- Location
- REDLANDS, CA. (SoCal)
Let me tell you, there is nothing that will perk my ears quite like having my wife say,"Let's go up to Big Bear for a couple of days". These were her very words Fri. the 4th while at our eldest Son's for a BBQ. Mind you, my reply was what you would expect from any rational individual with virgin powder coat on his newly installed two year old rock rails(yes they're on). We'd better head home to get an early start!
Usually a two day trip up the hill means nearly one full day of wheeling. Well the plan was to hit gold Mtn. around 4pm of the first day. I needed to get some action pics WITH ETHAN AT THE WHEEL, for the benifit of some of our directionaly challanged members.LOL! No really. That WAS the plan. We ended up meeting up with Richard & Cheryl(eldest son and his girl friend) for dinner. 7pm was a bit late for a trail,spent about an hour or so in the village before heading back to the room.
The bright side? "Magic Mtn."was a 5min. walk away. I don't know if too many of you are familliar with the Alpine Slides they have there. Ethan and I try to get a couple of runs down the hill every time we are in the area. But Hey, we've never rode them at night.
With two runs under our belts I'm ready to go. But no. The wife(Norma) suggests one more for the road. OK. Third time is a charm don't ya know. I'n not bragging but this was one of the fastest runs I can recall. Every thing was great, the sled was fast, I was crouched low, transitions at the banked corners was smooth. I decided to keep things wide open clear into the last turn. BAD, bad,bad move! I'm not sure quite how but I raised my center of gravity and started to lean out of the corner. Momentun and a steeply banked curve can only do so much. The laws of physics are, err, well they're LAWS.
The next thing I know is that I'm slumped ower the edge of the track and I feel burning at all four corners and then some. But I like wearing shorts and a T shirt! I mean at least I had boots on. It's funny though, you would think that you could smell your skin melting off your knees,legs,arms and elbows. Must be that fresh pine air. I didn't smell a thing. Wait there's more, try to move to stand up so you can see your wife laughing with hysterical concern.
My macho pride convinced the manager there that I was fine. I looked it too, takes awhile for louge rash to start bleeding. By the time we hobbled back to the room I had discovered that a wrist, an elbow and an asortment of ribs were also victims.
The next morning after being hoisted out of bed with a sky hook, I had to admit that if I could not bend down to air down, I couldn't get the sway links disconnected. I did not belong on the trail. But Hey, a week or two and I'll be good as new.
Deep Creek Anyone? :wstupid:
PS. FRICTION: It's not just bad for your engine!
Usually a two day trip up the hill means nearly one full day of wheeling. Well the plan was to hit gold Mtn. around 4pm of the first day. I needed to get some action pics WITH ETHAN AT THE WHEEL, for the benifit of some of our directionaly challanged members.LOL! No really. That WAS the plan. We ended up meeting up with Richard & Cheryl(eldest son and his girl friend) for dinner. 7pm was a bit late for a trail,spent about an hour or so in the village before heading back to the room.
The bright side? "Magic Mtn."was a 5min. walk away. I don't know if too many of you are familliar with the Alpine Slides they have there. Ethan and I try to get a couple of runs down the hill every time we are in the area. But Hey, we've never rode them at night.
With two runs under our belts I'm ready to go. But no. The wife(Norma) suggests one more for the road. OK. Third time is a charm don't ya know. I'n not bragging but this was one of the fastest runs I can recall. Every thing was great, the sled was fast, I was crouched low, transitions at the banked corners was smooth. I decided to keep things wide open clear into the last turn. BAD, bad,bad move! I'm not sure quite how but I raised my center of gravity and started to lean out of the corner. Momentun and a steeply banked curve can only do so much. The laws of physics are, err, well they're LAWS.
The next thing I know is that I'm slumped ower the edge of the track and I feel burning at all four corners and then some. But I like wearing shorts and a T shirt! I mean at least I had boots on. It's funny though, you would think that you could smell your skin melting off your knees,legs,arms and elbows. Must be that fresh pine air. I didn't smell a thing. Wait there's more, try to move to stand up so you can see your wife laughing with hysterical concern.
My macho pride convinced the manager there that I was fine. I looked it too, takes awhile for louge rash to start bleeding. By the time we hobbled back to the room I had discovered that a wrist, an elbow and an asortment of ribs were also victims.
The next morning after being hoisted out of bed with a sky hook, I had to admit that if I could not bend down to air down, I couldn't get the sway links disconnected. I did not belong on the trail. But Hey, a week or two and I'll be good as new.
Deep Creek Anyone? :wstupid:
PS. FRICTION: It's not just bad for your engine!