Road Hazard – One to Go Please

I took a ride this weekend as part of the research I’m doing for a fictional story and ran into an interesting incident and decided to put in the story. Here is the excerpt from my story:

“Along the way I was following a black Range Rover when the passenger decided it was a good time to dump a cup of something. Since I don’t tailgate I got just a misting of it on the windshield that quickly evaporated in the dry desert air. I jumped up next to her and gave the “the look” that my own kids and my church kids could well appreciate. The reaction of instant repentance on her face and in her gestures was priceless. I still have it kids. Why do we people throw nearly anything from our cars? How many fires do we light with our cigarette butts tossed out of cars fully equipped with ash trays? I will never cease to wonder at that.”

We face hazards on the road all the time that are out of the controls of those who have left them behind, blown-out tire fragments, car parts from accidents or otherwise, and any number of natural debris on the roadway. We shouldn’t have to face the hazards of careless people let alone those of reckless people with their heads in places where they can’t think straight. I have seen the cigarette butt thrown out to explode in sparks on the pavement in front of me and felt another hit my pants leg as I rode along; I’ve watched as someone spit out the window without a care. I can live without those, thank you very much.

On the funny side of a road hazard; this was during my first life as a rider when, as a kid of 20 or so, I was riding surface streets in the San Fernando Valley coming home from a particularly meaningful church service and following an older couple that now that I look back on it were probably about as old then as I am now. Cruising at a respectable speed of 45 or so and coming up on them in the lane to their right they ran through a rivulet of water coming down the intersection drain-way. The splash arched high and went into slow motion as I rode right into it and into my open-faced helmet. We pulled to a stop at the next light and with water pouring from my face and torso, I looked down at the woman in the passenger seat and she had such a horrified look on her face that I had to laugh and laugh loud; she smiled, her husband looked over and just completely cracked up. Timing is everything.

Whatever the hazard, natural or manmade, stay vigilant and keep the iron side up.

Me on PAR's Ride - Victory Cross Roads Classic