Wilsons Sandbox

> From: > A couple of KLR650s will be passing through Paonia and down to > Montrose on Wed. We're planning to camp on the Uncompaghre > Plateau and head on in to Moab from Gateway on Thurs. > > Are you going to Moab? Will you already be there by Wed.? Would > you like to try and meet up with us on the way?

Sounds great! Problem is: I broke my right leg riding in southeastern Utah a week ago Saturday. It was a freak accident. We were riding near Bears Ears, between Hite and the Abajo Mountains. Distracted by my ever-worsening broken-and-welded shift lever, I entered a sharp right-hand downhill turn in soft sand a little hot and, noticing a deep hole if I went wide, leaned, rolled on some throttle and stuck my right foot out to pivot. The ground must have been farther away than I thought because I stiff-legged a boulder hidden under the sand (I'm guessing). The impact was severe but I didn't fall. I hoped the sharp crack I had heard was a stick breaking. After the excruciating pain subsided, I was able to put my foot back on the footpeg, so I didn't stop until our next map check where I explained to my two riding buddies that I had hurt myself. We aborted our remote-area camping plans and rode to Blanding, Utah on a beautiful new primitive road I had never been on. We stayed at a motel. The next morning, I got on my motorcycle with help and rode about 280 miles home without pain or discomfort (except for hobbling into the Moab Diner for breakfast). But after arriving home, I did drive myself to the emergency room for x-rays and I had a six-inch split in the big lower leg bone and some chips and cracks in the knee joint. It seems, now, that I have some ankle damage too but they didn't x-ray the ankle. Anyway, since one person has stopped by for a previously planned ride in the San Juan mountains and another before you has inquired about meeting, I thought I better 'fess up. The Surgeon says I almost split the lower leg bone into two pieces and if I hadn't already tested it by walking on it (not very successfully) he would have put screws in it to hold it together. He also wanted to do some minor surgery on the knee but I declined. He does say I absolutely must keep my weight off the leg until it heals -- about 8 weeks, maybe more. Only 6 1/2 weeks to go if I'm lucky. Some ache; no pain; no big deal; just inconvenient. I do plan to go to Moab tomorrow, but I will be driving the car and hauling crutches. I want to go to the evening reception and meet some people from this list. Maybe I'll see you there. Verle Nelson Cedaredge, CO