Big Girls Don't Cry over Broken Collar Bones

The weekend started out chilly but fun as we welcomed our buddy Tim back into town.  You have to use your imagination to name this caption.

The fellas make their scary faces.

Congrats to Chad on his new DRZ.  Looking good!  I heard he did really awesome on his first off road experience ever.  He broke in the new bike really well.  Congrats!

The weekend took a turn for the worse as I launched off my bike and this is me wringing around on the ground after I broke my collar bone.  I still managed to smile for the camera and request that this moment be documented.  The pain was incredible but the fellas didn’t think anything was broken because I didn’t cry.  I later sat in the truck and cried by myself then called my family doctor who recommended I go in for xrays.  I believer the symptom of popping and crunching noises was the giveaway.   Fortunately, Chad came back and kept me company as we reminisced about our grade school days.

Here’s the proof.  The fellas didn’t believe me   I broke my collar bone in at least two places and next week, I will find out if I will need surgery.  I am still in a lot of pain.  My right arm is in a sling so I am learning to navigate through life with just my left arm.  This is very difficult as I am right handed as well.  Using a mouse is really tricky!

This is the hill where I fell.  I will introduce my first ever guest blogger, Jason.  I don’t remember much of what happened.  I didn’t black out but after I landed, all I could focus on was the pain in my shoulder.

Here’s J’s account:

Caroleen was coming down the hill in the background at a fairly good clip … trying to slow down before the much trickier than it looks rock garden, where you need to transition from a quick right to left  turn around the steam and mud. I think she had her front end loaded (suspension compressed) as she hit the right side of the picture here, causing her body to launch over the bars, in her best superman impression she could muster.

Unfortunately for her, human physics dictated she landed with shoulder out … and you know the rest: her collarbone took the impact. We should have known to expect the worse, as she didn’t immediately spring back to life like she does on all of her other numerous wrecks and drops. I think we all  figured she just had the wind knocked out of her, along with a muscle strain from the fall. After poking and proding her for a good 10 mins, we conceded that she couldn’t ride her bike back to the truck. Only if we had a Med student on the ride, we would have know better. Get well soon!

Here’s the riding crew.  The disabled photographer is sitting in the truck.

Todd, Jason, Tim, Brendan, and Chad

A big thanks to all of my friends on carolinariders.com and xt225.com for their kind words and well wishes.  I’ve received many phone calls, texts, and visits from friends as well.  The biggest thanks goes to my J who has been the best caregiver as I can’t do much of anything these days but drift in and out of sleep on the couch between meals.    I really appreciate everyone’s concern and support.  I will do my best to heal up quick I promise!  In the mean time, I will take a spot on the side lines with a camera in hand as always.

broken in 2 places	the caregiver	don’t feed the tourists
	name this caption	scary faces
smile	all my spare levers	trailer in 30 degree weather
		chad’s new drz
unloaded the new ride
chad and his new toy		me with all my bones in tact
me with a broken collarbone now	my view from the ground	the scene of the crime
	everyone stands around
	tim and brendan bringing back my bike	they go out again
		the crew and i’m in the truck