Once out of the neighborhood we made a left on Green Valley Road and started on a few hills. This spread the group out a bit and slowed some of us down. Soon enoug we were making our way down the last hill and getting ready to turn left onto Salmon Falls Road. We took a quick break here and then continued on. The first couple miles of this is very nice. All of sudden you're out in the country, beautiful hills, and no neighborhoods. Cars are usually few this early in the morning so we had the road to ourselves. We climbed a few more hills and then raced down the other side. Somehow Chris Gale's seat decided to come off. I stopped on the down hill and picked it up for him. At the bottom was the main bridge. From this point on it's nothing but climbing. We spent the next 45 minutes climbing up and out of the area. The I caught up to the Cook's on the first Tandem. Then after a bit the second Tandem was pulled over for a rest, sounds good to me. After a minute or two I started back up the road. Up around the bend the rest of the group was waiting. Once the Tandems were back with the group we all took off. From here the pace quickened as we started another down hill descent. Soon enough we were at the end and came to the town of Pilot. Once here we made a left on Highway 49 to make our way to Cool.
The group was spread out once again but some of us were sticking together and trading drafting. Chris pulled up ahead with McKay and Doug. I stayed back with Jordan and another cyclist. Just as we pulled into Cool there were a few rain drops and the clouds looked like they were going to open up on us. As we came into Cool we all pulled off to the gas station. I thought we would be stopping for a bit but we stayed for just a quick 5 minutes. Just enough time to let everyone catch up including the tandems. Soon enough we were back on the road and forming one large paceline. The road was starting to narrow and the traffic was thining out for brief moment.
We were just coming out of Cool, getting ready to go up the last hill and then drop down into the river confluence where the North Fork and the Middle Fork of the American River meet. We had just past the rock quarry. Doug Kelley was taking the lead followed by the Cook Tandem and McKay Florence close behind. I was just back a bit from McKay as we made our way through. The road seemed a little on the wet side in some patches, it had just sprinkled a few drops, and there was dust on the road from the trucks as they come out of the quarry. With the little bit of rain and dust it was a thin film of slick mud. That's when the tandem with Keith and Ann Cook went down, hard. As soon as they went down my front tire went out from under me as I hit the same slippery spot they did. I don't remember if I hit my brakes or not, all I remember is the bike went down and so did I.
Anne was hurt bad; nose bleeding, pupils fully dilated, and unconscious. She came to after a few minutes and was in pain. An EMT was just behind us and watched the whole thing from his car, he stopped to help. He called for the helicopter to come in because Ann was not responding correctly.
I landed close to the side of the road and just lay that for a bit. I was dazed and confuzed. The pain was starting to come in waves. The left hand was started to throb, the glove was torn on the top, I removed it to look at a number of cuts from the road. The right arm was in pain, I looked and saw a number of raw spots starting along the elbow. The legs were fine, just dusty from rolling around. Head was fine, back is okay, right shoulder is painful, I can move it fine. I sat up and took in the scene. Two cyclists were down, cars were starting to back up, Dough and McKay started to directed traffic immidiately. Linda Hatch was tending to Ann with the EMT. Others were on the phone with 911.
It was amazing how fast everyone arrived. Within about 3 minutes a park ranger pulled up with lights flashing. He pulled out his first aid back packs. He was on his radio most of the time. Two minutes later the two fire trucks were on the scene. Three minutes later a helicopter was circling over head. The EMT had called for the lifeflight to come in as Ann was seizing. About the time that the helicopter was landing the Ambulance pulled up. We all stood there in awe as we watched the helicopter began the approach. Where the heck was he going to land? He angled it in, closer to the trees, pulled back a littled, dropped down some more, then the back of the skids touched down on the road at angle, and then he cut the power and let the skids drop to the road. We all stood there watching, that was so cool!
The pilots were out and coming to where Ann lay. The firemen had already gotten Ann prepped on a back board and had her ready to go. After a quick check they lifted her up off the ground and took her to the waiting helicopter. They told Keith to go home and change then met them at the hospital. Ann would be fine they said.
Linda Hatch came over to me next and wanted to be sure I was okay. The hand was starting to swell and she told me to get the wedding ring off. It took a minute but I finally got it off. She asked if I could move the shoulder, the arms, was anything in extreme pain. Doug came me some advil to help with the pain. I was starting to feel nausea and decided to sit down. Shock was setting in so I just there letting it do it's thing. After about 10 minutes I was better.
Jordan Hall was on the phone with his wife to have her come up and get a few of us. In about 20 minutes Shannon Hall came to get us and take us back. Keith was able to get a ride from a friendly motorist with a big truck. The rest of the group pushed on ahead for home.
While waiting for the helicopter I had called Ang to let her know that I would be late getting home. "I'll have to call you back, the helicopter is landing...." I said to her. I called her later to let her know what happened.
Of course when I get home Ang is mad at me, her way of showing me I love you and I'm glad your not hurt or dead, and is telling me "no more bike riding for you." Yeah, like that's going to happen. After riding around California and the Pacific Coast for the last 4 years you think I'm done? No. I've got plenty more miles to get in and more states to ride. Not gonna happen.
I was surprised Sunday morning when I woke up and I didn't feel worse. I thought for sure I would feel like I had been in a car accident. But it was the same pains as Saturday.
As of Wednesday Ann is still in the Hospital. She ended up with 4 broken ribs, a broken scapula, and some brain swelling. She will make a full recovery but it will be slow. She is due to come home at the end of the week.
Day of Ride: November 8, 2008
Journal Entry: November 12, 2008
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