Terrie and I rode a couple hundred miles yesterday. On our return headed east on Hwy. 50 approx. 1/2 mile from our off ramp we were in the second lane from the shoulder (five lanes wide). We were riding approx. 70-75 mph. In the past mile or so we had gradually worked our way over from the fast lane, headed for the shoulder lane in preperation for our exit.
Only a couple of vehicles ahead of us and to the left of us (fast and second lanes).......traffic highly unusually light at this point. As I glance into my mirror to make sure the shoulder lane was clear, turn signal on......Terrie approx. 100 ft. behind me, riding in the right tire path of our lane (riding staggered, as we usually do) I then glance over my right shoulder to be certain. Lane clear and we make our way to the shouder lane, only one off ramp to go.
As I look back up, out of my left perpherial vision I see something coming from the left to the right, towards us at a very sharp angle for a freeway and due to the angle, even though they were only going about 40 mph, were coming into our path directly in front of us at what appeared to be high rate or very short time span. As I quickly look over to the left I see an old beat up, piece of crap, large sedan that looks like it's on it's last leg and barely running. This car is coming from the fast lane to the off ramp right in the line of our path of travel and it's only going 1/3 the speed that we are going. They're going across five lanes of freeway to the off ramp in about 100 feet.
We both get on the binders, front and back. Terrie later tells me "well, I used my ABS.....I know what that feels like now" (she had been afraid to try it up till that point). I don't know if the car is going to continue or is he going to stop right in front of me. At the speed we were traveling there's no way we would have avoided him if he'd decided to stop. I see the panicked look of all the people in the car as I just miss the left rear corner of the car by maybe a foot or two at a high rate of speed and leaning sharply to avoid them as I'm on the brakes. This all happens in just a few seconds and I can say that I thanked God immediatly, that there wasn't five lanes of traffic as I swerved over two more lanes at that speed before I was able to swing back into the lane we'd just came from. I also thank God that Terrie was behind me and had that much more room (although it's really nothing considering that she' has much less experience in these kind of emergency situations.
We all know that we have similar experiences when you ride your whole life and put down 100s of thousands of miles on two wheels. I'm writing about this because this one was closer, more scarry for both of us than any I've ever experienced before. Just a reminder for all.
When we got home, Terrie got sick. Nerves and stress I guess. She told me that she thought she was going to throw up in her helmet when it happened and that had we not had wireless intercom and I was able to talk her down till we went the two more miles to the house.
Interstingly, earlier in the day I was telling her "riding is always your first priority when you're in the saddle..........site seeing, thinking about work, home, life all comes second to being present in the here and now of your surroundings......as soon as you lapse into a lull is when the unexpected will happen". She learned that first hand by the time our ride was over.
Stay present, always, when you're in the saddle.
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Topic: The scare of my life....... (Read 3377 times)