This was by far the strangest Norcal Club ride I have ever been on. My day started as most ride days do with a early wake-up call and off to the garage to check everything over one more time.
Go down the check list, tire pressure is OK, tank bag is hooked right, saddle bags are locked, bungee cords are tight - well you know the routine. A quick stop for gas and I was on my way. The weather was overcast and cool.
I ride a K1100RS which weighs in at about 630 pounds full of gas, but you would have thought it was a mini-bike the way I almost got blown off the Antioch bridge. That was the first thrill of the day, little did I know there would be more to follow.
When I got to the restaurant in Isleton, I was disappointed to find only 3 other riders for the tour. I have been away on business so much lately that I hadnt been on a club ride since Mammoth in September of last year and I was really looking forward to seeing some familiar faces.
I met Bob Love the Tour Captain, an interesting gentleman from Holland named Max and another guy named Bob that I found out later I had already met through work. So off we went - Bob, Max, Bob and I.
I was enjoying the ride running in the back and noticed the brake lights coming on. Bambi decided to jump onto the road in front of Bob Love and I was happy to see everyone was paying attention and handled it like pros. With one unbelievable jump, the deer cleared a fence and disappeared into the trees. That was thrill number two.
I wish I could tell you exactly where we went - but frankly I didnt have a clue. Bob had us twisting and turning all over the place - it was pretty cool! I do remember Pardee reservoir and the town of West Point, then we stopped for a break in Volcano. That part was all pretty much normal.
As we continued to head northeast, we found ourselves on a simple little flat two lane road in the Eldorado National Forest. Bob Love was still doing a beautiful job leading the way and I was very impressed with Maxs smooth style. The other Bob liked it nice and easy and everyone seemed to be
enjoying the day.
Stick with me now, this is where things get a little strange. Bob and Max got a little ahead and the other Bob and I were just cruising along as an old 60s vintage Dodge 4X4 was coming towards us in the other lane. Just before the truck got to my Bob, something very large fell from the truck. We were traveling at about 50 mph and the truck was doing about the same. That makes a closing speed of about 100 mph.
This object was flat, spinning on the ground, and spewing liquid as it spun. I prayed it wouldnt hit my Bob. Even with a reduction in speed due to friction, the object was still approaching him at 80 mph. I knew if it hit his bike we would have a serious problem - but it missed him by inches. I quickly said a prayer of thanks.
Thats when two things happened. First, I identified the object as the 36 gallon gas tank from the bottom of the truck and secondly, I realized it was now headed for me! The entire road was covered with fuel and this 8 inch thick, 3 foot by 4 foot bomb was just seconds from impact.
When its your turn to face the facts of riding unprotected on a motorcycle, I hope you dont listen to that other guy and close your eyes and relax before you hit the insurmountable object. If you do, how will you know if you could have done something rather than hit and fall?
I couldnt swerve to miss it; it was traveling too fast and the fuel on the road would be like ice. Not to mention that sliding through it would cause sparks and the whole Eldorado National Forest could go up in flames, including me. I focused on the path of the tank, waited to the last possible second and twisted the throttle as hard as I could.
I hit the tank square and jumped it just like Evil Knievel. The front wheel was high enough off the ground that I couldnt see the road in front of me and I landed firmly on the back tire, careful not to hit the brakes until the front tire was down and the chassis was through moving around. The impact of landing was enough to knock off both mirrors and blow the right fork seal.
I brought the bike to a stop and said another one of those prayers. The owner of the truck stopped down the road - where else could he go - he didnt have any gas! He checked to make sure everyone was OK and drug his tank off the road. He stated that he had just filled it up. Damage to my bike was limited to a scratched and cracked lower fairing, dented front wheel, two broken mirrors and a blown fork seal. Not too bad.
I asked the truck driver for his license and insurance information, neither of which he owned. I did the next best thing and got his name, address and phone number as well as a photo of him standing next to my bike.
So, what did I learn from all this? Keep your bike in good condition, check your tire pressure before every ride, make sure you keep your insurance paid up, pay attention and when in doubt - GAS IT!

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