Headed out on September 7th with my friend Milos....destination:  Theodosia, Missouri.  Just across the Arkansas border, on lovely Bull Shoals lake.

We planned to camp at the lake with a few hundred other sportbike riders as part of a Honda sponsored event.  Riding on the 7th and 8th was fantastic, camped out the night of the 8th, and suited up for a fun ride on the morning of the 9th.

I was leading a group of 12 or 15 people down a particular hiway, hiway 341.  Referred to as "The Arkansas Dragon" or "dead man's curve" , it's quite a twisty and fun stretch of road.

I came around a somewhat sharp corner to see a bunch of squirrels eating the corn out of some somewhat-fresh cow poop.    Immediately I said "oh shit" and tried to slow down.

That is the last memory I have.

I woke up about 30 hours later in the ICU with a respirator and breathing tube down my throat.

I have 8 broken ribs, a severely broken collar bone, a broken scapula (shoulder blade) and my left lung had collapsed.

I was in ICU for 3 days, and i spent 8 days in the hospital.  Daily X-Rays and (3) MRI's later I've been released and I'm at home, at my parents house.

I was life-flighted from the crash scene to the hospital, i remember nothing, my friends say i was trying to get back on the bike and i said i was fine, i remember nothing, and i was told that i screamed and struggled in pain when i was strapped onto the back-board....very glad i don't remember that.

I'll have some pictures of the helicopter/medics, the aftermath of my bike (which i haven't seen yet), and some pictures of my bruises and broken collar bone...but tonight i'm too tired and can't be bothered.

GOod news though -- the ortho surgeon said my right shoulder is a knotted ugly mess, but it will be fine and good as it was before in a couple weeks, just some strained ligaments and no perm. damage from the haybale hauling.  Happy days on that one i guess ?.

-m  

Here's a couple pictures of my broken collarbone....