So my brother and I took off Friday morning on a road trip from Battle Ground WA to Redding CA to visit our Aunt who is suffering from dementia. We cruised down US 97 through central Oregon and then down to Weed CA and I5 to Redding. It was hotter than blazes when we got to Klamath Falls and hotter still in Redding! We had a nice visit with our Aunt, she didn't recognize us or say much and it is getting worse. Very sad. Then Saturday we visit for a little bit longer then we head out on 299 for Eureka with the plan to head north to Coos Bay to spend the night and then the rest of the way up the PCH to Astoria and then back home.

During the ride along 299 we were on the west side of Trinity lake and were working the curves. I'm having an awesome time carving through them in the lead and there were a couple of gals on BMW's that were working them too. My brother let them pass him but I was in the zone and loving it so they couldn't catch me on my big old bagger. Anyway I get to the top of the hill which is also the county line and I was looking for my brother so I let the girls go by and watch for my bro but nothing. Some of the cars that we had passed going by went by but still no bro. I start to get concerned and turn around and roll back down to find him. I am thinking that maybe he saw something that he wanted to stop and take a picture of. But no he wrecked! He came into one of the curve too high and wound up going off the rode into the ditch. The bike took a bit of a beating but we got it started and I had to get out the first aid kit and clean up his arm. We finally made it to Coos Bay where our other brother met up with truck and trailer so we could get the Heritage home. Thus ended the road trip. We headed back home one bike in tow. My bro went to the Dr's when we got back to town and got checked out and has no broken bones just a bunch of bruises. His helmet will need replaced because it also served its purpose too.

The things that frustrated me the most was that I was not there when my bro crashed. I had to go back and find him but what aggravated me more was that ALL the cagers that we had passed just drove past my bro as he laid on the side of the road with his bike in the ditch. Save one young man that turned around and helped. On top of that all these same cagers drove right past me and didn't say an f'n thing to me. I am very disappointed with with these kind of idiots!

 

People just won't help like they used to.

 

it's nothing personal , they don't stop for people who have car accidents either . basically tune out and ignore anything that happens outside the cage .

good to hear your brother wasn't hurt bad

 

Man, sorry to hear this, but not too surprising in this high tech/I'm in a hurry/on the cell phone/texting/etc f--- world. Not like it used to be.

Best wishes,
Murph

 

Glad it didn't turn out any worse for your brother. It's a crying shame when people are so wrapped up in themselves they can't be bothered by anyone else.

 

It really is a sad state of affairs when people are so wrapped up in them selves that they can't even take the time to extend a little bit of concern. I was really glad that one person had the decency to stop and help. The most important thing was that my brother was not seriously hurt. I just hope that I do better than others if I ever come across a similar scene. I have helped in the past so I think I will any way.

 

Unfortunately, few people will stop to assist anyone any more. Even bikers will ride right on by these days and it used to be that a fellow biker would never pass a stranded or downed rider.

 

I understand completely. I got run off the road one time by a family in a station wagon. Rolled several times in a ditch and was kind of stunned. The car turns around and stops at the side of the road. You okay? they ask. I'm laying in the ditch and say I think so and just like that they speed off.

 

I ride with my son quite a bit. I won't let him out of my mirror and he won't let me get out of his......

 

Folks don't care. My wife and I were in Edmond, OK a while back. I see a guy on a crotch rocket coming out of a mall parking lot. Next thing I see is the riderless crotch rocket tumbling end over end down the frontage road. We stop, go out to the bike, and finally see the rider walking towards us in the road. He says he's OK, so I pick up the bike and we roll it into the mall parking lot. While we were moving the bike, NUMEROUS drivers about hit us, some came within inches, they were in such a huge hurry to shop they apparently didn't see us. My wife was screaming at some of the drivers to slow down. Kid was banged up, but didn't want us to call the ambulance. Then a doctor who saw the wreck, pulls up and checks him out. Kid was OK. He called some friends who came to get him. The bike was unridable. It was unbelievable the way folks came whizzing by us.