No Silly Grin From Nev

Saturday 14 April

Hi All...

Dave asked me to add in a few paragraphs to his 14 April entry, namely because my "Hog" and I figure prominently!

After a great morning ride from Phoenix to Sedona, which included a stop to kit up for wet weather, plus the mandatory coffee and wifi, (some things never change!) we motored into Sedona which seemed like a classy little town - stopped in a nice shopping centre but with full wets and pricey looking cafes we decided to carry on. We had already decided if the weather got crappy we would not proceed, but turn back, so our heads where in the right place already. So off we motor to the quiet throb of Mr Harley's 103 cubic inches with a sprinkling of snow flakes filtering down onto us - quite picture post card stuff.

As we progressed up the narrow two lane road out of town things began to get blurry for me? What's happening? Turns out those delicate snowflakes were turning into rime impact ice as they hit the full windscreen - no problem, a swish with the clutch hand glove like a single car wiper and vision restored.

I agreed with a call from Dave in front signalling his concern over the worsening conditions, and we agree to turn around when the opportunity to do so safely arises - next problem, this is a narrow road with double yellow centre markers, and alternating soft shoulder or Armco railing on either side, so taking a proper turn off / drive way is the only viable option. Another quick wiper arm and on we go still looking.

Next problem the road signs are been obliterated by snow acretion and the black tarmac is turning totally white in parts, still no safe points to turn. By now the  Bluetooth chatter is running hot - "My tyre track cutting through to tarmac  Nev?"  "Yep, good and clear Dave, you're doing fine, any place to turn?" "No can't see any".

The snow had suddenly turned the entire road white and all points of reference were lost , we could only slow down further and press on as there were now vehicles behind us as well as those coming from the opposite direction.  Now down in 1st and 2nd gears chugging along in tyre tracks a snow plough charges past in the opposite direction with a train of vehicles following - still no  chance to turn.  Finally on an uphill section after a gentle turn to the left with the bike vertical and straight I feel the rear end step out upon the most minor application of power to head up the rise at 10 mph?  Tried to correct on the bars to keep front going straight, but in the blink of an eye the mighty HD is sideways across the road and digs the RHS crash bar into the bitumen flicking me off in the process and pivoting the bike over to crunch the RH end of the batwing faring and grazing the RH pannier bright work.  I yell into the Bluetooth "I'm down Dave!"

"Are you OK mate, how much damage?"

I was OK and the bike was still rideable albeit a sad looking hog - the guy in the car behind and another going the other way stopped to assist and got me and hog to the other side of the road - Dave had stopped in the road ahead when he heard my call and manhandled his 300kg beast across the road probably powered by adrenaline as was I sitting astride my HD scared it would slip over if I went to assist him!

Forgot to mention the same snow plough dude rocketed past me just seconds after the event, swerved around the bike and congregation and uttered what I can assume was an obscenity as he speed off at about 30 mph  - we thanked him for his concern.

Did we screw up the decision making? No, we already had a strategy in place. Did we screw up the execution? Yep sort of, but on any other road this would not have happened as you could pull over. After staying in Sedona for 2 nights for conditions to clear, Dave and I departed the town on this same road with clear skies and it is a delight ride. We stopped at the site and found a bit of hog debris and verified the 'site' was straight, uphill and good road surface - it could only have been ice that caused it. Nothing else makes sense.

It could have been much much worse, like broken bones, bent bike - or worst of all run over by a snow plough!!! Shit Happens!