near miss is not captured because I was too lazy to install the dashcam. Anyhoos….
I made up a little video of the morning’s travels on a backroad about 60 miles from Memphis. I was thinking about how lucky I am to be here while others that were here with me at the start of the trip are no longer here to enjoy the lifestyle. This video is to honor their memory and life.
L
Somewhere In Arkansas
