Saturday morning we dropped the kids off with their Grammy and headed out to do some local ATV trail maintenance. I was excited because I’ve never ridden that trail because parts are pretty non-kid-friendly. Yay, I get to play with the grown-ups!
As the day went on it, it got hotter and hotter and the riding was slow. Go a hundred feet, stop and prune trees. Go two hundred feet, stop and prune back brush. I decided I couldn’t take the sweat and itching any more, so I took my helmet off. It took me a few minutes to use the chin strap to fasten it to my machine so it wouldn’t bounce off, and then I pulled my gloves on.
But then I thought about a friend of mine who took her helmet off a few years back because she was hot. The accident was horrific and it’s pretty amazing she’s okay. Of course, having thought about that, I was then jinxed and—with much swearing—put my helmet back on.
We’re still not sure exactly what happened. I was picking my way down a steep, rocky hill and—we think—I leaned foward to see the front end and the machine either dropped off a rock or the handlebars jerked, throwing me into the throttle which caused the machine to launch itself forward and me right off the machine.
I remember telling myself to follow my husband’s line because if the King Quad went, the Rubicon can follow. Then it goes pretty black. I remember the roar of the engine because it was in low gear and didn’t like full throttle, and I remember screaming, then my head exploding.
Then my husband was there (while the King Quad drifted down the hill because he just jumped off of it—isn’t he sweet?) and the shockiness in my head faded. I think it’s funny how men just want to drag you to your feet because if you can stand up you must be okay. It took me a minute to calm him down. *g*
Injury report: Where my left thumb joins my hand is skinned and bruised. My right foot is bruised and puffy (we’re not sure if it got caught between the Rubicon and a rock, or if the Rubicon ran it over). My right shoulderblade has a lovely bruise that looks like a big, blurry seagull tattoo. My stomach…*winces* At the time it seemed like the rubber hand grip had simply caught and dragged as I went over, giving me lovely rubber-grip–burn right above my belly button. But over the next 24 hours the bruising appeared and I’ve got a grapefruit-sized mass of red rash and black bruising that’s quite sore. Many miscellaneous bruises and scrapes.
And my pretty pink helmet has a wicked dent in the back, right side. Judging by the impact—which my husband heard over the King Quad’s big bore engine while twenty or thirty yards down the hill—and the dent, the best case scenario had I not been wearing it would have been a ride in the DHART chopper to Dartmouth-Hitchcock.
So I’m a hurtin’ puppy right now, but at least the only permanent damage is that my pretty pink helmet has to be destroyed.
And how was your weekend? 
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:hug:
Geesh, Shan, don’t DO that again. Too scary! (The fall, not necessarily the ride).
Yay on hubby being there to “rescue” you, tho.
Take it easy, let them coddle you a bit. You know, DD and Doritos served in bed, I think…
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:hug:
Next time you talk to that particular friend, thank her for me, would you?
God.
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O-M-G
You lived, that’s important. Really important. Thank God for your helmet and the decision to keep it on.
I really love you, ya know.
I’m sorry you’re hurt, but really glad you’re still with us.
:hug:
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Ouch! Ouch! Ouch! :crazy:
But then, the difference between you and me is, I’d never get on one of those things again (well, to be frank, I’d never get on one to begin with, being a huge weenie wuss and all). You’ll be back up there, chugging through the countryside in no time.
With a lovely new helmet, of course.
And I second Melani — DON’T DO THAT AGAIN!
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And this is why we always wear safety gear, no matter how hot and uncomfortable it may be, right? Glad you’re okay, Shan. Hope you had yourself checked out.
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Good God, Shannon! I’m so glad you’re okay, even if you’re purple. Hey…hubby’s in the helmet biz. What kind were you wearing?
Many hugs!
Dee
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Holy Crap! :hide:
Glad you’re okay, Shan. I’d hate to be complaining about you slacking off if you were laid up in the hospital. Good descriptions of the injuries, though. I don’t even need photos. You should be a writer or something. :groucho:
Take care.
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I will never even consider riding helmet-less again, I can promise you that.
And I\’d just like to reiterate we were childless Saturday. Even though it\’s our local trail system and my husband\’s a club officer, we\’ve never ridden there as a family.
I was on a technical trail beyond my abilities. My husband asked me several times if I wanted him to take the Rubicon through, but I\’d navigated several bad spots already and was feeling like a bad-ass. I got cocky and the ATV Fates slapped me down hard. Very hard.
When the short kid\’s riding with me, I\’m aware of him every single second and there\’s no cockiness. I can\’t tell you the number of times we\’ve dismounted, let my husband take take the Rubicon through a rough patch, then walked to the machine at the other end. Sometimes the poor guy has to ride up a hill, walk down and ride the tall kid\’s Hawkeye up, then walk down again and ride the Rubicon up. But he never complains and I never say \”I think I can do it.\” If there\’s even a speck of doubt, we get off the machine and let my husband take it for us.
No, I can\’t 100% guarantee my kids won\’t ever get hurt riding, but we NEVER take chances with them like I was taking Saturday. It wasn\’t a random fluke accident—it was rider stupidity and I\’m very glad I survived the lesson. Anyway, just wanted to say that.
Dee, it was an HJC CLX-5 Arena in pretty pink.
And don\’t forget, people—one impact per helmet. Whether it\’s a $20 bicycle helmet from Walmart or a $150 HJC in pretty pink
or a $500 Shoei, it\’s disposable. Once it takes a knock for your or your kid\’s noggin, it\’s junk.
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Wow, Shannon. Thank God for the decision to put your helmet back on. And really, what a good example for your kids that no matter how miserable, safety comes first. Good foryou. I am so sorry you were hurt but am thankful that you were no more than that. :hug: Geez, no wonder you can write such good Devlin Group stuff, you practically live it!:sled:
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Hmm, your post wasn’t there when I wrote mine so I didn’t know your kids weren’t with you but it’s still a good lesson for them. BTW – Good public service info on the helmet :thumb:
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It was still a lesson for them, Michelle. They were shown my helmet, shown my bruises and told what happened. They know Mommy got stupid so Mommy got hurt. And of course they know Mommy didn\’t listen to Daddy. (Although we\’re not given that option when we ride as a family.)
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I’m just so glad that you are ok! The bruising will go away eventually but head trauma sometimes doesn’t. I’m glad you decided to put your helmet on again. Take care.
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Ouch! Glad you’re okay. Hope the bruises heal soon. :nod:
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Wow. Just, wow.
Thank God you put the helmet back on. I mean, event the stickliest sticklers of us have tempted fate once or twice, being certain that, say, no one will plow through my car while I drive from the store across the parking lot to the gas pumps. All it ever takes is once.
Get better soon.
:hug:
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Thanks, y’all. :hug:
And my husband has decided if I ride his King Quad this won’t happen again so therefore he should get a new Grizzly. :eyebrow:
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Glad to hear your better sense prevailed and you put the helmet back on. You’re absolutely right — one impact per helmet. Helmets, no matter how expensive, are cheaper than any work required on your head ever will be.
I’m so glad you have a happy ending for this one.
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I’m so so glad you’re okay! Wow. I echo everything said before me. :hug:
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JEEPERS Shannon. Glad you’re okay.
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WOW! I’m so glad your alright! This is one of those posts I’m going to HAVE to show to my kids–who balk at wearing their helmets!
Cole
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Wow. What can I say. Thank goodness you’re okay. Lucky you for DH being there. I like the hubby’s idea of a new one though!
Wonder if I can use this to convince my DH I need a new ATV. Grizzly sounds good. Yeah.
Huggles,
Donica
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Sheesh, Shan!!! :hug: I’m so glad you put your helmet back on. I’m so glad you’re you, you’re okay, and you’re married to your DH.
I’m snivelling here, you know, so thankful you put that pink sucker back on.
Bless you for all your safety precautions, and the valuable lessons you’re teaching your kids… while you’re all having a great time! Yay!