nklr - go figure
Posted: Sun Oct 15, 2000 3:54 pm
Pardon me for a moment while I try to decide how I should feel about a
situation...
It's Sunday afternoon, football is on, what else should I do...GO FOR A RIDE!
Good idea! Off I go to a small offroad area near my house to play around a
little and kick up some dust. I ride through the tight rocky ditch area that
gets me onto the road to salvation (the hills and trails). Finally, on the
dirt maintenance road, lots of dips and small hills, just enough to get air
born several times. Alright, I am at the trails! Hey!! There's some guys on
dirt bikes, cool!! Uh oh, one of them is not looking so well, looks like he
crashed pretty hard. Is he all right? Do I ride on? No No! If that were
me, I would appreciate some help, I think. So I stop and shut off my bike
and go over to the guy, who is not breathing very well, and has spit up some
blood. I suggest an ambulance, but he says no at first, then I insist.
Okay, okay... I tell them I will go get someone out there ASAP, there's a
fire station within a mile or so... Back on the bike, zip back down the
maintenance road, onto the streets, to the fire station. I get the
paramedics, fire engine and ambulance, and police cars... good grief!!
following me!! Damn, the ambulance won't be able to make it through the
tight rocky ditch that leads to the road, there's another entrance but it is
a long way away to get there. I offer to take at least one of the paramedics
on the back of my bike to get to the guy. They decide to walk... and I went
back to where the guy was, DAMN! They moved him, they are all gone!!! I see
one of the guys in the distance, I ask where they went... down to the other
end to a parking lot.. DAMN! I hurry back to the paramedics who are walking
and carrying their equipment, to tell them that they moved the guy. One of
the paramedics gets on the back of my KLR and I take him to where they moved
the injured guy. I ride back and finally someone got an emergency type SUV
on the maintenance road and has picked up the rest of the crew. GOOD! I
lead them to where they took the injured guy. He's looking worse than he did
when I first saw him. They put him on the board, start taking vitals,
checking him over... His "buddies" are over putting their bikes away,
chatting, etc... The paramedics realize they are in another city and out of
their jurisdiction! Damn! They have to call that city to come pick the guy
up, because these yahoos moved him! So I stay and make sure I am not needed
for anything, confirmed it with the police and paramedics, and then headed
out. Not one word from any of his "buddies", not even the slightest hint of
gratitude for what I did. I know, I know, that is selfish, I should see it
as being "selfless" and helping my fellow rider. But I know I would have at
least thanked who helped me for the effort or something, wouldn't you? It's
not a big thing, I'm glad I could help, but these guys hardly seemed
concerned for this guy... I don't know, it was weird, very unusual to me...
Anyway, I was not in the mood to ride at that point so I headed home,
somewhat perplexed with the situation, but glad to know I did the right
thing.
I'll stop rambling now...
Paul
A13