NON-STOP NICK

LOST CONTROL - PART 2
April 22, 2006

"...I felt a slight wiggle to the right and then a tremendous blow to my left side, when I struck the pavement..."

As I struck the pavement hard on my left side, my first thought was "Oh no, not again"!
Saturday Morning April 22, 2006, northbound Highway 113, just north of Woodland heading for a Poker Run in Yuba City CA I lost control again, second time in 11 months and 1 week, but who’s counting.

It was a beautiful morning except for a threat of rain, the weather was a lot warmer than I had been riding in for a while and I was enjoying the ride. The CHP had followed along for a while but I wasn’t being bad enough so he left for someone badder. I was in no hurry and the speed limit is 65 and I was keeping Mr. Blue right on that number. I had plenty of time to make the 9:00 am registration start, as I had this event to cover for "Thunder Press" and always tried to arrive at the very start to obverse all of the event. Not this one though, I didn’t make it.

I felt a slight wiggle to the right and then a tremendous blow to my left side, when I struck the pavement. I have no idea why I went down, and that is most disturbing because I have always watched the road for hazards, and yet I can’t recall anything in the road.
My first thought, as I watched the concrete slide by my helmet visor, was "Oh no, Not again". I remember people coming up and asking if I was OK. No was my clear reply, as the pain of my left ribs did not allow any movement. I could not see Mr. Blue and never did before going to the hospital. Someone helped remove my helmet and asked if I could roll out of the roadway, again my reply was no. I told them that I had road flares in my right saddlebag, but they didn’t use them. Someone walked up with my Timex and showed it to me with the comment "check it out, it takes a licken and keeps on ticken" HAHA never saw the watch again. I overheard a comment that the Life Flight Helicopter ETA was 18 minutes and the ground ambulance driver stating that he could get me there in 15, so they tried loading me up. Again this is where I regret being 300 lbs, the first attempt ended with a quick put down as they needed more help. Oh, the pain! The ride to UC Med Center in Sacramento was bumpy and hectic as they worked on me while in route. I remember them asking me my phone number and I told them I carried an I.C.E. card in my wallet, but they wanted to hear it from me. I loudly stated for them to "Tell her I’m alright" thinking of the scary call that Miss Laurie was about to get, and her being down in Santa Clara.

I would like to send out the best THANK YOU to the trauma team at UC DAVIS Medical Center for the treatment that they did on me upon arrival, an immediate CAT Scan showed a damaged artery to my left kidney, which resulted in them inserting a shunt into that artery to maintain the blood flow to that kidney. I also had broken my left shoulder blade in three places and all my left ribs were broken. I also had damaged my spleen, 2 broken teeth, a concussion and some minor road rash. After 12 days in the hospital I dragged myself out of there to rehab at home with Miss Laurie.

Now 2 months later I have been back at work for a month and am doing pretty good, still a little weak, but doing better almost everyday. Sadly to report, my trustful iron horse Mr. Blue did not survive the wreck. I enjoyed 3 _ years and 43,000+ miles with that bike and I am having serious withdrawals.

Enjoy your ride, be safe.

Non-Stop Nick Jonopulos

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