October 4, 2022
A Poor Example Of A Good Samaritan
Hastings, MN
Can there be any doubt that the best part of bike touring are those first few pedal strokes of each and every day? That's the best part for me anyway, because they represent a new beginning and promises of an exciting day. Sometimes it gets better from there, sometimes worse, but, damn, the first hundred yards ALWAYS feel so great.
Today, that great feeling continued for another mile as I traversed a bike trail through the south part of town. Then I turned onto a sidewalk. I passed a guy on an e-bike coming from the other direction, and we exchanged friendly hellos. A few seconds later I heard a horrible cry of pain from behind. I looked back and saw the guy who I had just greeted was curled up on the sidewalk with his twisted bike just to the side.
I've never been much of a Good Samaritan. I do, however, have a decent sense of right versus wrong and it would definitely be wrong to ride away with the assumption he'd be okay. I knew I had to turn around and check on the guy.
"Are you okay," I asked.
He was clearly stunned, but he answered, "I don't know, I'm still trying to take an inventory of my pains."
His main concern, and mine too, was his lower lip that looked like hamburger. His face was the part of his body that took the brunt of his fall. I dug my little camp towel out of my pannier and gave it to him to soak up the blood. Understandably, he was a little dazed. My thoughts turned to a possible concussion. I asked if it was okay for me to pick up his bike. He replied in the affirmative. I introduced myself and asked for his name. He answered quickly. I asked if he might be concussed and he said, "I don't think so." When I said most people who get concussions don't think so, he laughed.
We talked for a while longer, and he explained that after we passed, he looked back at my loaded bike, dropped off the edge of the pavement, turned too sharply to get back up off the grass, and the next thing he knew, he was lying on the sidewalk. He also said he was 65 now and it's harder to take a fall. I said, "yeah, I'm 64 myself, so I get it. I ride all year round and every winter I take one or two falls and they hurt more every year."
I was convinced he was okay, though I am no more of a concussion expert than I am a good Samaritan. But I did have one previous experience in that area. About a decade ago, while on an organized 50-mile day ride, I came across a guy who had crashed. His helmet was cracked, he couldn't get his shoes unclipped from his pedals, and he was talking gibberish. There was no doubt that guy was concussed. I called 9-1-1.
Today, the guy rode off after we straightened out the seat on his bike. He said he was on his way to work. When I expressed more concern, he replied that if he had any problems he could call his wife for help. Half-satisfied, I decided to continue my own ride.
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| Heart | 5 | Comment | 0 | Link |
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2 years ago
2 years ago
Remember when I wrote about how Northfield has a history that goes beyond the "cows, colleges and contentment?" Let's explore that for a couple paragraphs and pictures.
You might recognize the name "Northfield" from The Great Northfield Minnesota Raid movie. It's about how Jesse James and Cole Younger gang robbed the biggest bank west of the Mississippi. Unfortunately for them, the bank got wind of the plan and hired Pinkerton agents to defend the bank and hunt the outlaws down.
Every year, Northfield has "Jesse James Days," in which the local citizens re-create the great bank robbery. I've been to the re-enactment and all I can say is there are a lot of loud gunshots and some really, really bad acting.
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Wow, I didn’t know the Archer house was gone. I had dinner in the restaurant with my wife a few times. We rather liked the old place.
Shame, really.
Keith
2 years ago
Now it was time to move on to Northfield's second-best college campus. Let me say right now that Carlton College is no slouch in the majestic building department but, in my opinion, it's not as majestic as St. Olaf College. Still, it's worth sharing a few pictures.
| Heart | 4 | Comment | 0 | Link |
I enjoyed my time at the site of Jesse James' last stand, St. Olaf College, Carlton College and Northfield in general, but it was time to move on. I couldn't help but take one more picture in Northfield though. A big John Deere dealership reflected the agricultural heritage of the city.
| Heart | 5 | Comment | 0 | Link |
A nice chunk of my ride back to Hastings was ridden on gravel. It was mostly hard-packed reddish gravel, unlike yesterday's loose gray gravel. It was a new road for me, and I liked riding on it better than I would have liked riding on the paved and more direct Highway 47.
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Today's ride: 32 miles (51 km)
Total: 483 miles (777 km)
| Rate this entry's writing | Heart | 11 |
| Comment on this entry | Comment | 10 |
2 years ago
Well, you did your dutiful best to help when needed, and for that alone this tour should be awarded a star.
I see that you bypassed Cannon Falls, another of my favorite spots for cycling, both on the trail and off. One of my favorite routes went south from Cannon Falls before turning north through Belle Creek, Vasa and Welch, then back to Cannon Falls. I highly recommend it for an afternoon’s outing.
I’ll be awaiting the November tour, which will undoubtedly see colder weather.
Cheers,
Keith
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