doobrie wrote:
> lets not have 'all' the details, p'lease!
- is this the friend you were going to cycle to?
Yes it is her, that failed for various reasons, this weekend being the resultant "replanning".
well that was an *interesting* days cycling.
First of all - big BIG up to Coniston Mountain rescue team, and the ambulance/accident and emergency
services of Barrow in Furness.
Second up - to my ride partner - you did good in a potentially nasty situation - you should get a
gold star for braveness.
Having got there, kitted up and out on her chosen trail - the Hawkshead Moor trail, a "demanding" 10
miler, off we went. We were doing well and had plenty of fun down the hils and flats, with the
views, and plenty of pain on the climbs.
At some point shortly after we declared we should consider stopping for lunch, she took a tumble,
highsiding the bike. No idea why, just cruising downhill (not hurtling), as far as I could tell the
brakes didn't lock up, she just went over the bars and hit the deck helmet first.
I then realise "****, she's in my path and I can't get round her". I aim for her rear wheel which
was warpped up by her lower legs and pray for a perfect front up, rear up, hop. It turns out I
managed it okay, although in landing, trying to stop, turn and not lock the wheels all at the same
time I also hit the deck. Fortunately I lowsided the bike and got up straightaway.
I scrabble back towards my ride partner, realising she's not particularly conscious. Boy am I glad
I've done several first aid courses - this is not the first time they've proved useful. She came
round withing about 10 seconds (probably out for 20s in total). She was dazed, confused and blurry
vision. After checking her contacts lenses were actually still in place
I decided that was enough
to dial three 9's.
Did all the usual first aid stuff whch I won't bore you with, needless to say she went into shock
pretty badly, so despite being in the blazing sunshine she was soon wrapped up in jerseys and my
ripstop waterproof.
Now there was only one problem. I had a trail map. I had the correct O/S map. I can read an OS map
AND use a compass. None of which is any good if you don't have ANYTHING to take a bearing from.
Nothing at all, no pylons, no roads, no lakes, nothing obvious at all. I give a best guestimate to
the controller, promising to stop any passers and get a better grid ref. Controller realises
wherever we are, we're inside the park and therefore the gates will be locked - mountain rescue will
be needed to get to us quickest and through the gates.
A passer by knows pretty much where we are so I give some much better and entirely more accurate
refs, which proved to be good enough to get the team to us. Thanks to that passer by.
MTR team arrives, checks everything I've done, agrees, she's probably fine (in terms of serious
injury) but takes no chances, neck brace, inflatable body brace, stretcher and away we go, bikes on
the roof, kit in the back and off down the fire roads to the awaiting amublance.
I realise by this time my right elbow hurts, and my whole forearm is covered in vivid claret. Oh
well at least I'm going to the best place! and this really is the least of my concerns for now.
Ambulance tech. also agrees everything is ok, but won't take any chances, so she's whizzed off to A
and E at Barrow, some 20 odd minutes away. MTR rescue give me a lift back to the visitor centre with
the bikes where I load up the car and get across to Barrow.
Summary, I have gravel rash, which will scar - merely an addition to a collection. She has a couple
of small but deep cuts, a lot of bruising and not much else. This is good luck all round.
Her helmet is beyond use. I daren't even think "what if.." Tomorrow we will both ache very much, but
we'll be happy to be alive and itching to get back out on the road sometime soon.
Many many thanks to all those that helped, I really hated calling them out at Sunday lunchtime, but
was very grateful that they existed. There will be donations and thanks heading their way.
By the way, chlorohexidine, is the single most painful nasty stuff in the world ever. I've broken
bones, had 15 hours of tattooing, had body piercings with 3 mm thick needles and other painful
stuff, and none of them compare to the pain that is Hibiscrubs finest applied with a scrubbing
brush. Even the lignocaine local anaesthesia didn't help with that pain.
--
Dnc
