Got out late (12:30) because my wife had breakfast plans with a friend and I was on kid patrol (which I should do more often).
About 3 mi. into my planned 60, I roll past a guy with his road bike upside down changing a flat. I call out “you, ok” like I usually do and sense hesitation in his voice. After about 50 yards, something inside my head tells me to circle back. I do. He could not be more appreciative and after 5 min. futzing with the spare tube he had attempted to replace, I realize he had tweaked the valve stem rendering the tube un-inflatable. Although I had a long ride ahead of me and was prepared with 2 spares, I decided the odds were that I wouldn’t need both so I tossed him one. I helped him get the the new one going and peeled off to get my ride going (WAY BEHIND SCHEDULE). As I rode away, I heard him say “pay it forward”. I felt good.
The next 25 mi. or so were normal although there seemed to be more vehicles on the road (it’s been raining on and off for the last few weeks). A ton of motorcycles (individual and in groups) go by as I head into the hills of Palos Verdes. For whatever reason, I take notice of one particular bike. A beautiful custom chopper with a gal on the back. I rode motorcycles as a kid and my dad is an avid rider with 2 bikes so I kind of know this world too.
My legs were a bit sore from a long run on Sat. but I charged into PV wanting to prep for the hills to come in Oceanside 70.3 just weeks away. As I approach to turnoff the coast up into the climb, I see cars backed up on the coast road (something I’ve never seen here). I ask the the CHP officer setting up tape if I could continue through (thinking selfishly, it would F up my workout to turn around). He Paused, looked at me dead in the eyes and said “be careful”. Cautiously, I weaved through the accident scene…and to this moment, I can’t get the images out of my head. It was the beautiful bike I had noticed earlier and I can’t even begin to describe the scene.
Numb, I continue and climb like I have never climbed before. I wasn’t sure if I was going to do Crest but got to the top of the switchbacks and just needed to keep going (sorry non-SoCal people reference). At the top of Crest, I called my wife and told her that I loved her. I told her to put my daughter (6) on the phone and told her I loved her.
I powered home, called my dad on the East Coast and told him to be fucking careful on his motorcycle. Then, I did something I hadn’t done in a long, long time. As I went to the store to get some diner, I pulled the car over and cried my fucking eyes out.
Why am I writing this on ST? I have no idea.
Please be careful out there people.