Last man on the Road...

I named my motorcycle after my sister "Sincha". She passed away in April 2009 (complications from pancreatitis). She was 29 years old. I've had a couple of setbacks on the challenge. The first being a new rider. I received my motorcycle indorsement back in 2005 but have been off more than on. When I first got "Sincha", I drove once around the dealership parking lot and called my neighbor (the Ranger) to drive it 26 miles to my house. I was sooo unfamiliar with it that I couldnt just jump back on. On 11 Aug, on the tail end of the HWY 14 route in WA, I was trying to make miles and drive through the night. I noticed some road kill on the opposite lane and when I looked up it was too late. A wolf was in my lane eating road kill and my attempt to swerve wasn't enough and I clipped it with my gear shifter and left leg. I assessed my physical damage and knew I sprained/broke my left leg/ankle. I was able to move it so I knew it couldn't be that bad. When I tried to shift, the impact sent the shifter 90 degrees north so I stayed in 6th gear for a couple of miles till I could exit HWY 14. I slept behind a gas station with the shift manager's permission and pressed on to MT the next morning after I bent the shifter back into place until I could get it replaced at the next checkpoint...

I think it was on the 22 of Aug when I had my second incident. After driving through what I thought were the worst rains I've been through at the border of New Mexico, I tipped the bike over in Trementina. There's a new bridge construction out there in the middle of it all and I didn't take my time negotiating the terrain. The dirt was hard packed, until I got to the bottom... So now I'm nursing a swollen left leg, the bike ends up on my right leg/foot to even things out. I was able to push the bike off of me, but wasn't sure about getting her back on her kickstand. After a few minutes, the site mgr for the bridge shows up and helps me get her back... She starts up and push on...

From the beginning, it has never been about the money. Being a new rider, it was a snow ball's chance... I've served in the military for 24 years and I figured it was time to see our country that we've been defending... I ride for my sister who didn't get a chance to see all of this beautiful country... I ride to see family and friends along the way that I haven't seen in years... I ride because I'm still able and am thankful for all the military members still serving that allow us pursue all these freedoms...

Will I do the next challenge? If the timing and finances are right--maybe and with a windshield next time? 8)


Aristotle Liceralde #660