I've been trying to write this post for over two weeks now, every time I start it something distracts me or a wave of apathy overwhelms me; I guess because it's painful to write.
A couple of weeks ago I had a chance to take a Friday off and as the weather was beautiful I decided to have a ride out to the east of England. I always head North, West or South so it seemed high time to try East.
For those who know out towards Lincolnshire I rode to Boston on the A607 and the A52. I had a lovely ride, the sun was shining and the roads I'd chosen were as good as expected. The road surfaces were generally poor being covered in winter muck, farm mud and water from the morning dew so I was being quite careful during the journey.
I had a look around Boston when I got there and I found it a pleasant little town with a charming church in its centre that dominates the fens in those parts. If I get around to it I'll post some pictures for you guys.
On the way home the roads were drying nicely but still I was cautious, it's the kind of area where a tractor lurks round every blind corner. As I approached familiar road names I was looking for the A46 that would in turn deposit me on the M1. I found a roundabout with a branch sign posted A46 and I took it. What I didn't know was that soon after the roundabout was a slip road onto the '46. Only as I drew level with the slip road did I realise it was the road I needed. That's when I made the schoolboy error of a snap decision. I braked and leaned over to get into the slip road which meant I entered the road on the far right... where piles of gravel and general road crap had been accumulating for years. There was nothing I could do, one minute I was upright, braking and turning at about 35 mph the next I was lying on the ground with a bike on my left leg. I have no recollection of going from upright to prone, it felt instantaneous.
Now I'm ok, pretty bruised and battered (and I spent last week unable to turn my head right) but I think my beautiful Kawasaki Z750 is dead; it's with the insurers right now being assessed. The forks are twisted and bent, the front wheel is bent and lots of the plastics are cracked. I'd love them to repair it but I'm not hopeful.
The lesson I've learnt is don't make snap decisions. If your forward planning and observation have failed you, accept your wrong-road fate; it's better to turn around than to bin it. Another lesson learned...