Northern Exposure Tour 2009

[Qkkid]

Off to bed shortly, all packed and ready to go......


C u turkeys at Westgate 8am, ready to roll out at 8.30. Have a good night.

Spose i better go such a terrible day weather is shite
See you turkeys at Westgate

[Gizzit]

Not sure exactly what happened ..... I got concussion, and am not that sure how things happened. Did anyone see ?? The first thing I remember is a Policeman standing over me and some ambulance guy(s) .... other than that, I have no idea what anyone did ..... or much about it all really. I was in Dargaville Hospital for a while, and then my wife came over and took me home.

I've been in E.D. in Whangarei today, and had Xrays. I have broken ribs and severe bruising to my left side and hip, and a general feeling of being a bit broken arse !!! lol.

I hope that my wee incident didn't put a dampener on the trip and spoil it for people. I do hope everyone had a real good time. I know I was enjoying the ride up until that point! However ..... the trainer wheels will definitely have to go back on !! lol.

I haven't seen my bike yet, so have no idea how bad things are this time ? I will get my insurance Co. to pick up my bike tomorrow and deliver it to Planet Honda in Whangarei.

Thanks to anyone who helped me, and to who rode my bike to Kaihu Garage. I have no recollection of events and how things happened at all. I'm grateful for the help I received. Thank you all!!!
Cheers,
Grant.

[Mort]

Hi Grant

good to hear you're ok (if a little battered). Your bike was'n't seriously damaged. Just left side cosmetics. It was rideable according to Adam who took it to the garage. Easily fixable.

I don't think anyone actually saw the crash from what people were saying. It would appear that you ran wide on a right hander and in to a drain on the left. You may have hit a pot hole which cause the bike to flip and pinned you to the rock face. There was a lot of molton tar seal on the road... but we couldn't see a slide ...but it may have distracted you as you entered the turn.

When I arrived a few seconds later I saw that you were well and truly pinned to the ground and rock face by the bike and you were spark out cold and , fortunately, making a heavy snoring sound as you breathed. We got the bike up, lossened your chin strap and you came round about 5-10 minutes later. There was a nurse there immediately (a tourist) who look after things too..

I took a few pics...if it helps.... I can email some bigger ones.













Take it easy... hope to see you out there soon. The rest of the trip was great... but there's always next time.

Paul.... (Mort)

[Gizzit]

Thanks for that Paul. Unfortunately .... I have no recollection of the pictures/area/corner .... or what happened. Have you got any of me and/or my bike ?
If you could email any pics you have, that would be great.

grantrow@orcon.net.nz

Thanks for your help. Apparently the Police phoned today to ask to speak to me, but I was asleep at the time. He told my wife he will phone me tomorrow, to see if I can recall what happened .... and I can't really .... ??? weird. I don't think there will be any dramas from it. He said something to my wife about no skid mark, and there being some pot holes and molten tar ...... I don't know.

I remember seeing the drain on the left side of the road, and a white road marker peg, then it went all blank ..... I don't think I went into the corner too hot ?? I was riding behind two guys. Hinny was leading, and then someone else, then me. We weren't really pushing it at all from memory .... ???

Cheers,
Grant.

[Pumba]

Hey Grant, good to hear that you arnt to banged up.

Cant help much on the details cause the advanced gropu of Qk Kid, Six Pack, Ninga Nanna, the Busa Petes, and myself were siting in Opinoni (sp?) with a cold beer in our hands before we were any the wiser that anything had gone wrong.

And dont worry we still had a fookin fantastic trip

Heal up well.

[Gizzit]

Good on ya mate. I'm pleased to hear that the trip went well. I was certainly enjoying it up to that point ! lol. Shit happens eh. I hope the weather stayed fine for those staying up there, and returning today, and that everyone really enjoyed their ride!!
Cheers,
Grant.

[geoffm]

Judging from the marks between where you left the road and whenre you stopped (maybe 25m or so) and the realtively minimal damage to the bike, I woudl say that the speed when you left the road was pretty low - a guess of say 60kph-ish.
The bike didn't even seem to have bent bars or leavers - normally the first things to go. I think you saved it from damage by throwing yoruself between it and the cliff...

[Gizzit]

Oh yeah mate .... I remember thinking ..... bike damage or me, ..... damage the bike .... or me ...... and then just thought yeah fuckit .... i can handle a bit of jandal ... bikes are expensive ..... and just sacrificially placed myself neatly between that rock wall .... and the bike!!!

I mean .... something anyone of us would do in a heartbeat .... a real no-brainer ....

Sitting here awkwardly, trying to ignore the pain in my broken ribs .... I'm thinking ...... "Is it too late to reverse that rash decision ?" ,,,, I mean ... it's only a feckin Hornet for Gods sake ..... WTFWITO ??????

[TOTO]

Grant, that was the scariest bike crash I have come up to. What I saw: bike and you tilted 90 degrees to the left with you firmly stuck on it. from behind you looked plummeted in the cluff and because your helmet was covered by the grass I taught you been beheaded.

After seeing yoy are still breatheing (and have your head) tried to call ambo but no reception so went back 1km to the pub we just passed and called ambo. Ambo from dargaville was there in like 15-20 minutes tops and then the three fire engines and the two police cars.

People usually say thats after such a crash you need to buy a lotto ticket - I think there is no point for buying a lotto ticket from now on, coz you have used up all your luck for the rest of your life.

the tar was like 3-4cm deep that we saw when the ambo left and we saw its tracks....


Glad you are fairly ok Grant, really glad. take it easy and speedy recovery.



p.s. Cheers guys for having me and Klyong tag along with yaz - next tour on Kb gathering i'm already getting ready for and will be with yaz all the way

[Hinny]

Just got home from up North.
Sat down with a hot drink to unwind and brought this thread up.
Sad to hear you have broken ribs. I could have left earlier in the day so that I could have called by to see you and tell you some jokes. A great opportunity wasted!
The pace may have been a bit slow for you and you just nodded off.
I'm sure you will be very happy to know my weekend was very enjoyable apart from having the crap scared out of me seeing you taking a siesta on the roadside.
I took a few photos as well.
The one I took of you lying down I had to delete as you weren't smiling.. . . even tho' I did ask you to.
I must congratulate you on protecting the bike from damage so well. Quick cut and polish and she'll be good as gold. Bit of UHU on the screen to stick that back together and take the rest of the venturer rack off and you'll be good to go.
Best wishes for a speedy recovery.
Remember broken ribs are highly overated. Chicks dig scars more.

[Gizzit]

Sorry to scare you with my antics mate ! lol .... I just figured it was the best position to land in to protect my bike !!! LOL.

Thanks for making the call for the Ambo and Police etc! It's a wonder we didn't get on TV1 news !! lol (thank god we didn't eh !!!)

Mmmmm Lotto ticket .... maybe a good idea !! I'm hoping my luck hasn't run out.......

Interesting about the tar ..... was it roughed up or what ? I have no idea what actually took me out. I didn't think I went in to the corner too hot .... ?? I was tagging along with Hinny and someone else. I was at the back .... didn't seem like it was overly quick to me. I'm really not sure what happened. Was there loose stuff on the road ??? With this bloody concussion, I'm still not quite right. I must have rattled my sweede a bit !! The Shoei looks a bit worse for wear !!!
And thanks ... I'm sure I'll be back to 'normal' soon (whatever that is !! lol).
Cheers,
Grant.

Grant, that was the scariest bike crash I have come up to. What I saw: bike and you tilted 90 degrees to the left with you firmly stuck on it. from behind you looked plummeted in the cluff and because your helmet was covered by the grass I taught you been beheaded.

After seeing yoy are still breatheing (and have your head) tried to call ambo but no reception so went back 1km to the pub we just passed and called ambo. Ambo from dargaville was there in like 15-20 minutes tops and then the three fire engines and the two police cars.

People usually say thats after such a crash you need to buy a lotto ticket - I think there is no point for buying a lotto ticket from now on, coz you have used up all your luck for the rest of your life.

the tar was like 3-4cm deep that we saw when the ambo left and we saw its tracks....


Glad you are fairly ok Grant, really glad. take it easy and speedy recovery.



p.s. Cheers guys for having me and Klyong tag along with yaz - next tour on Kb gathering i'm already getting ready for and will be with yaz all the way

[Gizzit]

LOL Yeah .... it was your fault Hinny ..... You were dawdling along .... and I got bored and decided to have a little snooze along the way! If only we had been going quicker ...... none of this may have happened !!! LOL

And yes it's a pitty you didn't stop in and have a bit of a laugh with me. My ribs and lungs needed a bit of a work out .... they were starting to get a bit set! Next time, eh !!!?? lol.

Post me the pics if you like mate. grantrow@orcon.net.nz I'll add them to the rogues gallery. I have a few I took at Paparoa, so I'll chuck them up along with the other ones of you guys on the side of the road at the crash site. Will put them up on my profile today.

And yeah .... I reckon I did a pretty good job of protecting the Hornet. I haven't seen it yet, but from all accounts it isn't too bad this time! Maybe if I had sacrificed an arm or a leg .... I may have avoided the screen being damaged! Must remember that for next time!! lol

I'm looking forward to the next KB ride now. I have a goal of actually completing one!!
Cheers,
Grant

PS .... thanks for the heads up on the scar v broken ribs pulling the chicks ! My wife has said that no ..... I'm still to go ahead with the broken ribs etc ..... in interests of maintaining my good health .... !!! ???? Yeah .... I mean I didn't get that either !!??? WTF ???

Just got home from up North.
Sat down with a hot drink to unwind and brought this thread up.
Sad to hear you have broken ribs. I could have left earlier in the day so that I could have called by to see you and tell you some jokes. A great opportunity wasted!
The pace may have been a bit slow for you and you just nodded off.
I'm sure you will be very happy to know my weekend was very enjoyable apart from having the crap scared out of me seeing you taking a siesta on the roadside.
I took a few photos as well.
The one I took of you lying down I had to delete as you weren't smiling.. . . even tho' I did ask you to.
I must congratulate you on protecting the bike from damage so well. Quick cut and polish and she'll be good as gold. Bit of UHU on the screen to stick that back together and take the rest of the venturer rack off and you'll be good to go.
Best wishes for a speedy recovery.
Remember broken ribs are highly overated. Chicks dig scars more.

[hospitalfood]

hi Gizzit, i was the one in front of you, noticed that you dropped off my tail so hinny and i came back to the crash scene.
it was a left leading into a right. i don't know what happened.

was a good weekend anyway, great roads and riding, qkkid did a bit of offroading, sixpackback snored heaps.

[Gizzit]

hi Gizzit, i was the one in front of you, noticed that you dropped off my tail so hinny and i came back to the crash scene.
it was a left leading into a right. i don't know what happened.

was a good weekend anyway, great roads and riding, qkkid did a bit of offroading, sixpackback snored heaps.

I'll think you'll find it was ME that did a bit of off roading !!!! lol
Glad it was a good weekend. Hopefully I'll "complete" the next one !! LOL.
Cheers.

[Pumba]

Well just been going through the video I shot after Dargaville.

Got about 20 minutes of video but it looks like it cut out just before the forest (I can remeber that bump to).

Got some good shots of mw following Shane and I got a video of me and Shane going through the corner you came off on Gizzit.

When I figure out a bit of editing and how to put video up on youtube I will and post a link here.