This is getting better! Incredible what I get to see and experience on my vacation in Oz!! Ive been here for 4 days now... and I already spent 24h in hospital, had surgery under full narcosis and all. Wow! Due to my torn hamstring I did an ever so gentle road ride on Sunday. It was nice as long as it lasted, but it ended in a mess. There is a fair bit of traffic on Captain Cook Highway and once youve passed Palm Cove there is no designated bike lane. Regular signs remind car drivers to watch out for cyclists. Last year I rode my bike through entire North America (Anchorage to Mexico City) where cyclists are only guests on the highway and cars rule. I heard that Australians werent much better in treating cyclists, so I was aware and kept on the far side. I really did. I wasnt even ON the road but riding on the hard shoulder when a bunch of cars passed me at high speed. One of the cars pulled a caravan and the driver obviously forgot its width. It all went so quick. The car almost scraped me, then a horrible, loud SMACK (my bike against the caravan) followed by the hard impact of me hitting the ground and then only excruciating PAIN. I just lay there screaming. Three cars - also the one with the caravan - had stopped and their drivers were approaching me to help. Now you would not believe the coincidence: the driver in the car behind the one that hit me was a cyclist from Adelaide that I had met at the bike shop the day before! A lot of blood an arm that couldnt be moved and a long drive to hospital. I cant believe how lucky I was not to end up under the caravan. No head injuries either and on top of that a pleasant guy who opted to drive all the way to the Emergency Department at Cairns hospital. Thank you!! Even though the bones were showing on my elbow (Ill spare you the pictures!) nothing is broken. I lost a lot of flesh and skin (and blood obviously) and I had to have surgery under full narcosis. No cycling or swimming for a while. My arm is in a cast now (as if it was broken). Happy times. Cheryl was at the emergency room before they even started to clean the wounds. She brought a book and was determined to stay! I was able to send her home once it became clear that I had to have surgery and stay overnight. She just picked me up, so Im back in Smithfield :-). It could have been so much worse...
Posted on: Mon, 22 Sep 2014 04:24:34 +0000
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