Tour

It was in the mountains with high views in every direction. I must have gotten spaced out and missed the curve coming, so that I drifted into the pea gravel on the side of the road and could not turn but only go straight for the huge vertical wall of sheer rock outcrop. I had to decide, head-on or lay the bike down, which I chose the latter. Not familiar with scooters, but having no choice anyway, the running board caught on a protruding rock edge hidden under the pea-gravel, and the scooter flipped over including with me. But I did not hit the rock wall, and there was no damage or even scratches, except the windscreen was smashed and my ankle was messed up.

I had to ride in the rain all day. I had rain pants and jacket with hood, but the rain continuously swiped me in the face and eyes, and ran up my sleeves and down my neck. It was hell. And I hurt my ankle. There was not much pain, but I could not walk on it.

I had to camp in the evening, and had some difficulty finding a spot. Being a suspicious American, I always liked to get out of sight of the road, where I could not be seen. I found a beautiful place along a river accessible by a hole in a hedge. The problem was it was a steep-down embankment of dirt and weeds, but of only fifty feet give or take. I rode it down and camped with the sound of the rain and snow-melt swollen rushing river and doing my chores by hobble. That night I dreamed there was a hospital at the bottom of my sleeping bag, and doctors and nurses were working on my ankle.

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