Well it seemed like forever since I was on my bike due to the high temps and dew points, plus I was having a front left fork seal leak. Okay it really was only two weeks since my last ride but I was having withdrawals! So we planned a ride with an old co-worker of mine and his wife. We met them in Oshkosh and I intended to go north/northwest to perhaps Big Falls and Iola. We left Oshkosh north along Lake Winnebago on Cty A to Cty G just south of Neenah heading west, then north on M. Shorty after turning on M there was a sign for a dog-leg left and then right posted at 25 mph. I took it a bit faster since my bike can handle that and the next thing I heard was Kevin telling me via our blue-tooth sena’s that they did not make the first turn. My heart fell into my stomach and we turned around as soon as we could. Kevin sooner than me. He was talking to me the whole time as I was turning around and making it back, telling me they were okay and to head off to the beginning of the first curve to warn traffic to slow down and stay left. Once some of the volunteers and emergency crews arrived I walked over to them to see how they were and show support or help if needed. They both were lying in the grass and it looked like they low-sided and were thrown from the bike. His wife had road rash on her right shoulder and in pain. He was sure he broke his arm/wrist and was having a hard time breathing but wasn’t sure if it was the way he landed and we didn’t want to move him before the paramedics said it was okay. Eventually they had to take him via the board and gurney into the ambulance, but she was able to get up and walk on her own. Once we knew they were in good hands we knew there wasn’t anything we could do for them at the hospital after they first arrived and also that surgery may be required, we decided to continue towards Big Falls with intentions to visit them at the hospital in the evening. We didn’t make it to Big Falls but we did make it to Iola for lunch at the Crystal Cafe. From there we headed west on Cty B to Cty A south and ended up taking other roads we hadn’t intended. We eventually took Hwy 73 for a ways but I had to get off it after made it through Wautoma because the wind gusts had really picked up and I could barely keep my bike in my lane on the open highways. So I took back county and country roads for most of the remainder of the way home. We were pretty shook up and anxious to find out how our friends were doing and we received a call that she had a broken clavicle which would heal on its own but he needed to have surgery on his wrist to place a plate with screws, and also he had a broken shoulder blade which could only heal on its own. Since they weren’t sure when they (Theda Clark) would perform the surgery, they suggested we visit them the following evening so that is what we did. No pictures since I really wasn’t feeling oh so photogenic after the accident, but we put in around 220 miles this trip with a map below.
