Putting up the roadside cross - The forgotten highway

**Nasty** · 11th January 2009, 07:37

This is from my knowledge and no one elses ... we must learn from others mistakes and that is something that Grub believed in ... we must take action to ensure that what happened is not able to happen so easy again and that the right things happen in future in case someone elses life can be saved. The final crash report is yet to be issued ... same with the coroners findings.

Summary before christmas

A couple of days before Christmas the Serious Crash Investigator called me - to ask a simple question - how long had Grub been riding ... 43 years - with a break when he was married. He came back with me on a FXR150 before getting onto the CBR600 he had when he died. He quickly discussed his findings which were not a lot - and I told him that it was rider error ... he made a mistake .. that was the reason - or he wouldn't be dead. He said the corner was a complicated one .. unmarked ... and could not be done at speed, there did not appear to be any road reason for the crash e.g. rocks or oil etc.

I said when I get there I will know - I ride and really will see what happened. I was right.

Nine weeks after Grub died Twosup KoroJ and I rode to Grubs corner number 3
What a couple of days ....

On Friday night I rode to Wanganui ... this was to reduce the amount of kms I needed to do on Saturday .. .koroj and I had talked the round trip was around 800 kms to where Grub died ... and that is just beyond what I think I am capable of. So the ride report starts with 168 kms of straight and generally boring roads ... which we turned into a little fun by hooking onto another rider going up the himitangi straights and having another join us at the back.

Had a bit of a rough night ... comfy bed at mums though ...

The next morning up at 7ish ... off to the shell station to meet up wtih my fellow riders ... KoroJ and Twosup - Sent a text to Elle-f to let her know we were leaving. Weather report was dirty ... but we set off over the paras without all our wet weather gear on. That did not last long ... it started to rain and wouldn't stop ... the road was great ... so we pulled over and found a use for the cheesecutters on the roadside (sitting on to put on wet weather gear!!). Back on the bikes and off to finish that part. Raetihi ... and a quick stop and text to Elle to let her know where we were for timing to meet us in Taumaranui ...

Next part was still a bit damp but not as bad. Got a call from Elle telling us of a great cafe where we were to meet her ... which we did after gassing the bikes we found this amazing green coloured cafe (name which I forget) ... and fueled ourselves ready for the next stage. It stopped raining so away with the wet weather gear and off on the next part of the trip.

When asked Twosup said it was around 50kms along the forgotten highway ... "around" ... hmmmm it was 50 kms along the highway ... almost to the point. Twosup, koroJ and me on bikes with Elle in the car ...

What a most awesome and spactacular area to get to ride in ... apart from noting all the road signage (to see what had changed since the accident) ... I have never been on this road but it was one that grub and I talked about often ... when he said it was the most awesome road with some of the best scenary .. he wasn't wrong.

We get to a corner marked 25kms ... and Twosup pulls over .. there were a couple of driveways ... I thought we needed to walk up a little .. but not it was the courner now marked 25 km (far too low for what I think) ... Twosup and I went for a walk, looked and talked at what happened and where it happened ... and how it happened. No one will ever know exactly what happened ... but Grub and I discussed that should anything happen to either of us others were to learn from our mistakes.

The corner itself was a left hander - Grub came around the bend and we think got distracted - or lost attention - he wound up on the ride side of the road - and went into the culvert - there was fencing on one side with curbing on the other which meant that he could not get the bike out. We don't think he scrubbed much speed off - definately not enough as when the bike hit a sharp rock he was thrown on the road.

Due to the camber of the road when he hit he did not roll or skid .. he just hit. There was a doctor on the ride who helped with Grub .. made him comfortable .. and assessed him as best she could ... I thank god for her. There was little or no cell coverage. Alot happened from here ... people went for help ... and there was lots of action ... I thank all the guys involved who tried to save Grub ...

The fence at the corner now has a cross on it. it faces up the hill - so that it can serve to warn others of the dangers of the road. I said a few private words in a walk and taking pics (I will post at some point) ... lots of people asked me to remember them .. I did.

Grub I love you .. but somehow you screwed up - you died in the most beautiful place - with people around you - you will not be forgotten.

And on with the ride
A rider went past us a couple of times ... the third time stopped ... we all had a chat about what we were doing .. and what they were doing. Their mate had a puncture .. how far to taumaranui etc. I had a repair kit and KoroJ had a pump .. so off to help ... get down there and help them ... them off on the rest of the trip. Taking punts of good weather (wrong) we rode on ... the roads were highly windy and nothing like I have ridden before .. which was challenging ... it was great fun. I completed the forgotten highway .. and that I dedicate to Grub ...

I started to get plenty sore by now. we stopped again and put on wets ... and then off to Wangas ... we stepped at the orange cafe .. had a meal before heading back to Welly (via fordell) ... with minor stops along the way to work out my shoulder pain. A boring and really wet ride home down state HW 1 ... thanks guys for doing that I know you really didn't want to!!

Thanks heaps to KoroJ, Twosup and Elle-F for joining me on this journey and to others for their thoughts as we made the trip.

Further details of Grubs death

There have been many threads about riding and dying in accident ... and lots of discussion that no one shares the details. Well here is my interpretation.

I received the autopsy on new years eve - Grub broke all ribs on his left side from 2 - 9 front and back .... he broke his left wrist, punctured his lung and ruptured his spleen - there was 300ccs of blood in the chest area and 1000ccs in his abdomen. Grubs cause of death was Hypovolemic Shock - due to severe Chest and Adbominal Injuries caused by a motorvehicle accident. This means that he bled to death - there was no external bleeding .. no one knew that he was that badly injured and there was nothing that could be done roadside to save him.

There was a problem with the ambulance, first responder and helicopter not getting the right location information I will be taking this up as it is a major screw up ... I don't know that them being there sooner would have made a difference - we will never know that. But for the next accident .. there has to be better action to ensure that help is there as fast as possible. This is what I will be fighting for.

**chanceyy** · 11th January 2009, 07:50

chick was thinking of you yesterday for sure, glad to hear the corner is now signposted

well done for completing the highway as well

**Trudes** · 11th January 2009, 08:07

Thanks Kari. You are so brave.

**Nasty** · 11th January 2009, 08:33

1. Twosup showing nasty the corner and area Grub died

2. KoroJ and Twosup preping for attaching the cross

3. getting it on right

4. Almost finished.

**Nasty** · 11th January 2009, 08:35

1. The Cross - Nameplate designed by and made by Nudemetalz!!

2. from a little up the road

3. looking back ...

My darling died in the most magical of places.

**86GSXR** · 11th January 2009, 09:41

Kari, what a wonderful post. As a direct result of that day, a few of us here have investigated purchasing an emergency satellite beacon to take along with us on rides into remote areas such as this. They're not expensive and maybe, just maybe, may help.

**Okey Dokey** · 11th January 2009, 10:06

Thinking of you again, Nasty. This was a wonderful write-up and I can only imagine what you must have been feeling on the site where Grub died.

The cross looks really good.

I admire your sharing the autopsy facts to help others here on kb realise what sort of injuries can occur to bikers.

Take care.

**Monamie** · 11th January 2009, 10:23

Kari your post pours with your love for Grub.

You talk of lessons ......for me the lesson has been one of life more than loss.
Your unconditional love and understanding of your man, he was an extremely lucky man to have a woman with so much love and `True Grit` by his side.
If we can find a `lover`to to go through lifes journey with what you two have (he is still by your side)-then life really would be fulfilled.

Thank you for sharing and giving us all something to strive for.

**Number One** · 11th January 2009, 10:43

Kari the cross looks awesome and congratulations on completing the Forgotten Highway - I am sure Grub was watching you the whole way and is proud of you for that achievement

(among other things of course!)

Your strength, honesty, humour and generosity in sharing how you are feeling and letting others in to grieve with you and offer support throughout this journey has been absolutely awe inspiring - you are amazing lady.

**roadracingoldfart** · 11th January 2009, 11:05

Wow, That was an awesome read Kari .
Thanks for sharing your thoughts and the details , your a strong lady.

Paul & Dianne.

**MsKABC** · 11th January 2009, 11:23

Thank you for so bravely sharing that with us. I hope you have found a little more peace from the experience.

**Str8 Jacket** · 11th January 2009, 11:59

Thanks for sharing chick. You amaze me more and more everyday with your strength!

**jrandom** · 11th January 2009, 13:00

Originally Posted by 86GSXR

... an emergency satellite beacon to take along

Doesn't need to be fancy; even the most basic of GPS receivers (a lot of cellphones come with them these days) would help, particularly on a group ride - emergency services operators should be able to pass the latitude and longitude fix numbers onto the chopper.

And thanks for sharing the info, Kari.

**elle-f** · 11th January 2009, 14:58

Kari, I was impressed at your riding in that crap weather on that beautiful (crap) road! There were times when I was in the car jealous and wished I was on the bike and there were times when I was like OMFG, they are CRAZY!

John and Steve - you two are great reasons to belong to KB.

Kari, I have every reason to believe that you will succeed in making the ambos account for what happened. Your reasons for wanting it worked out are just you - thoughtful. You also have impressed me with the way you have handled everything - if the saying is true "The measure of the person is in the way they handle the bad times", then you are truly a remarkable gal/bitch!