THE TWO AMIGOS

After working on an old Amigo Scooter that Randy had, we took a few shake down rides in his neighborhood to assure it was dependable. It turned out to have a couple of problems. Since I know very little about anything and especially about electrical systems, it looked like a lost cause to get the scooter road worthy. But yet again, tinkering combined with the power of prayer provided the solution. A business in town that services these electric scooters has a technician who was very willing to give me a few ideas and also some simple encouragement to keep tinkering. The scooter is now adventure certified. The first adventure was for Randy to teach me how to board a city bus.

Getting on a bus is not too difficult. It requires some backing up skills and the ability to perform while all the other riders are watching. Being handicapped involves teaching others patience too, as the bus driver has to lower the bus, extend a ramp, prepare a parking space for the scooter and then secure it. The process takes about 5 minutes, so travel comes to a halt. I imagine that one will encounter a grouchy bus driver every once in a while, but so far they have all been kind and patient.

We rode the bus for about 4 miles to the Duluth Rose Garden http://www.superiortrails.com/duluth-rose-garden.html and then took the Lake Walk down to Canal Park.

The Lake Walk http://www.duluthmn.gov/parks/trail_pages/lakewalk.cfm follows the shore of Lake Superior and is designed for walking, inline skating, running, biking and of course scootering. It is a very popular place especially on a beautiful summer day. Randy and I moved along at a leisurely pace enjoying all the sights and sounds.

Pictured above is Lief Erickson Park . Festivals and other gatherings occur here often. The past few years the City of Duluth has had Friday Night Outdoor Movies. This has turned out to be a very big success. The movies are for all ages so a good crowd gathers together with their blankets, lawn chairs and coolers full of treats!

There is a scenic train http://www.northshorescenicrailroad.org/Home/exdaily.asp that travels up the Northshore of Lake Superior. There a variety of rides available from short relatively inexpensive ones to others that are longer and offer a meal.

We traveled all the way down to the bridge then took the Duluth Skywalk system http://www.perfectduluthday.com/2009/04/18/duluth-skywalk-video/ up to the downtown business area and caught a bus back to Randy's house. The entire trip took about four hours.

THE WHEEL WORLD

It has been two months since my motorcycle accident. I have been confined to a wheelchair that entire time. I will continue to wheel around for at least one more month. My bones are healing, but it seems like it takes more time when one is older. My fracture of the tibia is also right at the joint so it is critical that it is well healed prior to putting much weight on the leg.

My time in a wheelchair has introduced me to another view of the world. I have experienced the challenges of getting around in public places and especially public bathrooms. Fact: Just because a bathroom is handicap accessible does not guarantee that it is functional for the handicapped. I have my favorite bathrooms in the Duluth area and I have several that I prefer to avoid. I am tempted to go into detail, but you probably aren't that interested. I have met many people, who when I come wheeling into their world, they anticipate the obstacles I will encounter and just help clear the way. Of course there are also some people who don't seem to see me and are themselves an obstacle I need to navigate around. If I were to be confined to a wheelchair for the rest of my earthly life, it would take me a good while to wrestle with that reality and come to terms with all its implications. Being a part-timer obviously only gives me a very small glimpse into the wheel world, its challenges and limitations.

We know that limitations and barriers can be challenged. I happen to have a friend who meets the challenges of the wheel world with determination and an adventurous spirit. Randy has cerebral palsy and has been using an electric scooter to navigate the world for the 30 years I've known him. He worked every day for the Duluth Public Library as a disability specialist until his retirement several years ago. He has camped, sailed, explored many walking trails and of course gotten himself into trouble countless times. I recently reconnected with him, since my accident, and have had the opportunity to discover his various efforts to create an adventurous community for people who are wheelchair bound. You can check out his website: http://wheelsontrails.org

I spent an afternoon and evening at a camp out he organized a couple of weeks ago and have spent time with him getting an old scooter of his up and running for my personal use. Randy and I were once know (by our wives) to be masters of getting into trouble together. Well now that I have an unreliable scooter at my disposal, Randy and I are able to get into trouble again.

I believe Randy approaches challenges in his life with a "why not" attitude. A couple of days ago we were trying to figure out what was causing the old scooter to simply shut down. We really did not figure out the short circuit, but since it seems to be running he said lets take it out around the block. "What if if shuts down", I asked. " I will push you back to my house", he answered. I thought that sounds good to me. So we took it around the block and every thing went fine. So of course, we then decided to go on a more extended trip, despite the fact that the scooter was still unreliable. We ended up being stranded. Randy's scooter got low on power (he likes to push the limits of his battery capacity before recharging) and my scooter shut down and would not power up again. Here is the picture; two fellows who cannot walk are sitting on two scooters that cannot move. We sat out in the hot sun until my wife came by and rescued us. Looking for adventure? Join Randy and I. We can find you an old scooter. We will welcome you with open arms into the Wheel World.

MOTORCYCLE ACCIDENT

I was in an accident on my CX 650 on May 13. So I have not been an active biker or a blogger since that date. I now have first hand experience what it is like to hit a car while riding a cycle. Around 11:30 A.M. on said Friday a car crossed Grand Ave. in Duluth at 38th Ave. West. Traffic was heavy and the driver thought there was an opening. He didn't see me and I didn't see him until he was crossing my lane about 4 feet in front of me. I had about a second to do something and thank God I did some thing smart. I just turned slightly in the direction the car was traveling. I didn't brake or do anything drastic. The rest of the accident is just a collection of little bits of information: a bang, spinning in the air and then laying on the pavement feeling some nasty bad pain. I have been telling people that God is a very good physic and directed me to have an angle of impact with the car that allowed me a clean launch off my bike. I did not have any contact with the car (to the best of my knowledge) my bike on the other hand took the full force of the crash. The front forks were bent, the front frame is bent and the rear secondary frame along the side of my bike seat is bent. After the initial impact, the bike spun into the car and slide along its length back toward the rear of the car.

I was blessed with some very good first responders, who must have gotten to me in the first minute after the accident. Ironically a few days before the accident I have just completed my EMS First Responder refresher. So while I was being cared for, I was also doing a full body assessment of myself. The ambulance was on the scene in about 4 minutes and those two fellows were also great along with a fire crew and a squad car. I was not able to know who was doing what as my pain and trauma caused me to have tunnel vision, so I didn't see or hear too much. I do know some one called my wife and a coworker happened by the scene and stayed by my side until I was transported.

So a very wonderful community of caregivers were on that street corner doing their very best to help me. I do indeed that God for those people. I is amazing to think that a group of people assembled for 10 -15 minutes did a fantastic job caring for a stranger in need, then went back to their daily lives never to assemble again.

I ended up with a broke left leg (tibia) plateau fracture and a broke left arm (humerus) that required shoulder surgery. No other injuries other than a couple of little bruises! Wearing good protective gear Darrin Rideware by Aerostich, full face helmet and good motorcycle boots gave me the necessary protection.

I am in a wheel chair and out of work, but I will heal. I am also thankful that the driver who was involved in the accident had good car insurance and was honest about his responsibility. We all make mistakes and I appreciate that this fellow allow his insurance company to take responsibility for the accident in a timely manner.

So as I have time and energy to blog; I will be relating my thoughts about post accident issues and recovery.

I plan on riding again, maybe it will have its psychological challenges but I think I will continue to enjoy biking. As I am healing may you ride safe and smart. Kickstand

RIDING ALONE

Yesterday a took my first ride alone for the season.
Have you taken many rides alone?


It is not my first choice. I would much rather share the experiences of the day with some one else. To have an enjoyable ride alone requires clear expectations and some well defined goals. Last year I took a 270 mile ride alone. It was OK, but I really was not prepared for it. I knew where I wanted to go, was prepared with gear and such, but I was not clear about what I wanted to experience other than the ride and designation. I ended up only having two quick stops and eating a few snacks. When I returned, I felt a sense of accomplishment regarding doing the ride, but I was disappointed that I did not meet any one or have any interesting diversions.

Being alone is a good thing. It allows a person to think about what is going on in their life and take a look at themselves as a person.

It can be very introspective and reveal some important information. When all you have is your own thoughts, you may discover some interesting things about yourself.

But it is also important to have a plan about getting off your bike and meeting other people.

After I passed this beautiful section of the St. Louis River, I came upon a couple of bikers on the side of the road. I could have easily stopped and found out where they were from and where they were heading.......but it was easier and safer to just ride by.

This year I want to learn more about the art of riding alone. It will be a new bridge for me to cross and will require some thought and planning prior to the ride.

Let me know some of the things you have learn about riding alone.

THIS WEEK'S COMMUTE

This past week's weather provided a variety of riding conditions. Two days snow was falling along with two very windy cold days and one 60 degree sunny day. Every morning was rather cold with temps around 32 degrees.

The beauty of commuting every day is learning how to ride in all kinds of weather. So whether one is buffeted by strong cross winds, caught in a snow squall or driving in a down pour the skills and confidence will be be there to me the challenge.

Remember, If You Ride Every Day You Can Always Ride Without Delay!

NOBODY PRESIDENT TO STEP DOWN

This week at the International Motorcycle Club Symposium in Puke Iowa Kickstand announced that he will be stepping down as the President of the Nobody Motorcycle Club on November 30, 2034. " I am planning on riding a motorcycle for the last time on that day", explained Kickstand to a standing room only crowd. "I don't feel it is appropriate to continue as the President when I am no longer riding motorcycle". When asked if he has chosen a successor Kickstand explained " To the best of my knowledge my successor has not been born yet."


Kickstand will be 85 years old on that date of retirement.............any guesses what he will look like at 85?

INQUISITIVE RIDING

The riding season is slowly approaching the Northland. Maybe you are well along in your neck of the woods. Before the season gets too far along I would encourage you to think about what you want to accomplish this year. No, I'm not talking about setting some type of mileage goal or even planning specific trips, but rather how you are going to approach your time on your bike.

Bike safety and skill building are a couple of things to consider, but I've got some thing a bit different for you to contemplate.



So how about sitting down next to me for an hour or so and consider Inquisitive Riding.

First I would like you to make a little list of things you wonder about, things you would like to understand or even things that puzzle you or perhaps confuse you. I'll give you a few examples:

1. Why do low pressure cells rotate in a counter clockwise direction in the Northern Hemisphere and in a clockwise direction in the Southern Hemisphere? I know the answer to this one.....but it still is a cool question.

2. How can humming birds migrate to South America from Northern Minnesota?

3. Why is it that my wife is correct 97% of the time?

4. How can matter pass through our bodies and not hurt us? I'm talking about neutrinos.

http://www.sno.phy.queensu.ca/sno/neutrino.html

5. Where did matter come from in the first place, if there is no God?

6. Where did God come from?

7. If intelligence is so important to us humans, why are many of the happiest and wisest people I know rather simple minded?

If you are having trouble coming up with any questions of your own, you need to get out on your bike and clear out your head so you have room for some seemly useless questions. By the way they are not useless. In fact this cycling season you can use your bike riding to help you see the world in a new way.

Inquisitive Riding is a mental process which uses motorcycling to trigger and stimulate thoughts that are; original, creative, unusual, deep, that are different than those one usually has and progressively more detached from one's own life experiences.

Now I must warn you that I am not suggesting that you allow cycling to become a heavy, arduous mental experience. In fact Inquisitive Riding, further promotes the shear joy of cycling.

Are you ready?

Here is your first exercise. I actually hate using the work exercise as it connotes work. Let call it your first IR

Get on your bike and ride for at least one hour. This ride must not have any purpose other than riding. You may choose a specific route, but if you are able to simply pull out of your driveway and start wandering that would be best. Simply enjoy the ride. If at any time a random thought comes to mind capture it. It is important that this thought is totally random. Make sure it is not any thing to do with a responsibility you have such as I need to clean the garage today or to do with a problem you are wrestling with such as my son is not listening to me lately. When you have started to understand the IR process you will be able to spin off a more practical thought in a new direction. Let's just say you captured this random thought: " That railroad track looks like a musical instrument". Instead of trying to figure out why that thought crossed your mind allow it to take you for an Inquisitive Ride. You could go in a number of directions and actually as you become more willing to just let it go you will be surprised where you end up (both on your ride and your mind's travels). I don't want to specifically tell you what your next step should be.....but if you are still a bit fuzzy about this entire IR process let me make a few suggestions:

1. You could make up a song about the railroad track

2. You could back track back to the track and stare at it for a while (you never know what might come down that thar track (either in your head or for real)

3. You could ponder, if railroad tracks were made out of licorice what would some of the advantages and disadvantages be and would the candy industry be any different?

OK at the end of your first IR, don't worry if you really didn't get any where, because it take time to be willing to get lost. If you did have some rather unusual random thoughts, don't try to convert them into anything useful or to analyze them. You don't need to show any thing from you ride or from your thoughts.

Until next time " Take a ride without reason".