posted 07-12-2004 09:28 PM                  

Accident happened locally...I'd been ridin over 100 miles already & was back in town & decided to turn left,
across an intersection, where all 3 lanes of traffic were stopped, only to discover a 4th lane that I didn't see
...with a Cadillac SUV coming fast...no time to get across intersection & unable to stop without front tire
still being IN the [farthest outside] lane. I guess 'she' (a young black woman) was traveling in excess of 50mph...I was basically stopped at the time of impact. Hit me right front ... a scant inch away from my right foot.

WHAMMO!. It happened fast. When the dust cleared, I was 1/2 laying & 1/2 sitting on my left side. The Harley... with several parts already gone...was laying 5 feet to my left on it's left side. In 30 seconds there were that many people all rushing up asking, are you ok, are you ok? What did I know? I said I dunno yet!

I asked one dude in front of me to help me up...extending my right hand...he pulled...I had right foot planted
on the pavement, but getting about half-way up I noticed my left leg was no longer straight plus it was now feeling numb and painful...so I said, nope. Lay me back down. He did. At hosp it was discovered left femur was severely broken...Doc musta told me this at least 3 times b4 surgery...that he'd do the best he could but leg may never be straight again. As I lay there minutes away from surgery I said, hey, please Xray my right wrist...as it is very painful too. They did. It was broken too--awoke w/cast from knuckles to elbow.

The leg, tho' having no cast, was bandaged in 3 places so I really couldnt see what was there. In a few days, as these (then nasty) bandages began slipping & literally falling off my leg while I semi-slept, I noticed I had staples in [3] locations: 1 near my knee, another 2/3 the way to my hip, the 3rd at (or on?) my hip. Well, a week later the staples were removed. There were about 8-10 staples at each of these [3] locations btw.

I had to use a walker just to get around the first 3+ weeks...maybe 4. Man, what a pain getting in/out of tub.
Also, the meds kept me satisfied but when they began wearing off, I had to take more cuz it wuz just too dang painful if I let it go beyond 4 hours. Went back to CVS 3 times, I believe. Eventually, I weened myself off the pills...first down to just 2 every morning, then quit cold-turkey. Nobody told me to--I just did. Also, I'd called about the walker & would it be OK to try walking without it. The stupid receptionist AND the physical therapy people said, No. Keep using it until your next appt (3 weeks away at that time--orig 6 weeks). Well, 'blank' them, I thought. What do they know? So, I began limping, hopping, hobbling around short distances without it...and was eventually able to discard the thing.

So, just 3 Mondays ago I had the appt for Dr to chk the wrist (got cast off wrist and the Leg. Doc said BOTH were looking real good...so, apparrently I did the right thing--heh! Oh!, to back up slightly, the Titanium Rod is 1/2 thick and runs from the knee to the hip, held in with two screws top/two screws bottom...which doc says are working out, slightly. I asked what does that mean--izzat a problem? He says nah, that's normal. Kewl. Rod is now permanent, BTW, so oughtta be fun in aeropuertos dontcha know. Lastly, I shouldda mentioned probs w/left shoulder initially...but, I figured it was just road rash & would go away...din't realize it was [also] internal. So, had 2 more XRays Monday b4 last...and sure enuf there is some sort of joint-separation going on. Doc says lets wait til final appt (Jul 19th) and if still isn't any better, he'll inject it with cordozone. Hmmmmm. OK, now this....

Am I a confirmed cager? At first, when asked, I said hell yes I'll ride again. And, I am not afraid to do that, but currently, neither my leg, wrist, or shoulder will allow such...esp on an 800 pound bike. So, my present line o' thinkin was to sell the Wing--I did--to get out from under payments & insurance which continues even tho' I won't be riding for 4-6 mos--and worry about getting anotha bike later on down the road. But, no, friends, I aint afraid o' ridin' again cuz it's something I love, but gonna take a short Hiatus, stand back a few months, and re-weigh all my options. But, ask me again next Spring...when the new Harleys are lookin' good, eh! :-) But now I'm bored, right!

So, I'm looking at auto-trader during my 7-weeks of healing
and first thought I wanted a Vette--almost bought one! Then just decided nah, what dew I want a Vette for. Then I thought I wanted a Dodge HEMI Truck and test-drove one. But just couldn't see trading away my beloved '99 F-150. Then, mysteriously, I began perusing Prowlers...remembering that my wife had always admired them! Well, after 3 weeks and several emails to a dude in Orlando (and talking him down $3,900 bucks...I decided to go for it! I believe I made an excellent choice. All I've done is buy 2 new front tires AND a NOAH car cover. Otherwise can't think of anything it needs or I want to bestow upon it--oh, sure, it'll come after reading this board a lil longer. But....

I did buy it for my wife (in Iraq til Sept) so I got her a personal tag. She has been known as an ELF and an EVIL ELF in our bike circles...due to size n temperment, so, the tag I got her reads: ELF CAGE

posted 07-12-2004 09:40 PM                  

it is good to hear you have made such a good recovery. When I ride I look for anything that moves. You situation is one that worries me the most when riding, someone I cannot see that does not see me. My Goldwing shows up more then most since I have so many lights, but this doesn't always help.

Your choice in cars was a good one. You might be happy as a bug in a rug with it right now, but attend an event and see the mods others have done and you will have the MODBUG. If the car does not have the front splash gaurds and ceramic brake pads you might want to get them ASAP. These are a MUST for all Prowlers. Larry Lord makes a deck lid hinge protector that should have been on the car from the factory.

Continue with the recovery and return of your Elf

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Larry & Sue Mayes

posted 07-13-2004 06:43 AM                  

For me it started with a Matchbox candy red 33 coupe. I couldn't stop looking at it, and realized the 300M was too tame and cushy for me....I had the bug for a hot rod, but was still intimidated by price.

Then my local dealer dropped their silver showroom Prowler from 55K to 36K overnight. I didn't buy that one, but knew that the Prowler was approaching "affordable". I still didn't pursue it for a while longer, but I passed a convertible Vette and knew I wanted something fun, but not a Vette...I needed something more outrageous.

posted 07-13-2004 08:45 AM                  

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Current mods: Mopar dual exhaust & front mudflaps; MacMotorsports Air Intake;
Real Rod Air Patrol; Graphics by Balistek Designs; ($8) Chrome grille; Chrome
tire valve-stem covers; Painted rear bumper lettering; Prowler Pro Gears; Synthetic
Oil; Raybestos Ceramic Brake Pads; TGF Door Panel Inserts & Headrest Covers;
SheepskinExpress Sheepskin Seatcovers; Grille Light; Pinstriping by Bo Boring;
Painted Valve Cover; Window Tinting; Windshield Visor Banner; Front Bumper
Removal / Relocation of Front Turn Signal Lights; Real Rod Transmission Cooler
Cover, Sill and Carper Covers, Aero Front Covers and Roadster Rear Pan, rear
bumpers removed; rear mudflaps; painted calipers; Prowler Products by Gary
Drilled Rotors, front and rear; Painted tach; Jay's Aluminum Billet Center Caps
w/shimmers, Chrome Lugnuts and Chrome Radio Bezel Shimmer; Dash Rings;
Windshield Wiper Arm Removal; Fender Trim; Speaker Replacement; Painted
Plenum; Painted Radiator Crossmember; Painted Rear Mudflaps; Air Patrol
graphics; Aluminum engine compartment support bars; PlasmaGlow 7-color LED
Underbody Kit; Dash Designs Dash Mat.

More 'Pumpkin' photos . . . . . More cars and other stuff

New pictures in Personal Scrapbook (02/23/03)

"I may have to grow older, but I do not have to grow up!"

posted 07-16-2004 12:41 AM                  

Any one reading this thinking about their first Kat, do it, you can't go wrong and if it doesn't work out I would think you could sell it for what you paid, They just don't make them like this anymore.