Sunday, January 23, 2011

The Crash!










This 
is the day
I almost
lost Alex.






The day starts
so bright 
and 
beautiful...







We're biking
down to 
Marco Island
today...






...our first
biking day
of 2011...







We plan
to bike
100 miles 
today!





Oh-oh!

Flat tire
right before 
Lover's Key.





Luckily
Al learned how
to change a flat
outside Boise
on our 
bike ride
across America.





Now she
fixes her tire
with aplomb!


But wait!




We've never 
filled a tire
with a 
CO2 cartridge 
before!






How does 
this work?




We squeak
when the nozzle
hizzes and freezes!





But it works!

(This was
her less traumatic
flat of the day.)





Off we go

- a little nervous -

with 10 miles 
 to the bike shop...





We arrive
safe and sound
to Naples Cyclery.




They tune us up -

fresh tubes 
and cartridges -




...and we're 
on our way
again!






We talk
with 
local cyclists...





...who carry
their own 
beach chairs...

pretty clever!





But our road
to Marco
is hot and long...





The only 
shade
is a 
Walmart sign!





I'm just glad
I have Al...





...to lead 
the way
into that 
headwind!











Dangers abound!


Construction...







Cars....













Panthers!




But we arrive
safely
at Marco Island!






Time 
for a 
wholesome
snack...






...and a 
chance
to relax...




...at our
favorite
local store.





Time now
to turn around
and head back
to Ft M.





With 
a wonderful
tail wind!





Turn onto
busy
highway 41...






I shudder
when I realize
this might have been
my last picture
ever
of my daughter...





Run away car...





out 
of 
control...







...at least 55 mph
smashes
into the guardrail
just two yards 
behind 
her back tire!





I saw it coming.




I saw 
this car 
careening
across 3 lanes of traffic
heading 
straight
towards
Alex.




I screamed 
her name!

If she had stopped....

If she had 
even 
slowed
down....







Her tire
is slashed
from the debris
of the shattered
car.


Luckily
a kind couple
- from Indiana btw -
stops to help.





Steve 
helps 
repair...

Her tire
is cut so badly
he needs a dollar bill
to hold it 
together.









His wife, Margaret,
chats
with 
my shaken 
daughter.










The errant driver
looks mad.

He never walks
over to check
on my daughter
that he almost 
killed.





Back on the road...

We have to bike
to Naples
to the Cyclery...

Alex
bikes
timidly...


We have to stop

walk bikes

through
a Naples
Art Festival....





I walk ahead
admiring
the art...





talking
to the dogs...





I look back

and realize
Alex
has been crying.




-Are you
alright?
I ask...

She smiles weakly.






- I was listening
to the
beautiful
music...







and looking
at this
beautiful art...





this
beautiful
moment





and I realized
if that car
had hit me
...
....
......







- Thank goodness
it didn't, Alex!




We're on
quiet roads
now...






Pelican Bay...






We finally
cross
Vanderbilt Beach Road...





to Naples Cyclery...






And Tom....





Who's so happy
to see
his Alex
is safe.












Let's hope 2011
has happier
safer
cycling
ahead...









4 comments:

  1. ...I think she has an angel watching over

    ReplyDelete
  2. My friend Ian came up today and said "i heard your sister almost died!" i was like what?!?! then I realized =P scared me for a second! but glad wixy is still alive and still unsure of what she wants to do when she graduates in 4 months! =O lol LOVE/hate

    ReplyDelete
  3. Wow. I cannot believe that driver! Didn't even come over to apologize! He should be sued and arrested. Be careful out there. Avoid busy roads. What else can you do?? Phillip

    ReplyDelete
  4. I agree, he should be arrested for wreckless endangerment, or something!
    I'm so glad Alex was not hurt!
    ~Wilda

    ReplyDelete