A CRAZY thing happened that restored my faith in humanity!
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Member
Squid
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 40
From: Altoona, PA
A CRAZY thing happened that restored my faith in humanity!
Well, here's a crazy thing that happened to Nath and I on Wednesday, kind of a long read, but interesting....
We were having a good ride, about 7pm, going on some back roads in Sinking Valley, PA. I pulled up to a stop, and waited for Nath to catch up (a rare occurrence as I was more familiar with the terrain). I went to pull out, and my back tire spun out a bit. Was kind of startled, but looked back, and figured I might have went in some horse droppings, or a small puddle, didn't see anything out of the norm, so....anyway, we hit this straightaway about 110 before hitting a few twisties.
My rear tire felt a bit slick as I was following Nath around the corners, and (Oh! He about ate some venison for dinner that night, effin' deer!) anyway, my fuel light comes on, but I just filled the tank not long ago...Sooo, I put 2 and 2 together and realized I might have a fuel leak! Maybe I didn't realize sooner because I have a head cold, and couldn't smell fumes but that's beside the point. Now I'm worried I'm going to catch on fire! I stop at the next stop sign, and jump off to check things out....Gassss all over the place, and I'm wondering what the heck tube came off, or what.
So he comes back wondering what happened, and looking startled as well, we check the thing out....Let me first say that Nath is a life saver! The man has tools on him, something I don't carry, until now. Anyway, we get the tank off, and the petcock is completely off. No bolts holding it in. We really don't understand how this happened other than my bike is an R title, and has a new tank. Maybe the petcock wasn't fastened sufficiently? It's anyone's guess at that point, nevertheless, we had to figure out how to approach the situation with not much daylight, in the middle of nowhere, Nath with no glasses(old man,) and both of us with no cell service.
Out of nowhere, a middle-aged stranger shows up in a Ford Excursion and jumps out. He's a church goer, and the church he attends happens to be about 100 yards from our current location. He insists that I push the bike to the church for the obvious fact that there was approximately 10 minutes of daylight left. So, we agree and head to the church. Upon arriving, he opens the matching left side church doors where he tells me to push it in, so we can work on it in the light. So, then Nath and I are trying to figure out how he can go find a couple bolts to get this thing back on, and the man says, "go ahead and use my truck." WOW, are you kidding me? Total stranger, never met the guy before, and he's letting us take his truck? Nath and I couldn't believe it, and still couldn't believe it as we took the tank about 20 miles back to his place and fixed the thing.
Once arriving back to the church, we slapped the tank back on. We put gas in it, that we got on the way back, and she fired right up. I then gracefully donated a $20 bill and thanked the man who restored my faith in humanity. Nath and I went on our way, with no further problems arising. Just a short tale of how a bad event, can turn into an inspiring one.
Anyone else have any good riding stories that they will remember forever?
We were having a good ride, about 7pm, going on some back roads in Sinking Valley, PA. I pulled up to a stop, and waited for Nath to catch up (a rare occurrence as I was more familiar with the terrain). I went to pull out, and my back tire spun out a bit. Was kind of startled, but looked back, and figured I might have went in some horse droppings, or a small puddle, didn't see anything out of the norm, so....anyway, we hit this straightaway about 110 before hitting a few twisties.
My rear tire felt a bit slick as I was following Nath around the corners, and (Oh! He about ate some venison for dinner that night, effin' deer!) anyway, my fuel light comes on, but I just filled the tank not long ago...Sooo, I put 2 and 2 together and realized I might have a fuel leak! Maybe I didn't realize sooner because I have a head cold, and couldn't smell fumes but that's beside the point. Now I'm worried I'm going to catch on fire! I stop at the next stop sign, and jump off to check things out....Gassss all over the place, and I'm wondering what the heck tube came off, or what.
So he comes back wondering what happened, and looking startled as well, we check the thing out....Let me first say that Nath is a life saver! The man has tools on him, something I don't carry, until now. Anyway, we get the tank off, and the petcock is completely off. No bolts holding it in. We really don't understand how this happened other than my bike is an R title, and has a new tank. Maybe the petcock wasn't fastened sufficiently? It's anyone's guess at that point, nevertheless, we had to figure out how to approach the situation with not much daylight, in the middle of nowhere, Nath with no glasses(old man,) and both of us with no cell service.
Out of nowhere, a middle-aged stranger shows up in a Ford Excursion and jumps out. He's a church goer, and the church he attends happens to be about 100 yards from our current location. He insists that I push the bike to the church for the obvious fact that there was approximately 10 minutes of daylight left. So, we agree and head to the church. Upon arriving, he opens the matching left side church doors where he tells me to push it in, so we can work on it in the light. So, then Nath and I are trying to figure out how he can go find a couple bolts to get this thing back on, and the man says, "go ahead and use my truck." WOW, are you kidding me? Total stranger, never met the guy before, and he's letting us take his truck? Nath and I couldn't believe it, and still couldn't believe it as we took the tank about 20 miles back to his place and fixed the thing.
Once arriving back to the church, we slapped the tank back on. We put gas in it, that we got on the way back, and she fired right up. I then gracefully donated a $20 bill and thanked the man who restored my faith in humanity. Nath and I went on our way, with no further problems arising. Just a short tale of how a bad event, can turn into an inspiring one.
Anyone else have any good riding stories that they will remember forever?
Last edited by RobtheDrummer; Oct 7, 2011 at 01:00 AM.
Senior Member
SuperBike
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 1,090
From: Big Lick
Now the fun part Rob. You get to pay it forward!
It's a relatively common occurance (thankfully) on the lake where I have a place. One time I busted a prop and was over a mile away from the dock, it was 5 PM on a cool October day. (Read that, no one else was on the water). I paddled the boat over to a nearby dock and the family there gave me a ride back to mine so I could get my truck and trailer. they let me use their private ramp to pull the boat out. Likewise, there has been a time that I towed some stranded boaters back to their dock, and also helped one kid on a broken down jetski. I offered money but they would not accept it. I've never taken money. I just tell them to pay it forward.
Glad the story ended well for you guys!
It's a relatively common occurance (thankfully) on the lake where I have a place. One time I busted a prop and was over a mile away from the dock, it was 5 PM on a cool October day. (Read that, no one else was on the water). I paddled the boat over to a nearby dock and the family there gave me a ride back to mine so I could get my truck and trailer. they let me use their private ramp to pull the boat out. Likewise, there has been a time that I towed some stranded boaters back to their dock, and also helped one kid on a broken down jetski. I offered money but they would not accept it. I've never taken money. I just tell them to pay it forward.
Glad the story ended well for you guys!
ride it out
SuperSport
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 745
From: NH
one time a guy on a v8 prop boat lost his steering in the middle of a lake I live near. after seeing him run into the brush and swamp area we realized a concern. we went over and pulled him to the dock he was very thankful.
Senior Member
MotoGP
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 2,934
From: altoona, pa
yes, we were very fortunate that it ended well. Could have been catastrophic with all that gas being deposited at the rear wheel. About 3 gallons lost in a short distance at speed as both bolts completely disappeared, not just loose, but gonzo. This christian savior had his mind made up from the beginning that he was going to make sure that we were taken care of. "I'll get a truck and we can load it up and take it wherever you need to go, we can get you replacement bolts, you can put it in the church, you can leave it here, take my car". Wow, this was unbelievable!
The day before, I installed the missing long bolt at the rear of the Rob's tank and we were going to lift the tank and inspect the filter, but got tied up doing a suspension tune up. Probably wouldn't have discovered the petcock problem, but it's a moot point now regardless.
having been an OTR trucker for 20 years, i have been helped a few times, but have helped many many times, and have learned that this was indeed a relatively rare occurrence. A person after my own heart who walks the talk, where most make a offer to call someone or a spurious comment or gesture with no real intent. Refreshing to know that there are some real people you can count on, albeit a stranger, even though many who call themselves friends would rationalize there way out of doing anything out of there way.
Incidentally, a biker on a v-rod type bike slowed and yelled "need anything", but barely enough to grab one gear. At least that probably made him feel like he did all he wanted to do.
Anyway, that church you see above now has two new members, esp since they, without hesitation, welcomed a fowl smelling superhawk(yellow of all things) into their place of worship. Well i don't know about joining, but at least we'll bow our heads in respect every time we pass that holy sanctuary.
Thank you Todd all those like you.
The day before, I installed the missing long bolt at the rear of the Rob's tank and we were going to lift the tank and inspect the filter, but got tied up doing a suspension tune up. Probably wouldn't have discovered the petcock problem, but it's a moot point now regardless.
having been an OTR trucker for 20 years, i have been helped a few times, but have helped many many times, and have learned that this was indeed a relatively rare occurrence. A person after my own heart who walks the talk, where most make a offer to call someone or a spurious comment or gesture with no real intent. Refreshing to know that there are some real people you can count on, albeit a stranger, even though many who call themselves friends would rationalize there way out of doing anything out of there way.
Incidentally, a biker on a v-rod type bike slowed and yelled "need anything", but barely enough to grab one gear. At least that probably made him feel like he did all he wanted to do.
Anyway, that church you see above now has two new members, esp since they, without hesitation, welcomed a fowl smelling superhawk(yellow of all things) into their place of worship. Well i don't know about joining, but at least we'll bow our heads in respect every time we pass that holy sanctuary.
Thank you Todd all those like you.
Member
Squid
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 54
From: Durham, NC
There really is good people in this world that go out of their way to help someone. Glad you didn't slide out from a slick road and do worst damage.
On another note, did you or Nath know Altoona's dog catcher ' John Iorio' I think everyone in Altoona knew him. Hate to see him passed away. He was my uncle.
On another note, did you or Nath know Altoona's dog catcher ' John Iorio' I think everyone in Altoona knew him. Hate to see him passed away. He was my uncle.
Senior Member
MotoGP
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 3,452
From: San Clemente, CA
wshski, I'm sorry to hear of your uncle's passing. Condolences.
Over 20 years ago, while riding home by myself at about midnight from the Speedway races in Costa Mesa, I came upon a young guy pushing a 1st generation 1100 Katana up a very steep hill on Pacific Coast Highway. He'd run out of gas, so we found a soda bottle and transferred about 3 bottles worth into his tank, but that wasn't enough to get it started. So he asked if I could just give him a ride to the next gas station. He hopped on the back of my CB700SC Nighthawk S, and I dropped him off at the Mobil station in Laguna Beach, 2+ miles down the road.
Then about 6 or 7 years later, my 1990 Isuzu Trooper threw a water pump belt 15 miles above Borrego Springs, in the desert, just before sunset. A CHP, who was off duty, heard the call for AAA on his radio and drove 15 miles, even though he was off duty, to stay with us while it got dark, until the tow truck arrived 45 minutes later.
He gave my wife a ride down the hill to the only motel in town. I rode down with the tow truck driver/gas station owner, and discovered that his best friend since high school, and dirt riding buddy for life, had been one of my auto instructors in college over 20 years earlier.
Long story short, when he dropped me off at the motel, he told me to see if my wife had been able to get a room. If not he was going to invite us into his home for the night. We got the last room they had, and the next morning when we got to the gas station, he gave me a break on the belts (he had 3 of the 4 in stock) and labor. When the belt broke, I was expecting to get ripped for about $250, but he charged less than $100. The Trooper had 4 belts, and of course the one that broke was the inside one.
Over 20 years ago, while riding home by myself at about midnight from the Speedway races in Costa Mesa, I came upon a young guy pushing a 1st generation 1100 Katana up a very steep hill on Pacific Coast Highway. He'd run out of gas, so we found a soda bottle and transferred about 3 bottles worth into his tank, but that wasn't enough to get it started. So he asked if I could just give him a ride to the next gas station. He hopped on the back of my CB700SC Nighthawk S, and I dropped him off at the Mobil station in Laguna Beach, 2+ miles down the road.
Then about 6 or 7 years later, my 1990 Isuzu Trooper threw a water pump belt 15 miles above Borrego Springs, in the desert, just before sunset. A CHP, who was off duty, heard the call for AAA on his radio and drove 15 miles, even though he was off duty, to stay with us while it got dark, until the tow truck arrived 45 minutes later.
He gave my wife a ride down the hill to the only motel in town. I rode down with the tow truck driver/gas station owner, and discovered that his best friend since high school, and dirt riding buddy for life, had been one of my auto instructors in college over 20 years earlier.
Long story short, when he dropped me off at the motel, he told me to see if my wife had been able to get a room. If not he was going to invite us into his home for the night. We got the last room they had, and the next morning when we got to the gas station, he gave me a break on the belts (he had 3 of the 4 in stock) and labor. When the belt broke, I was expecting to get ripped for about $250, but he charged less than $100. The Trooper had 4 belts, and of course the one that broke was the inside one.
Senior Member
MotoGP
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 2,934
From: altoona, pa
There really is good people in this world that go out of their way to help someone. Glad you didn't slide out from a slick road and do worst damage.
On another note, did you or Nath know Altoona's dog catcher ' John Iorio' I think everyone in Altoona knew him. Hate to see him passed away. He was my uncle.
On another note, did you or Nath know Altoona's dog catcher ' John Iorio' I think everyone in Altoona knew him. Hate to see him passed away. He was my uncle.
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