White Castle Refuge and a New Trip Tattoo

6/1

We left New York with content stomachs. But remember the importance of fasting in developing a sharp mind because on the recommendation of a local we abandoned the interstate for highway 1/9. We quickly realized the fault in this decision as we were consumed in an endless wave of stop and go, red and green, industrial traffic.

On several of the many stops, I put my foot down to notice a slick, oily film striping the center of the lane. Alex and I disregarded this as something we had little control over and continued down our route. I regret this perseverance however, because not many miles down the road I fell prey to the circumstances. While we were on the correct road and traveling in the right direction, we were becoming impatient. I attempted to switch lanes from the right lane to the left lane in heavy traffic when the trailerless semi in front of me hit its brakes forcefully. I followed with my brakes but met the pavement when I hit an oil spot with a partially turned front wheel with was initiating my lane change. My front wheel turned sharply to the left on the icy surface and the bike went down hard.

It happened so fast. I just remember laying there in disbelief for half a second before wriggling my left leg out from under the still running motorbike. I hit the red kill switch and began to assess the situation. The shattering of the windshield in the fall frightened me, and I feared that the bike might be badly maimed. I was afraid that I had just ended the trip. By this time Alex was off his bike and helped me pick up the broken bike from the pavement. All other traffic continued as if nothing had happened passing on the right and the left.

With the bike upright I hit the ignition… nothing! Again… nothing. At this time adrenaline was pumping as I started to panic a bit. I then remembered the kill switch that I had used only a minute earlier to stop the bike. With the switch reversed, the bike roared to like and we drove up a block to find refuge in a White Castle parking lot.

By this time some of the initial adrenaline was warring off and I noticed my left sleeve seemed a bit wet. I removed my jacket to find a nice cut on my left elbow. Alex went inside to grab a few burger buns to soak up the blood. Not quite but he did bring out a cloth that had probably been used to soak up grease and was surely teeming with hepatitis.

At the time it seemed fine though, and we used it to control the bleeding. Alex dug in the med kit and found some antiseptic wipes and butterflies. In not time the wound was clean and dressed.

I checked the bike and found no major damages. Apart from the broken windshield (which we were able to patch with some duct tape), some minor scratching, and a small tear in the seat, the bike seemed to be mechanically sound.

With everything back in order, I had Alex take out the video camera and record a few of the events. We then jumped back on the bikes and set out for Camden, NJ. I now had a new trip tattoo.