Accidents Do happen – Be Prepared

After two days of great roads and great company, it couldn't get much better. However, an hors from one of our destinations the lowest of lows as I watched my riding partner disappear into a cloud of tire smoke only 50 meters in front of me and get high-sided off his motorcycle. I stop and run to him and hear groaning bit nothing coherent. My friend eventually wakes up and knows who he is and there is a blur until the Thai road rescue service appears and takes him off to the nearest hospital in Khon Kaen. I then make that terrible phone call to his wife and mice and give what information I can.

Eventually I get to the hospital for an update on his condition. After some translations I understand that he has multiple fractured ribs and collarbone but no head, spinal or life-threatening injuries. Thanks goodness for good riding gear.

Why I send the letter? The crash was caused by a broken rubber tie-down, bought on a Thai morning market – for, like 50 dollar cents, holding a tightly packed sleeping bag on the ducktail of the motorcycle that fell into the rear wheel and caused the rear-wheel lock-up.

Moral? Please use proper luggage and check every time you stop for anything coming adrift because if something does get caught in a wheel, then the laws of physics show no mercy.