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thebajarunner
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3732
Registered: 9-8-2003
Location: Arizona....."Free at last from crumbling Cali
Member Is Offline
Mood: muy amable
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Bike Crash
Sunday, March 21, mid-morning we were South of El Rosario, at the very top of the mountains. We travelled in a group of 6 vehicles, several pulling
boats, one pulling a trailer, but we try to keep spacing for anyone wanting to pass. (although 98% of the time we are doing the passing)
As we were cruising along the very top ridges of the Big Mountain a series of large street bikes began working their way through our group.
I was in the lead (my other nick-name is 'Forward Scout') and we were giving CB calls and watching to wave them past, as appropriate.
They all seemed to get by, then two more appeared in my mirror.
Just as we made a couple of sharp 'S' turns, albeit with plenty of visibility, here they came around. I gave them a left blinker and motioned them
by,
Then, to my utter horror I see the lead bike, full in my mirrors, lay down and slide across the road, through a highway turn arrow sign, plus a couple
of white posts and down a 25 foot bank.
Our guys stopped as well as they could from behind, and Baja Vida and I made a quick U-turn and got back up the hill.
Some of our guys were already directing traffic, two of our guys were down the hill with the rider, along with his travelling partner.
It looked real ugly as we slid down the dirt bank, the poor guy was in real pain, flat on his back.
A passing car stopped, lady said she was on oncology nurse (turned out to be not much help) and we were trying to assess his damage, a couple of us
got his green 650 Kawa on its wheels and skidded it across the highway, couldn't figure out how to get it out of gear until we got it into the dirt.
Bike seemed in better shape than the rider.
We went back, he was sitting somewhat upright but in real bad pain around the neck and shoulder.
Meanwhile a Mexican had stopped, along with a trucker, they called El Rosario from the truck and arranged for the ambulance to come, seems like the
ambu owner was related to the guy who was calling, never did quite get that part straight.
The other rider finally told us to go on, that help was on the way, we left some water and departed.
Later I realized that I had some Valium as well as some Demerol in my truck for emergencies (and for my occasional migraine) but it was probably just
as well that we did not dope him up.
The following Sunday we met "Ed" at the City Hall, with the bike, told us the El Rosario ambulance had brought him there, they took him to San Quintin
and eventually a San Diego ambulance took him back across the border.
By then he was back in a Calgary hospital with a broken collarbone and a "torn-up" knee. Someone was coming to fetch the bike.
One of our guys has the card of the companion rider but he has been in Bhutan and I have not gotten back this info. I wanted to send the guy some
fotos of his "great Baja adventure.'
The only other comment of note was that the other rider said, "We sit in Canada for 6 Winter months without riding, then we come down here and we are
pretty wobbly for a while." Yeah!!
All the folks who stopped, the trucker with the phone, the other guy with the ambulance relative, what a neat set of circumstances to help the guy
out.
As we departed for LABay we all commented that he was probably lucky it happened there and not on an LA freeway, he would still be lying amongst the
debris.
Sorry for the verbosity, but you asked.
Baja Vida may want to add something to this.
Baja Arriba!!
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Me No
Banned
Posts: 444
Registered: 11-24-2003
Member Is Offline
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You sure one of the drivers wasn't the drinker from Ensenada? Did you file a Report? Just as in the States you need to file in the case of bodily
injury. Your entire story smacks of trying to rewrite history. I, for one, would love to hear the riders story. You signalled to let him pass on a
curve? WTF. Your story, from what you have written, just does not add up. Who would signal anyone to pass going up that grade? They all "seemed to
get by". Why didn't you know they all got by, if you were in CB contact with the others in your group, as you claim? Then you say that they were
already coming by, but you still had to give them the blinker? All at the same time you were on S turns.
***************************************************
[Edited on 5-26-2004 by Me No]
[Edited on 5-26-2004 by BajaNomad]
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Bajabus
Senior Nomad
Posts: 892
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: Elias Calles B.C.S. or NC USA
Member Is Offline
Mood: My friends..it's good.
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ouch to both posts!
"Preventive war was an invention of Hitler. Frankly I would not even listen to anyone seriously that came and talked of such a thing."
Dwight David Eisenhower
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Mexray
Super Nomad
Posts: 1016
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: California Delta
Member Is Offline
Mood: Baja Time
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I think Me No's talking out his helmets' 'earhole', again...
Lighten up, Me No - you know as well as anyone, that it's the 'Passer's' responsibility to make sure it's safe to pass, and not the 'Passee' -
irrespective of the showing of a 'left blinker'...
I looks to me like Baja Runner is just telling it like he saw it. Also sounds like there were many good Samaritans involved at the site, to try and
help a fellow traveler.
I've ridden Moto's for years, and it always got my pulse going when hittin' the 'esses' in unfamiliar territory, much less in Baja, where some of the
curves tighten up as you run through them...it's also easy to get complacent, and then your tire hits a pebble at the wrong moment when you've got the
thing jacked over for max road balance - and find yourself laying it down! It's got to be really tough when one slides over a 25 foot embankment, to
boot!
Sure wish some good Baja Buddies like Baja Runner and his friends will stop for me if ever happens down there!
According to my clock...anytime is \'BAJA TIME\' & as Jimmy Buffett says,
\"It doesn\'t use numbers or moving hands It always just says now...\"
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Skeet/Loreto
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4709
Registered: 9-2-2003
Member Is Offline
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Thanks to Bajarunner!
Runner: Thank you for being Kind and Helpful. there are so many others out there that do not have the Ability or Balls to stop and help and Injured
person.
Fear rules their small-minded bodies.
You will do to "Ride the River with"!
God Bless You!
Skeet/Loreto
"In God I Trust"
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Me No
Banned
Posts: 444
Registered: 11-24-2003
Member Is Offline
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Mexray, as someone who has been run off the road by one of these caravans, I feel some answers are appropriate. Did the people I was involved with
stop? No, but I was in a truck and the result was less severe. Still, there is no mention of a police report, seems like he hightailed it out of
there ASAP, after making sure the guy wasn't going to die. So initially the guy may be OK with everything, but when he figures out that his insurance
isn't going to cover his medical, he might start wishing someone had cared enough to contact the authorities to make a record of what actually
happened.
Skeet,********************************************************************
[Edited on 5-31-2004 by Q87]
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thebajarunner
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3732
Registered: 9-8-2003
Location: Arizona....."Free at last from crumbling Cali
Member Is Offline
Mood: muy amable
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Mean people posting again
Me No, do your parents know you are up late using the computer?
When you grow up and your Mom takes you down to get a drivers license you can make cheap, "incoherent" shots at others that you do not know.
Meanwhile, put a lid on it, pal.
Those of us who drive the Baja highway know that the ridge road atop the mountain in question has stretches where you can literally see the forward
highway for a couple of miles, as was the case in point. I have been driving that road since before it was paved, I know where it is safe and where
it is not.
As to the guy passing, what do I have to do with him, it was clear ahead for a mile, he was in the other lane, I gave him the wave.
And yes, we travel in a caravan, and yes, if you had bothered to read my post you would note that we are concious of this and keep spacing for others
to pass.
As to driving an hour back to El Rosario to report an accident which I had no part of, you must be kidding, right?
We left the scene only after assurances that the ambulance was en route and the rider's partner insisted that we had done what we could, thanks and go
on your way.
Which part of all this did you not understand???
Thanks to the rest for chiming in with me.
Baja Arriba!!
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Me No
Banned
Posts: 444
Registered: 11-24-2003
Member Is Offline
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More likely they had their hands full driving a rig that they had no business in to begin with.
One thing you people seem to forget, is that this is an internet discussion group. We can put all the niceties away and have a meaningful discussion
that benifits everyone. One lined jabs to little to further the discussion. So if you honestly don't care about this subject, or know all you need
to know, try not to screw it up.
Truth be told, I hardly ever have met someone in Baja I didn't like. I'm too busy having fun, and catching fish to worry about all the crap. After
all there is plenty of people on Nomads to take up the slack
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KurtG
Super Nomad
Posts: 1211
Registered: 1-27-2004
Location: California Central Coast
Member Is Offline
Mood: Press On Regardless!!
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I can't see that Bajarunner did anything improper at all and don't see the need or obligation for him to stick around and do an accident report. I've
been riding Hwy 1 several times a year for 30 years now and never forget that I am responsible for my own safety. I appreciate it when a truck or
other vehicle gives me the signal to pass but I make the decision to pass or not based on my experience and judgement. When riders new to Baja are
along I always give them a little "Baja Lecture" on that subject and make sure they understand that the Life Flight helicoper will not show up. No
one forced the rider to make that pass at that place and the bad results are no one's fault but his. Two years ago I had a bike mishap near San
Isidro/La Purisima that I described on the old Amigos board, the help I got from the local people there was incredible and the memories of how great
they were helped offset the subsequent lengthy recovery.
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Me No
Banned
Posts: 444
Registered: 11-24-2003
Member Is Offline
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Kurt G, Thanks for your thoughtful answer.
"Two years ago I had a bike mishap near San Isidro/La Purisima that I described on the old Amigos board, the help I got from the local people there
was incredible and the memories of how great they were helped offset the subsequent lengthy recovery."
I have heard many stories like this, people in Baja really look out for one another.
"I appreciate it when a truck or other vehicle gives me the signal to pass but I make the decision to pass or not based on my experience and
judgement."
What if you were the last in a line of motorcyclists going down the grade runner describs. Forward scout has given all the others the blinker at the
appropriate time, now your turn comes. You can see it is clear to pass, that much is agreed. The blinker is given, that much is agreed, but right
when you go to pass, the vehicle shifts into your lane and knocks you off the road. Runner admitted he didn't know the guy was coming around. Then
he says he did see him, but he was already passing. WTF? Now unless he is the only person pulling a trailer in Baja that doesn't use both lanes when
going around sharp corners in baja, something is missing here. Not to mention, coincedently at the same time all this was happening the guy just lost
control of his bike. All by himself. Heres how Runner explains this.
"We sit in Canada for 6 Winter months without riding, then we come down here and we are pretty wobbly for a while."
Give me a break the guy had ridden all the way from canada, and 300 miles into Mexico, all without incident.
Tell me Runner**************************
[Edited on 5-31-2004 by Q87]
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KurtG
Super Nomad
Posts: 1211
Registered: 1-27-2004
Location: California Central Coast
Member Is Offline
Mood: Press On Regardless!!
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Same answer as before, trucks tend to run over into the oncoming lane when there is no oncoming traffic so I make sure the trucker has seen my light
in his mirror. They invariably move over at that point. I am very carefull around RV's especially those pulling trailers. I again try to make sure
the driver is aware of me and if not wait until I am comfortable making the pass. Sometimes that involves blowing by fast if I feel that is safest.
Another factor is that there was a group of bikes here and a lot of riders just don't ride well in groups, if their buddy passed well by God they're
going to pass also whether it is marginal or not. But what it all comes down to from my perspective as a rider for some 45 years is that it is the
motorcyclist's responsibilty to make these safety related decisions. Another factor is that the riders came down good US highways from Canada and as
we all know starting at El Rosario takes a different mind set and riding and driving attitude than before that point. I'm fortunate in that I live
where I can ride Ca Hwy 1 through Big Sur on a regular basis which is excellent prep for riding Mex 1.
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Me No
Banned
Posts: 444
Registered: 11-24-2003
Member Is Offline
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All true. However, if the driver of the trailer signals you to pass, and all is clear, then the driver pulling the trailer gets over unexpectedly.
Bloop over the edge. Seems like a lot of coincidences for the guy just to have gone down by himself at that moment. Maybe, BUT?
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M
Nomad
Posts: 392
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: Laguna Niguel, CA.
Member Is Offline
Mood: looking for joy...
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Observations from M. (putting on protective gear now)
Minnow, at least you still have a penchant for picking handles that actually DO describe you.
Changing from ?Minnow? (Small) to ?Me-No? still seems to fit the bill. ?No?, a negative. Fits with,
'Happy-Mad', ?For-Against?, ?Up-Down?, ?Friendly-Mean?, ? Yes-No??
?Me-No?, appropriate.
You still look for suspicious untruths and make nasty comments in even the most conversational posts. Let me just point out a few things that makes me
want to bother responding to you at all.
BajaRunner posted a very interesting adventure, a good story, and an example of the courtesy that Amigos try to show both locals and other Baja
travelers. Give aid if needed, leave water, make sure help is on the way, signaling ?OK to pass? is another thing I appreciate from locals and
travelers.
Stopping to give assistance was very cool not leaving until help was on the way was appropriate. If ANYBODY was responsible to file a police report it
was the victim. BR didn?t flee the scene, avoid the police or consider the wasted time from his vacation. Look at your comments and responses
*** ***Thanks to BajaRunner
Runner: Thank you for being Kind and Helpful. There are so many others out there that do not have the Ability or Balls to stop and help and Injured
person.
Fear rules their small-minded bodies.
God Bless You!
Skeet/Loreto ****
You responded
Me-No
Skeet, are you OK? Your posts are becoming less and less coherent.
(WHAT? WHERE DID THAT COME FROM ME-NO? PRETTY MEAN AND LESS THAN COHERENT)
BajaRunner
**** And yes, we travel in a caravan, and yes, if you had bothered to read my post you would note that we are conscious of this and keep spacing for
others to pass.****
You responded
Me-No
More likely they had their hands full driving a rig that they had no business in to begin with.
(WAS THAT NECESSARY? JUST A VICIOUS COMMENT) One thing you people seem to forget, is that this is an Internet discussion group. (WE
PEOPLE?) We can put all the niceties away and have a meaningful discussion that benefits everyone. (ONLY SEEM TO BE MEANINGFUL TO
YOU) One lined little jabs to to further the discussion. So if you honestly don't care about this subject, or know all you need to know, try
not to screw it up. Truth be told, I hardly ever have met someone in Baja I didn't like. (BLATANT LIE) I'm too busy having fun, and catching
fish to worry about all the crap. (CAUSE IT) After all there is plenty of people on Nomads to take up the slack. (WHY
DO YOU POST ON A BOARD TO PEOPLE YOU OBVIOUSLY DESPISE?)
Me-No, I could go on and on pointing out your nasty comments in this and other posts. Why are you so mean?
I fully expect you to unleash both barrels on me because that is who you are, and the most ?RIGHTIOUS HYPOCRITE? seems to be you. (Well, there are
other visitors that behave the same, no need to further stir THAT pot, but I expect their comments any minute).
Regards and wishing you more mental joy.
M
[Edited on 26-5-2004 by M]
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thebajarunner
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3732
Registered: 9-8-2003
Location: Arizona....."Free at last from crumbling Cali
Member Is Offline
Mood: muy amable
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Thanks
I really did not want to respond again to this person who does not know me (but has all kinds of opinions about me)
My Mom used to read us the story of "The Tar Baby"
The Tar Baby was a most inviting target to hit, kick, pummel and generally take advantage of. But, every time you hit the Tar Baby, you got more tar
on yourself.
So, I was not headed back for the tar pit until you spoke.
For the record (For my Nomad friends, not for Mr. Nasty)
1. I am an excellent driver. People who ride with me commend me on this.
2. We were well aware of the bikes, we did signal them past, there was plenty of visibility and safety, he just lost it.
3. I absolutely, absolutely, absolutely did not crowd the line, knowing I had just waved someone around. What kind of competent driver would do
that?
4. The bikers had trailered from Canada and were not at all comfortable, as yet, from the Winter layoff. Remember, this was March, they were guys in
their 50's, not kids, they had just gotten to the first twisting roads.
5. No, I was not the one who was "busted" in Ensenada for drinking beer in the 'Burb. Not my style, sorry.
6. And finally, my age, while it is none of your business I will say that if you check the records for the 1972 Mexican 1000 I finished second in a
truck, and I am not yet collecting Social Security.... does that help?
Thanks for all who came to my rescue, first time I have had a blind ambush on this board, and frankly it gave me brief pause as to whether I wanted to
stay, or not.
Baja Arriba!!!
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BajaVida
Senior Nomad
Posts: 541
Registered: 9-1-2003
Location: Motown, Califas
Member Is Offline
Mood: muy cool
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WTF
I was the passenger in thebajarunner's truck. He did nothing wrong, the biker just lost it.
Why not blame those that whizzed on by not giving a damn about what had happened to the downed biker.
Get your facts straight before damning the good samaritan.
The downed biker was most appreciative of our concern, that is what really counts, not the complaints from Tuesday morning quarterbacks. Get a
life!!!!!
No se apure y dure.
Don\'t hurry and you\'ll last longer.
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Debra
Super Nomad
Posts: 2101
Registered: 10-31-2002
Location: Port Orchard Wa./Bahia de Los Angeles BC
Member Is Offline
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"MMMMMMMMM"
YOU GO GIRL!!!!!!! 
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thebajarunner
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3732
Registered: 9-8-2003
Location: Arizona....."Free at last from crumbling Cali
Member Is Offline
Mood: muy amable
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Thanks Baja Vida
If Mr. Nasty really does ride a bike, with or without a motor, he should be very happy that guys like us drive the Baja Transpeninsular Carreterra.
Baja Arriba!!
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tim40
Senior Nomad
Posts: 574
Registered: 3-29-2004
Location: Manhattan Beach
Member Is Offline
Mood: There yet?
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Amen!
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Me No
Banned
Posts: 444
Registered: 11-24-2003
Member Is Offline
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Bajarunner,
******************************************************************************************************************************************************
******************************************************************************************************************************************************
************************
[Edited on 5-31-2004 by Q87]
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M
Nomad
Posts: 392
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: Laguna Niguel, CA.
Member Is Offline
Mood: looking for joy...
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Lets give Me-No a standing ovasion!!!!
There is nothing left to do now folks. You know and I know what we are all thinking so lets just smile and thank God for being generous with us.
You can't teach a pig to sing, it's a waste of your time and only annoys the pig.
Bye the way Me-No, better READ THE FACTS (As you preach).
I was wishing YOU more mental joy
As for how you picked your handle, Me-No, I am well aware you thought it cute that that is how the Mexicans pronounce Minnow. A clever little play on
pronunciation. Tee Hee, yeah, WE ALL got that. I simply pointed out what an EXTRA little bonus that it still remains very descriptive of you.
Also spanglish for "not me", of COURSE not Me-No, your perfect right?
Let me explain I AM POINTING OUT IRONY AND FITTING COINCIDENCE.
Have a nice day. 
M
[Edited on 27-5-2004 by M]
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