Went down today

[ells]

I did, the bike didn't. This is good, if I can tell it well --

It was a typical Sunday ride with my wife, Vicki, on the back. Headed north up past Fort Collins before turning into the mountains. Wanted to check out a couple camping areas for later in the summer. Being close to lunch time and starting to get out into the boondocks, the little general store/gas station/Mom&Pop restaurant/deli at a turn off from north bound US287 was a good candidate for a stop, and the only thing around.

Had stopped there a few times before and knew it was going to involve dealing with a disorganized free-for-all unpaved parking lot. Not sure what "un-paved" is in many other parts of the country, but here it is rough with thin sand and gravel and small rocks, but usually dry and manageable. There were a couple other bikes already parked there when we pull in. Picked the same general area as, but good distance from, a new Harley, at least it had a temporary tag.

Had our lunch and struck up some pleasant conversation with the new-to-him ('03 Dyna Glide) Harley owner, which continued as we went back to the bikes and prepared to leave. Chatted a little more, he really like the idea of water cooled engines and thought the Nomad bags were great. I said a couple positive things to him and said our goodbyes. Choose not to suggest that he should have bought a Nomad.

Now, Vicki is still sort of on the mend from knee replacement surgery a few months ago and has decided she prefers to get on the bike before me while it is on the kickstand, and with me holding onto the bike for her piece of mind, she then backs into the seat and throws her right leg over in front of her. Then I do the lift-the-right-leg thing, like a dog on a fire hydrant (thanks for that visual Dan L), and pop it over the seat and get on.

Well, that little maneuver requires that you (or at least it will if you don't think it through) start out with your left foot pointed towards the bike and then with your right leg at its highest point over the seat and while trying to avoid scuffing the tank, you need to twist your body to get you facing forward and complete the ridiculously simple little endeavor.

Well, when I did that twist with all my weight on my left foot, a couple rocks and some sand under my boot shifted, my ankle buckled with that causing my left knee to sympathetically release the pain as it is suppose to and down I went backward sprawling on to my back in the parking lot.

Did I mention there were several people watching because we were parked in front of the outdoor seating for the deli? I laid there a couple seconds doing inventory and then began to realize how clumsy/ridiculous/stupid/humorous/idiotic/dopey it must have looked to the others and started laughing so hard I could hardly stop. Wasn't sure how many others had noticed but felt like everyone in the world was looking at me. Vicki was first concerned, then embarrassed to be with me, and then joined in the laughter.

My new Harley-owner-friend came over to see if all was okay and then joined in the fun too. He couldn't wait to tell me that little goof wasn't so bad because the day he picked up his new bike, he stalled it in the dealer's parking lot and dumped it right there in front of everyone. Bonded! (not really, I have my limits, but was nice of him)

With all okay, (yes, had my helmet on and may have actually tapped the back of it when I went down) we went off to reconnoiter the camp sites as planned and had an otherwise ordinary ride day. Only damage was a bump on my left kneecap that did not make much sense considering what happened unless I banged it into the bike (no mark on the bike) when I went down but was already feeling like way too much of a dope at that point to have noticed it.

Still working on what is the best way for Vic to get on and off the bike, she can get her leg up over the back rest but is a little unstable in doing that so that can be problematic. I think got the me-mounting-second method down pretty good now - be sure to check footing...

Geez, this is probably my longest post ever but wanted to share with those that can get thought it.

Ride (and mount) safe.