Humpty Dumpy

Mt. Hood

Today started out promising.It was about a 60 mile ride up to Mt. Hood.By 10 o'clock it was in the 90's.After snapping off a few pictures and taking in the mountain with all it's glory, I packed up and started on my decent back down the six mile timberline road.I was now going to ride on to the Columbia Gorge.I was indecisive as to which way it was out of the parking lot and in the last instant I turned left, but I was on a steep incline.It was so steep my left foot couldn't touch the ground as I made a sharp left turn the bike began to lean further and further and my foot still wouldn't touch.Soon I was past the point of no return.When my foot finally touched the weight was too much and the bike just slammed me to the ground, HARD!

My left arm remained on the handle bar and was trapped between the road and my rib cage.The whole force of the spill went right to my upper rib cage.I laid there for ten seconds or so trying to get my wind back and reeling in extreme pain.I thought to myself,oh I just broke my fucking ribs.I've never felt anything like that.What a smack down.I crawled out from under the bike and picked it up.Just then this guy came over and asked if I needed some help.I said yeah,just grab the front brake.I got the kickstand down, and immediately checked the bike for damage.The left mirror was smashed, other than that,not a scratch.

Now I could focus on the pain in my chest.Ouch! That fucking hurt.Ooh Damn, I just fucked up my mirror, I said. It was all over but the crying.I got back on my horse and rode gingerly down the mountain.Damn, I thought, Mt. Hood just kicked my ass.

I'm laid up in a super 8 motel sore as hell.There doesn't seem to be any swelling or bruising as of yet,but getting in and out of bed is painful.I bruised up my ego pretty bad and beat myself up all the way back to Portland.I'm taking it easy til tomorrow and we'll see how I feel in the morning.Sorry for all the profanity,but I didn't want to pull any punches in my description of today's festivities.

There, I got that off my chest.