Sunday, April 27, 2014
Well, we were in the process of getting ready to head northward when Murphy intervened. We took marina bikes and headed out to accomplish a few last minute things. Our first stop was Tropical Touch where I got a haircut and Donna got her hair done (shortened and color). We’re looking like respectable cruisers once again.

After haircuts, we headed for a nearby shopping center. Total Wine was the most important destination, but Donna also needed a Michael’s and Barnes and Noble fix. With the bike baskets now overflowing, we started the 3.5 mile trip back to he marina. Nearing the marina, we have to cross a narrow old draw bridge. It has a very narrow sidewalk that has a high curb which drops down to the roadway. We normally walk the bikes across, but not this time!

As we neared the bridge, Donna insisted I go first. I approached the incline applied max power, focused on a point on the other side of the bridge and continued to ride the bike, on the narrow sidewalk, across the bridge. Look back? No way, that’s a sure way to crash, I thought. Just focus and keep pedaling. Sometime in the crossing, Murphy showed up. Upon reaching the other side, I braked to a halt and looked back to check on Donna’s progress. At first I couldn’t see her because of auto traffic, but then I saw her walking and pushing the bike very very slowly. As she got closer, I noticed she was limping and there was blood streaming down the front of her left leg.

It seems she decided to follow my bad example and tried to ride the sidewalk. Overloaded basket? Slow speed up the incline? Probably the combo! The instability led to the bike leaving the sidewalk and dropping downward to the roadway. It was here Donna parted company with the bike and encountered the roadway in front of oncoming traffic. Fortunately, the traffic stopped and a gentleman helped her get up and move the bike out of the road and back onto the sidewalk. Totally embarrassed, she thanked the man, insisted she was OK and began to walk the bike, on the sidewalk, toward me and the marina.

Upon arrival at the marina, several ladies helped cleaned and dress the Donna’s wounds. She then sat on the porch and consumed some of her favorite pain killer…beer.

That was five days ago. She still says she’s OK, but she has some pain and the swelling comes back by late afternoon each day. The bruising is now very apparent and ugly to boot. Hey bartender, bring her an Aleve and another round.

What all this really means is we haven’t started for home yet. The weather has been great, except for the wind which is out of the north. So, we’re now thinking of departing about 1 May when the wind clocks around to the south and brings in a few T-storms and rain. We can’t have the return trip start out with good weather now can we!

More boring glimpses of our trip homeward to follow soon. Stay tuned.