High Expectations

“I wouldn’t suggest it.”

These are the words I hear over the phone after a conversation with a friend, about our final destination. My husband and I have been on vacation all week. We have taken our motorcycles along Skyline Drive of Blue Ridge Parkway fame and are heading home. The suggestion to stay clear of our final destination causes my stomach to twists in knots.

Tomorrow’s destination is Mount Greylock. This peak, rising to 3,491 feet is the highest point in all of Massachusetts. My friend begins to tell me about her climb of Greylock and what perils lie ahead for me. She is a seasoned rider and I am a greenhorn. When it comes to taking my motorcycle up mountain peaks I am even greener. I begin to second guess my motorcycle riding abilities.

Another call comes in from the friend’s spouse. Both are fun loving motorcycle enthusiast we enjoy riding with whenever the opportunity arises. We are catching up on the acquaintance who is hospitalized. He is vacationing in Colorado with two buddies, enjoying a motorcycle adventure of his own. I mention Greylock.
“I wouldn’t recommend it” is his reply.
I am now completely unsettled.

Nevertheless, the next morning we make our way to the northern entrance via route 7 in North Adams to begin our ascent. My knees are jumping and my nerves are on edge. I begin my mind game and repeat a mantra over and over that calms my nerves. The roadway is narrow and in deplorable condition! The going is slow. We meet hikers along the way, but very few other vehicles. We stop at an overlook for a break.

This section of Massachusetts is beautiful indeed and we enjoy the vista from our rest spot. Then onward and upward we go. My nerves aren’t as frayed. I think the reason is because we need to creep as the road is so poor. Before long we reach the summit and park the bikes. My joy at reaching the top is tempered by the clouds that have begun to billow up over the mountain. Our vistas are limited. I climb the War Memorial Tower just to say I did. The clouds thicken. It’s time to go. We descend via the other side to route 2 and begin our journey home.

When I recount my mountain climb story to my motorcycling friends who advised me against it, they seem surprised. Yet never missing a beat they have this to say next.
“Well, if you can do Greylock, then you can do Washington.”
Now it’s my turn to be surprised. I quickly dismiss the idea. My husband however, has heard this comment and just filed it in his memory bank.

So began my quest to ride to the top of all the mountain peaks in New England, and then some. The following year we traveled to the Adirondacks so we could ride up Whiteface. I climbed Mount Washington without incident, as well as Vermont’s Equinox, Okemo and Ascutney. The ultimate of all climbs by far has been the 14,000 feet we climbed in the Rocky Mountain National Park. Yes, I know that isn’t in New England. It may have been that all those peaks were just practice.

Greylock has just reopened the access road after being closed for two years while being repaired. We are hearing from other riders what a fantastic job they did. I have not introduced Blaze to any mountain peaks yet. I think another trip to Western Massachusetts is in order.

Exposed

Andy and Lee do each other favors from time to time, and exchange tokens of thanks on occasion. Recently, Andy was able to help Lee out with a little problem for which Lee was appreciative. He wanted to do something for Andy in return and decided advice was in order.

“Andy,” Lee said, “you can’t be letting your wife ride around with her back end exposed like that.”

You can imagine my shock and embarrassment, as I tug on my shirt tail and wondered how much I’ve actually been exposing. Lee points in my general direction and begins a lecture on my naked license plate and how I shouldn’t be riding around like that with it “undressed.”

In the end (no pun intended) it is agreed that Lee will supply Blaze with a license plate frame to dress her up a bit and keep me from being written up the local gossip column. Not a bad deal for me. I like this bartering system where I am the beneficiary. Maybe I can barter Andy’s services (keep your mind clean) for more biker bling.

From Misc

Accident Waiting to Happen

It is upsetting to riders as I’m sure you can imagine when the news about yet another vehicle making a left-hand turn sends a motorcyclist to intensive care or worse. This is exactly what happened to 26 year old Justin Rovitaille of Derry yesterday when a woman turned left into his path. He had little time to react. While well documented, this specific type of accident continues to happen time and again.

As I mentioned above, this scenario is unfortunately all too common. Documentation and extensive studies have been done from real life accident reconstruction sites and can be read about in the Hurt Report. This report holds evidence of the what and why motorcyclists find themselves on the pavement. Unfortunately for Justin, he falls close to two of the most common reasons for a motorcycle accident; intersections and age.

How are we to protect ourselves from serious injury while enjoying the sport we love? One way is to study the Hurt Report, take the highest percentages of occurrences and reduce them in our favor. Begin by getting motorcycle training!

• 92% of motorcyclists without training are more likely to be involved in a motorcycle accident.

• Wear eye protection as 73% of accidents occur to riders who did not protect the eyes.

• Keep away from bars and if at a party drink soda, water, coffee or tea as 50% of accidents are caused by motorcyclists under the influence of alcohol. (This goes elicit, prescription and over the counter meds as well.)

“The most frequent accident configuration is the motorcycle proceeding straight then the automobile makes a left turn in front of the oncoming motorcycle.” This is number eight in the Hurt Summary, and also what put Justin in harms way. Justin is also near the age group that is most frequently represented in motorcycle accidents.

Of the vehicle drivers who cross our paths in untimely ways, it is the young (20 to 29) and the old (65 and over) that do us the most harm. That last my friend Dave can well attest too with his recent encounter with the blue haired lady. However, while many accidents are no fault of the motorcyclist, it is the rider who pays the price. Can we protect ourselves better by understanding the statistics? I think so; because knowledge is power and the more we empower ourselves the better equipped we are to avoid accident and injury.

With all that said, we still need to protect us from ourselves. When I see sports bikes popping wheelies, bikers zipping in and out of traffic and generally putting themselves at risk, it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to know that they are an accident waiting to happen.