Road hazard

[skeeter]

The angels were working overtime! Saturday, Texas VROC went to Snook for some Chicken-fried bacon. I was alone going thru Austin near the airport on the way to the meet when 2 lanes over a guy loses a matress off his trailer. Here it came, flipping thru the air comin up broadside. I was grabbin the binders and bracing for impact....

The person in the lane next to me ate it with their SUV. I did pray before the trip and give thanks to God and a special thanks to the person next to me. Later I wondered if they saw my predicament and ate it on purpose. Lord bless them either way.

I noticed quite a bit of furniture on the roadside that day. People getting by without securing their loads properly. I ended up behind a guy hauling lumber with a few cinder blocks on top to keep the boards down (at least he was going real slow).

When we did the meet in Palestine, we dodged furniture on the way home.

[misunderstood]

Were they on their cell phone ?? Glad you came thru unscathed.

Another thought, all that crap ya see alongside the road most likely was in the road originally. That would be pieces of 2x4, tire treads off of semis, lamp shades, you get the picture.At night one would never see most of that stuff, just run over or into it.

[markusmaximus]

I appreciate reading about these close calls. It reminds me to be ever mindful of the lurking dangers and my greater risk on the bike. Glad to ead this one had a happy ending.

[pablo]

Glad you made it Skeeter. I saw the remains of a matress on I-45 Saturday, while I was going to Conroe. It looked like it used to be a pillow top judging from all the torn up padding. Must have been a bad day for matresses (not to mention those that ran into them).

My most recent exciting moment was due to loose gravel. In the middle of a curve, they had just tarred and graveled; no signs or any warning. I wasn't going real fast, but slid out and just about ran out of road before I got control back. It looked like I was about to take a ride through the trees for a second or two.

I don't see too much of this on my normal rides, but one day on the freeway a propane barbecue came out of somebody's truck at about 65 MPH. The grill itself came to pieces as it hit the road, but the frightening part was seing the propane tank rip loose and bounce down the road ahead of me. I'm sure I would have seen lots of sparks had it been dark.

Fortunately I was far enough back to miss all the debris.

Anyhow, I never crowd people who are towing trailers full of junk, or pickups full of junk. People are just awful about how they tie (or don't tie) things down.

[cactusjack]

Okay, I have to show my obvious ignorance here. What exactly is "chicken-fried bacon"?

[mcdaddy]

Skeeter, there were 8 of us from the Austin area that went to Snook last Saturday. Woody leading and I'm next to last.

Some idiot in an SUV pulls out and starts passing us on the two lane, winding road between McDade and Lexington. It's all marked with the double yellow (no passing).

The guy is about mid way around us as the road curves and here comes a couple of oncoming cars. Lucky enough there is a paved shoulder on the far side of the road and the guy passing us pulls all the way to the left shoulder. The first oncoming car passed between him and us. Then he pulls back across and breaks into our line before the second oncoming car comes by.

It was a good thing our guys were paying attention and broke open a hole for him to pull into.

btw .. Somebody said you ate 2 orders of Chicken Fried Bacon http://s2.images.proboards.com/grin.gif
http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r47/KMcLellan50/MCHSnook005.jpg

[rlfaubion]

We had a biker killed last year here on I-80 hitting a mattress in the fast lane that put him into the wall. Glad your deal worked out for you. Be safe brothers...

[jussmatt]

Glad you made it ok skeeter...and everybody else for that matter!!!!!

I-45 around here is a HAVEN for ALLLLL sorts of house hold items. On our last trip back to Houston from Palistine, LW dang near ate a refridgerator!!! Right in the middle of I-45...where it's 4 or 5 lanes wide!! Cages were going everywhere to try and miss this thing...since it's bumper to bumper and as fast as you can go (usually around 80mph).. it was a mess!!! If I remember LW locked it up and was able to come put without any misshaps!! It's crazy out there!!!!!

Cadd...I can't imagine your "pucker" factor when you saw that propane tank bouncing around!! I've seen tanks like that turn into missile!! And they can cause some damage!!!!

[cactusjack]

Out here in the desert, there's a highway between the towns of Maricopa and Gila Bend, about 35 miles of open desert and a couple of gigantic commercial landfills. There's a dead cow carcass along the side of the road that (I'm told) has been there for at least 2 years.

I saw a dumb**s hauling a big screen TV a few years ago, it was standing up in the bed of a pickup truck. The light turned green, the driver hit the gas, and the tv slid back and did an endo over the tailgate onto the asphalt. Idiot didn't have it strapped down! I laughed so hard I almost wet my pants.

[ringadingh]

Over the years Ive seen a lot of things fly off trucks and trailers. The DOT here is really clamping down on people with any type of trailer, they check them for lights, tires, hookup, and weight ratings. They have been out the last couple weekends checking people bringing home topsoil and garden supplies. A few years ago a pickup truck was coming towards me on a two lane highway, as we got close to each other his tailgate fell off and was sailing through the air right towards me. I hit the brakes and lay down across the seat, because it looked like it was coming in through the windshield. Fortunately it landed just in front of me and I ran it over. I was ready to change my shorts right then and there.

[bobzinger]

PTL Skeeter!

[cactusjack]

Around here we have what are known as "Arizona Alligators", aka separated treads from a semi-truck tire. The roads are littered with them.

Cadd...I can't imagine your "pucker" factor when you saw that propane tank bouncing around!! I've seen tanks like that turn into missile!! And they can cause some damage!!!!

It was a 9 out of 10 on the old pucker meter that's for sure. http://s2.images.proboards.com/lipsrsealed.gif

[Cajunrider]

Always keep your distance behind trailered boats also. In their haste to trailer their boat at the launch, there is always something in the boat that was neglected to be tied down. Could be a life preserver, plastic ice bag, paddle, rod and reel, tackle box to name a few. Any could cause a serious problem for a biker.....

[skeeter]

btw .. Somebody said you ate 2 orders of Chicken Fried Bacon http://s2.images.proboards.com/grin.gif
http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r47/KMcLellan50/MCHSnook005.jpg



MMMmm M. M. Mmmmmm.......BACON, batter-dipped, and deep fried!!!

I got there about 15 min late and I was only half done when others started getting up so, I got a go box and rounded up all the loose stragglers. Cain't see it goin ta waste.

Left with the Austin group and as the last two veered off I began to hear a strange squeal from behind me. Not to worry... I knew immediately what the problem was and a soon as I got off the freeway, I pulled into a nice shady parking lot. I got off the bike and opened my bags and there it was.........

a box full of little porkers just crying to fulfill their destiny!

There I was munchin on these delectibles, people would walk by, first the nose would twitch then the mouth would water. As the sad eyes came around I knew I was in a bad neighborhood and in serious trouble. I quickly shut the door on delight and zoomed off on my trusty Nomad.
I stopped 3 times and each time the scene unfolded the same.
I didn't feel safe til I rode into the shed.


I saved Laurie a couple pieces. It was the best I could do...

[skeeter]

Yes bobzinger PTL for some time after.

Thanks everyone for all the input. It's a good reminder to be watchful. No sense in goin before your time if you can help it.

I think we need to look out for others. If at all possible I will stop and remove little surprises such as bricks, rocks (fist size and up), form lumber, rebar (it was on a sharp curve and I could could just picture a bike coming round and...), pipe and trash bags to name a few. Just toss to the side of the road and go on.

[mcdaddy]

<blockquote>I will stop and remove little surprises such as bricks, rocks (fist size and up), form lumber, rebar (it was on a sharp curve and I could could just picture a bike coming round and...), </blockquote>

Good for you Skeeter, my son-in-law that was with us at Snook went down yesterday for exactly that reason. Bricks spread across the road in the middle of a curve.

He is ok, and the bike suffered only minor injury (turn signal broken off and scraps to lower fairing.) Could have been worse. PTL.

[cactusjack]

Battered, deep fried bacon? Wow, if that isn't a cardiologist's dream come true, I don't know what is! http://s2.images.proboards.com/grin.gif

Must be a "southern delicacy", like collard greens and hush puppies? I've just never heard of it before. It does sound good, though. Do you dip them in anything, or just eat them as is?

[nomad1600]

On Memerial Day, bigdave and myself were riding back from Black Mountain NC on I-40 and the traffic started to back up when we got to the problem, it was a boat sitting on top of the inside guard rail that came off their trailer. I guess they got into a hurry to leave the boat ramp and didn't secure the boat. That could have ruined your day if it had hit another vehicle.

Chicken Fried Bacon I'm from the south CJ and I've never heard of that before but we do like or collard greens and Pork BBQ with huspuppies. But we do have the cardiologist's dream FRIED PORK SKINS. Y'all come back now, ya hear http://s2.images.proboards.com/cheesy.gif

[jussmatt]

Dang guys....y'all are making me hungry!!!!

[Todd]

I gotta try me some of that Chicken Fried Bacon !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hmmm...
MacMac should have been around here to tell about the flying Coleman canoe that chased him down the highway....

I wonder if he's OK?

[unwind2]

If at all possible I will stop and remove little surprises such as bricks, rocks (fist size and up), form lumber, rebar (it was on a sharp curve and I could could just picture a bike coming round and...), pipe and trash bags to name a few. Just toss to the side of the road and go on.

I've done the same thing. Glad to hear I'm not the only one who does this. :-*

[dantama]

I loaned my pickup truck to somebody who got a piano for free after the death of a relative (my relative, so I was over there). I loaned them the truck to take it to their house, and they loaded it up. I had tie downs behind the seat and got them out for them to use.

They didn't want to use them, and said that they'd by fine. I expressed my concerns again, and was rebuffed. They left slowly.

They came back not too long later with a dent in the rail of my truck where the piano went overboard on a turn and was destroyed.

I know of somebody else who thought that a sofa was too big to have to worry about tying down. Going down the freeway it lifted itself up and out of the bed of the truck onto the freeway.

It really does pay to tie things down, and tie downs are the easiest.

[macmac]

Yeah I'm fine, been rockin' the new addition in the garden.

Skeeter, I had that exact thing happen in 2002. The thing was a flyin' Coleman Canoe, on the 4th of July. I was riding Liberty (XS 850 SH or a yammi triple) to a local event where i had been invited to go, but didn't really want to go. I noticed this canoe on a SUV was tied with jute bailing twine, just before it launched straight up, and landed just feet ahead of me up right to glide towards the on coming traffic. This road is major Rt 16 in NH, at 55 MPH, but just one lane each way.

The SUV fool decided to hit the stompers and jam things up while the cager behind me had no clue, and there was just this little place in the middle where I raced to, and dodge back in, now ahead of the SUV.

My pucker factor was a 10.5 fer shure!

Ah! Yes the mattress... About 1 month later I guess, a friggin bed mattress came off another fools SUV, but this time it was different, much different, because i rolled right over it in my 1984 Chevy 1/2 ton 4x4, with a grin, and giving the ROYAL BIRD to the driver, who had enough foresite to not return it.

The thing there, was I could have swerved / stopped, but wanted to KILL that matteress to prove a point, and the last of that thing I saw was hunks of it blowing out for maybe 5 miles off the bottom of my truck. What makes this funnier, is this truck is in mil camo paint, because that is easy to fix..

[skeeter]

I loaned my pickup truck to somebody who got a piano for free after the death of a relative (my relative, so I was over there). I loaned them the truck to take it to their house, and they loaded it up. I had tie downs behind the seat and got them out for them to use.

They didn't want to use them, and said that they'd by fine. I expressed my concerns again, and was rebuffed. They left slowly.

They came back not too long later with a dent in the rail of my truck where the piano went overboard on a turn and was destroyed.


Dan, I'm having flashbacks. Would that have been in Kerrville?
I happened to be at a friends house with a similar family/piano move taking place. I also expressed concern for the tie down and was rebuffed. Didn't make it past the second turn.

CJ- I think they serve with gravy. I don't do gravy.
It's bad for ya!

McD- Thankful your son in law came thru OK. It was nice to meet him and see everyone else.

macmac- I loved the way you made your point. LMBO! I drive a 89 dodge 1 ton flatbed. It has, presence. Intend on on putting a grill guard on and hanging busted taillights on it like Christmas ornaments. Maybe people will think twice before pulling in front of me.

[macmac]

Skeeter, consider camo. I am serious, it is easy to fix... Then NO ONE dares pull out. Camo gets me teased a lot,and I need not mention all the gags, but NO ONE DARES to cut me off ever!

By coincidence I have the same yellow strobe for plowing, that the local National Guard has, and once I dammn near caused a mess on Interstate 91 over in VT. I was headed North from a primitive event, while a convoy was headed South for real. All those drivers had a wild look on their faces, as if orders had changed and they didn't know! LOL

[macmac]

For kicks this is that truck wghich I still have and "Liberty" which I still have too. But I posted it this way incase the post needs to be deleted for any reason..
http://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll275/Mac_Muz/Chevy/80ff.jpg

http://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll275/Mac_Muz/Liberty/2fd4.jpg

http://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll275/Mac_Muz/Liberty/f2b6.jpg

...I was headed North from a primitive event, while a convoy was headed South for real. All those drivers had a wild look on their faces, as if orders had changed and they didn't know! LOL

http://s2.images.proboards.com/grin.gif

I don't suppose you showed 'em your AK-47, being it was a primative event. The squirrel gun would have set them back a notch. ;)

[jussmatt]

Liberty sure is pretty Macmac!!! And being from the deeeep south.... I like the truck too!! LOL!

[socwkbiker]

You would like the camo you redneck.

[macmac]

Nope no brass cat'ridge arms that day, just flinters... My Ak's don't go to far... The underfolder lives behind the truck seats, and the other 2 live under the bed, due to the candy monster, who lives there too!

That monster leaves candy wrappers all over the carpet, where I find them in the morning.

Matt LOL I wonder how ya might like 6'6" os SNOW That truck beats back the snow 'round here all winter...

[jussmatt]

You would like the camo you redneck.


Who rang your bell and asked you to chime in baldy!!!! LOL!

[jussmatt]

Matt LOL I wonder how ya might like 6'6" os SNOW That truck beats back the snow 'round here all winter...

I've been up to my ears in snow before... just choose to stay WAY back down here where I don't have to worry about that 4 letter word anymore.... Now I just have to put up with 6' of Bull Sh!t named SWB!!! LOL!

I like Camo. And I'm a city boy. I wonder how the Nomad would look in desert camo...? ;)

[skeeter]

OOOOOOoooooo! Dassa niiice paint job

[macmac]

The 1600 has yet to speak... If and When it does it will get new paint..

Somehow i recalled today, just now infact I was 'the Road Hazzard' the day I bought the 1500 used.

It was down in Mass outside Boston, on a Friday gray rainy early evening when I handed over the cash! I got a little confused at some signs, one saying Interstate 95 was thru a rotary, and another seeminly going to a National Guard complex.

Well I entered that rotary bassakwards, and SUV drivers were droppin their cell phones, while other's rightly gave me the Royal Bird, and still others, shook a fist.

It took a little time to recover, but it was just so much fun I'ld like to go do it again!

[jussmatt]

Macmac... you're one of a kind buddy!!! I'm glad you're here!! Your stories are priceless!! LOL!

Yeah, but if he tries to tell you one about a partridge, don't believe it. http://s2.images.proboards.com/grin.gif

[cactusjack]

The 1600 has yet to speak... If and When it does it will get new paint..

Somehow i recalled today, just now infact I was 'the Road Hazzard' the day I bought the 1500 used.

It was down in Mass outside Boston, on a Friday gray rainy early evening when I handed over the cash! I got a little confused at some signs, one saying Interstate 95 was thru a rotary, and another seeminly going to a National Guard complex.

Well I entered that rotary bassakwards, and SUV drivers were droppin their cell phones, while other's rightly gave me the Royal Bird, and still others, shook a fist.

It took a little time to recover, but it was just so much fun I'ld like to go do it again!

What's a "rotary"? Is that what we refer to as a traffic circle or roundabout? I hate those g*d**n things!

Yeah, that's what they call a traffic circle in Bahstun.

[skeeter]

The 1600 has yet to speak... If and When it does it will get new paint..

Somehow i recalled today, just now infact I was 'the Road Hazzard' the day I bought the 1500 used.

It was down in Mass outside Boston, on a Friday gray rainy early evening when I handed over the cash! I got a little confused at some signs, one saying Interstate 95 was thru a rotary, and another seeminly going to a National Guard complex.

Well I entered that rotary bassakwards, and SUV drivers were droppin their cell phones, while other's rightly gave me the Royal Bird, and still others, shook a fist.

It took a little time to recover, but it was just so much fun I'ld like to go do it again!

I like it! Livin on the edge!