MY MOTORCYCLE, S.O., KIA, RIP 6-30-2011

On Thursday, 6-30-2011, I was riding South on TX79, enroute to the house after a ride up to Ryan Oklahoma. After crossing into Texas, I was about 1/2 way between the Red River Bridge and Byers Texas and my front tire blew out on my Harley and I went down. Scroll down and check out the damage to me and my bike and REMEMBER: IF YOU WANT TO SEE THE PICTURE BIGGER, JUST CLICK ON THE                                                                                                                                                  

PICTURE.                                                                                                                                                  

When the tire blew, I was doing 72 mph. I heard a pop, the bike wobbled and went down. It happened so fast, there was nothing I could do to prepare for the hard hit and resulting slide on the highway and into the ditch. Above is a picture of me when I came to a stop in the ditch. The picture was taken by one of the folks who had stopped and found my camera, also in the ditch.                                                                          

They said the bike went end over end several times and ended up in the ditch about 75 feet North of where I ended up. According to one person at the scene, I slid approximately 60 feet on my left side across the Northbbound traffic lane and shoulder before hitting the ditch and then I did the tumbles, somersaults and cartwheels before stopping just inches from a barbed wire fence. Above is a picture of me in the ambulance as they strapped me in and put splints on my left arm and left leg (knee).

At the E.R., are my daughter, Amanda and my son, Matt. He is getting ready to clean the grass and dirt off my eyelids and around my eyes.

Here is Matt cleaning off my eye lids. That neck brace was a necessary evil.

After getting a shot of Dilaudid for pain, I was able to move around a little. Here is my left arm with a major case of road rash. The folks at the scene said there was approximately 60 feet of skin and blood smeared down the highway and ended at the shoulder of the road where I went into the ditch. I tell you, it felt like my arm was on fire..

My left elbow area..

After being released and sent home from the hospital, Janice takes a picture of my back with the imprint of the stones that were on the highway when I initially hit. Other than some bruises to my right thigh, all damage was to the left side of my body. After the Adrenalin subsided, I hurt in places I didn't even know I had.

After taking a shower, Janice cleans the road rash. This picture was taken the day after the accident.

The Harley was pretty beat up. The insurance company totalled it, Here is the gas tank and handlebars. The right side is twisted down and around.

This is the back right.

The back rest was ripped off of the sissy bar.

The front fender..

The front of the Harley with the headlight crushed.

The Gremlin Bell is intact and served the bike well, the two years I had her.                                               

The right side of the gas tank. The crash bars also did their job. Even tumbling at 70 mph, the engine was not touched.. 

                                                                                                                                                  

Right side of the bike. The right running light, backrest and saddlebag were all torn off the bike..

The seat. I don't know if I pulled the seat loose when I departed the bike or, more likely, it came off while doing it's tumble and flipping..

This twisted mess is the right side of the handlebars. The throttle side for those of you who didn't know.      

 The right side of the front fender

 The blown front tire is a new Pirelli Route. I replaced the Dunlop Harley-Davidson tire with the Pirelli because I was told it got better traction.

 The front of the bike with the right saddlebag that was ripped off the bike.

The right side of the bike. The engine, hyper charger, Vance & Hines Shorts were virtually untouched.

At the wrecking yard are Bobby (owner of Melton's Wrecker) and I.. We are friends of 30+ years and I highly recommend him for ALL your towing needs in the North Texas/ Southern Oklahoma area. Bobby will treat you right. In all the years I have known Bobby, I have never heard a negative thing about him or his business, which I think, is testimony in itself to Bobby's personality and work ethics. For more info, see this link: http://www.meltonswreckerservice.com/index.htm

Bobby and I discussing the bike.

Here I am looking at the bike at Melton's Wrecker Service Storage yard.

I really loved that Harley and she will be missed. But after I recover, I will get another Harley and I hope it is as good as this one has been to me.

Here I am behind the bike checking out the bent frame..

The last picture of this post is of me kissing my bike goodbye. She has been totalled by the insurance company and taken down to the Dallas Auction Center in Dallas Texas. I had named her S.O. for     Significant Other. R.I.P. S.O.  22 Oct 2009-30 Jun 2011 

This will end this post. 

  

Scroll down for more rides, runs and events and don't forget to click on the "OLDER POSTS" at bottom of each page or underneath the last post on the page,

Continue to pray for ALL of our troops both in and out of Harms Way; especially for Che Whitaker, Chris Drage and Fred Hughes, all of whom are serving in the Afghanistan Theatre of Operations and  for Pattie Jackson who has been deployed to Qatar..                                                                                             

 Until next post, ya'll be careful out there, keep the rubber on the road, keep your head on a swivel, and most importantly of all.............................RIDE SAFE.......................JOHN 

                                                                                                                                                                         

GUARDIANS OF THE CHILDREN-RED RIVER CHAPTER MONTHLY MEETING (JUNE 2011) 6-4-2011

ON SATURDAY, JUNE 4,2011, THE GUARDIANS OF THE CHILDREN-RED RIVER CHAPTER, HELD IT'S MONTHLY MEETING FOR JUNE 2011, IN PERKINS PARK, DUNCAN OKLAHOMA. THE FOLLOWING PHOTOS WERE TAKEN AT THE MEETING AND ARE BEING USED WITH THE PERMISSION OF SPITFIRE, OUR RED RIVER CHAPTER TREASURER. THOSE PRESENT AT THE MEETING WERE: BANDIT (PRESIDENT), GUNNER (V.P), POINTMAN (SGT AT ARMS), SMILING EYES (SECRETARY), SPITFIRE (TREASURER, TATU (NATIONAL REP), WHITE BUFFALO (RD CAPTAIN), THOR (RD GUARD), REDMAN (RD GUARD), PAPA BEAR (P.R.), MAMA BEAR AND KATZE. ABSENT WERE: STITCH (MERCHANDISING-WORK), COOKIE (WORK) AND SNAPSHOT (TEMP. DISABLED). SCROLL DOWN AND JOIN THE CHAPTER FOR THE MEETING AND REMEMBER: IF YOU WANT TO SEE THE PICTURE BIGGER, JUST CLICK ON THE PICTURE.

 RED RIVER CHAPTER MEMBERS IN THE PARK ARE FROM LEFT TO RIGHT: BANDIT (SQUATTING DOWN), WHITE BUFFALO, MAMA BEAR (RED TOP), THOR, PAPA BEAR, TATU, KATZE, POINTMAN AND GUNNER (BLACK HAT).

 MEMBERS ARE LEFT TO RIGHT: BANDIT, WHITE BUFFALO, PAPA BEAR, TATU, KATZE, POINTMAN, REDMAN AND GUNNER.

 THE WEATHER WAS SUNNY AND HOT. GUNNER TOLD ME HE GOT A PRETTY GOOD SUNBURN, AS THE REST OF THE MEMBERS PROBABLY DID TOO. RESTING IN THE SHADE ARE, LEFT TO RIGHT: REDMAN, WHITE BUFFALO (CLOSEST TO THE CAMERA), THOR, MAMA BEAR, PAPA BEAR AND ONE OF THEIR KIDS.

 AS THE MEETING GETS UNDER WAY, MEMBERS LISTEN TO POINTMAN AS HE GIVES THE SGT AT ARMS REPORT. FROM LEFT TO RIGHT ARE: POINTMAN, TATU, BANDIT AND REDMAN.

LEFT TO RIGHT: BANDIT, REDMAN, WHITE BUFFALO (CLOSEST TO THE CAMERA), THOR AND MAMA BEAR.

 AT THE TABLE, THE LADIES: SMILING EYES (BLUE SHIRT AND KATZE. THE MEN: GUNNER (BLACK HAT) AND POINTMAN.

 BANDIT GIVING THE PRESIDENT'S REPORT AND OTHER INFORMATION TO THE MEMBERS PRESENT.

AFTER THE MEETING, BANDIT GETS "THE SQUEEZE" FROM GUNNER.

THIS WILL CONCLUDE THIS POST. I WILL BE AT THE JULY 2011 MEETING, AS I GET THIS CAST OFF ON JUNE 23RD AND WILL BE ABLE TO RIDE THE HARLEY AND I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING EVERYONE AGAIN.

THANKS AGAIN TO SPITFIRE FOR THE PICTURES AND PERMISSION TO USE THEM.

Scroll down for more posts pertaining to the Red River Chapter-Guardians Of The Children and don't forget to click on the "OLDER POSTS" link at the bottom of EACH page or directly under the last post on the page .                                                                                                                                                        

                                                                            

                                             

Continue to pray for ALL of our troops both in and out of Harms Way; especially for Che Whitaker, Chris Drage and Fred Hughes, all of whom are serving in the Afghanistan Theatre of Operations and  for Pattie Jackson who is serving in Qatar..                                                                                             

 Until next post, ya'll be careful out there, keep the rubber on the road, keep your head on a swivel, ride safe and most importantly of all............."DON'T LET YOUR SILENCE DROWN OUT THEIR              

CRIES!"      ................................................................SNAPSHOT

GROUNDED!! FOOT SURGERY 4-11-2011

Monday, 4-11-2011, I reported to Kell West Regional Hospital at 5:30 a.m. to have surgery on my foot. The right foot had been re-constructed last year and a week ago, the foot collapsed. So, the Doc was going in and he was removing all the old hardware (pins, rods & plates) and rebuilding the foot with stronger rods and pins, plates etc. Scroll down and join me on this brief hospital stay and REMEMBER: IF YOU WANT TO SEE THE PICTURE BIGGER, JUST CLICK ON THE PICTURE.

Here I am waiting & reading the paper after reporting into admissions. Note the colorful arm bands they give you.. NOTE: MY LONG HAIR & BEARD ARE GONE.. I had a brain fart and let Janice shave me and talk me into getting a haircut,

I get taken back to the holding room and they give you that cute hospital gown that your butt hangs out of and then the "I don't Care about anything" shot. Here I am holding up the IV line, waiting to get hooked up to the good stuff

                                     
Still in the holding area. I was flicking thru the channels on the TV

Here is a picture of my foot where you can see that oval area where the foot collapsed, they call it a rocker and  it is part of the bones forced down to the bottom of the foot.

This sore on my little toe was caused by my boot rubbing against it after the foot collapsed.                       

I was taken into surgery and then out to recovery about 3 hours later. They had wrapped my foot with that green tape

My daughter Amanda comes in to check on me and Janice gives her a hug.

My other daughter Amy stops in and checks on me.

                                     
This is Amanda, Janice and Amy

Feeling no pain, at this point, I signal that all is well.

My new foot. I hope this operation works, because if it collapses again, I may be up the creek without a paddle.

Amanda comes over and says goodbye. She will come to the house and check on me tomorrow.

Once home, this is my bed for the next 12 weeks. The living room floor. I had to keep the foot elevated  above my heart. This is the last picture of this post.

I want to thank my Doc, Dr. Leaseburg and the numerous nurse that were in the OR, especially Shelly, the Doc's nurse. As I was out when they wheeled me into the O.R., I assume she was there because she is at all of the operations.

Scroll down for more rides, runs and events and don't forget to click on the "OLDER POSTS" at bottom of each page or underneath the last post on the page,

Continue to pray for ALL of our troops both in and out of Harms Way; especially for Che Whitaker, Chris Drage and Fred Hughes, all of whom are serving in the Afghanistan Theatre of Operations and  for Pattie Jackson who has been deployed to Qatar..                                                                                             

 Until next post, ya'll be careful out there, keep the rubber on the road, keep your head on a swivel, and most importantly of all.............................RIDE SAFE.......................JOHN 

GUARDIANS OF THE CHILDREN-RED RIVER CHAPTER MEETING 5-14-2011

The Guardians of the Children-Red River Chapter, had it's monthly chapter meeting at the Byers Cafe in Byers Texas on May 14, 2011 at 1:00 p,m.. Those present form the meeting were: BANDIT, GUNNER, POINTMAN, SMILING EYES, BUGGA, WHITE BUFFALO, TATU, REDMAN, STITCH, KATZE, COOKIE, SNAPSHOT (me) and MY wife Janice, was a guest.  Scroll down and join us at the Byers Cafe and REMEMBER: IF YOU WANT TO SEE THE PICTURES BIGGER, JUST CLICK ON THE PICTURE!!

The sign out front of the Byers Cafe, in Byers Texas. If you are in the area, stop by for some GREAT home cooked meals and famous desserts as seen featured on THE FOOD CHANNEL-CANADA last month

                               

Once inside, after checking in with everyone, I ordered a Coke and Chili. The chili at the Byers Cafe is outstanding.

This is POINTMAN. He is our  SGT. AT ARMS.

At the table from left to right are: TATU-our National Rep, BANDIT -our President and GUNNER- our Vice President.
                                     
From left to right: BUGGA, SMILING EYES-our SECRETARY, TATU & BANDIT    

LEFT TO RIGHT: KATZE, REDMAN- our Road Guard and WHITE BUFFALO-our Road Captain

This is Janice  and on the end is STITCH- our Merchandise person.

Another picture of Janice & Stitch                                                                                                            

Janice took this picture. No, it's not a booger check. she thought I had something on my lip and she took the picture to show me.

This is Janice's dinner. She loves the home cooked taste of the Byers Cafe Cheese Burgers

The meeting called to order and in progress. Left to right:  SMILING EYES, TATU, BANDIT &                 GUNNER

Cookie was in a great mood. She had no idea of what was about to happen.

COOKIE got patched in today. Our group photo, left to right: REDMAN,KATZE,TATU,BUGGA,WHITE BUFFALO, SMILING EYES holding the 5x shirt that COOKIE will display in the cafe., COOKIE holding her patches, POINTMAN, GUNNER, BANDIT STITCH and SNAPSHOT (ME) ON CRUTCHES

Another of the group shot. Thank you Janice for taking the group photos for us.Left to Right: REDMAN,KATZE,TATU, BUGGA,WHITE BUFFALO,SMILING EYES holding the big t-shirt, COOKIE holding her patches, POINTMAN, GUNNER, BANDIT, STITCH AND SNAPSHOT.

CONGRATULATIONS COOKIE ON BEING A PATCHED MEMBER,.

TATU is in a good mood and he has to go to work here in a little while

BANDIT was trying to hide from the camera, but I just waited and got his picture anyway as he came around the side of TATU

STITCH took this picture of me and Janice

Left to right, members talking by the door: COOKIE, STITCH, GUNNER and POINTMAN is closest to the door.

Here is GUNNER.  His wife, SPITFIRE our Treasurer, had to work today and had to miss the meeting

Outside, left to right: Janice, REDMAN, COOKIE and KATZE.

Here are REDMAN and KATZE.

This bike belongs to POINTMAN..                                                                                                        

The meeting over, we head out. here are WHITE BUFFALO and REDMAN taking it easy.

This picture was taken last month at GUNNER'S house. The RED RIVER CHAPTER met there on April 9th to go to the Apache Oklahoma Rattlesnake Hunt. GUNNER said when they left his house, there were 7 members. (photo courtesy of GUNNER)

These pictures were taken in Lindsey Oklahoma at TRONS MEXICAN RESTAURANT. The picture is of REDMAN & KATZE holding their patches after being patched in. (photo courtesy of GUNNER)

Another picture of REDMAN & KATZE receiving their patches from BANDIT.  LEFT TO RIGHT: GUNNER BANDIT, REDMAN & KATZE.  CONGRATULATIONS ON BECOMING PATCHED MEMBERS! (photo courtesy of GUNNER)

This will conclude this post. It was good seeing everyone again today and congratulations to COOKIE on being patched in today.

Scroll down for more rides, runs and events and don't forget to click on the "OLDER POSTS" link at the bottom of EACH page or directly under the last post on the page                                                                                                                                                      

                                                                            

                                             

Continue to pray for ALL of our troops both in and out of Harms Way; especially for Che Whitaker, Chris Drage and Fred Hughes, all of whom are serving in the Afghanistan Theatre of Operations and  for Pattie Jackson who has been deployed to Qatar..                                                                                             

 Until next post, ya'll be careful out there, keep the rubber on the road, keep your head on a swivel, and most importantly......................RIDE SAFE....................................JOHN