The day started off so nice.  It was sunny and a little cool, but warmed up quickly.  The forecast predicted a 50% chance of rain showers beginning around 2PM, so we figured we would make it dry most of the way.

We passed a number of small cattle ranches and generally attractive rural north Florida scenery.

Heart

4

Comment

0

Link

Log in to comment or reply

Heart

1

Comment

0

Link

Log in to comment or reply

Heart

3

Comment

0

Link

Log in to comment or reply

We also saw our first corn field of this trip

Heart

1

Comment

0

Link

Log in to comment or reply

About noon, it started to rain lightly.  After a few minutes, we stopped and put rain covers on the panniers.  The rain continued to pick up and we added our rain jackets.  There went our chance for a dry ride!  I had put the camera away to keep it dry, so there were no pictures in the rain.

At about mile 40, several large dogs chased us from a front yard.  The owners stood in the yard and screamed at them which did no good at all, of course.  I used my whistle and we thought they had all turned around.  Then, suddenly and silently, one was on my right.  Before I could do anything, he chomped down hard on my right leg.  He ran back home as soon as he bit me.  Kerry went back to the house and got the owners' names and information.  They offered to "take me somewhere" for medical attention, but we declined.  We rode three miles to the next store and the clerk there called the sheriff's  department.

Kerry wanted to document my wound.  It was OK, and not hurting very much.

Heart

1

Comment

6

Link

Sandra LawnThat’s nasty! Wishing you a speedy recovery from New Zealand
Reply to this comment
3 years ago

Jeanna & Kerry SmithThank you so much! It's so cool to know that people from so many places read this journal.
Reply to this comment
3 years ago

Jacques CharronOMG ! this is such a sad story ... I hope that you can recover quickly.
I was jogging in the roads for many years and I have been chased by several dogs but never been bitted like this🥲
Take good care!
Reply to this comment
3 years ago

Jeanna & Kerry SmithTo Jacques CharronWe've had a few good dog chases, but I never really thought I'd get bitten. It's always such a surprise when bad things happen, but I think I'll be fine before long.
Reply to this comment
3 years ago

Mike ObermeyerSo sorry you have to go through that. Hope the rest of your ride goes a lot better. Always thinking about you guys. Stay safe.
Reply to this comment
3 years ago

Jeanna & Kerry SmithTo Mike ObermeyerThank you, Mike. I am almost all healed now and the dog remained healthy while he completed his quarantine. We restocked our pepper spray and hope for the best!
Reply to this comment
3 years ago

Log in to comment or reply

Heart

1

Comment

0

Link

Log in to comment or reply

They sent two deputies and an ambulance.  The EMT's were great.  They cleaned and bandaged the wound and said that, if I felt like it, I would be OK to ride into Perry (20 miles) to seek more care.

Heart

6

Comment

0

Link

Log in to comment or reply

I was feeling OK to ride - and the rain had stopped - so it seemed like the best way to get both of us and the bike to Perry.

The deputies got the information from Kerry about the owners and the dogs.  They told him they knew the house.  They had been there before on "other matters".   They left to pay a visit to the owners.

We got back on the bike.  Just about a mile after we started the 19 miles to Perry, the rain started again, too.  It rained harder and harder and there was some thunder and lightning the last few miles.  

We finally got to the Hampton Inn around 3:00.  After showering and getting into dry clothes, we called a cab to take us to the Urgent Care Center.  The cab was an old guy in an old, very worn van, but after one wrong stop, he got us to the right place.  We should have looked up the address before we left, but Perry is such a small place, we figured he would know.

At the medical center, we had to wait to see if they would take me, because they were getting ready to close.  Fortunately, they decided to see me and both Lee, the medical assistant and Hillary, the nurse practitioner, were great.  Hillary carefully examined, cleaned and dressed the wound and gave me a tetanus vaccine.  She sent an order for an antibiotic to the local Winn-Dixie.  When we were ready to leave, we found there had been a discussion among the staff to see who would get to drive us to Winn-Dixie and back to the Hampton Inn.  The winner was Dan, who is a local pastor.  He drove us to Winn-Dixie, where the pharmacist had my prescription ready in only a couple of minutes, and then back to the hotel.  He refused any payment, saying he always loved a chance to do a good deed.   

Heart

4

Comment

4

Link

Curt & Helene ReedDear Jeanna, I am so sorry about the incident. I hope you heal well and can continue riding. Lot of rain in the forecast, perhaps it will work in your favor. Shame on the dog owners.
Reply to this comment
3 years ago

Keith A. SpanglerGuys, I'm so glad you found all of the help you needed. Jeanna, HUGS! You are a trooper!
Reply to this comment
3 years ago

Jeanna & Kerry SmithTo Keith A. SpanglerWe felt very lucky to have so many people to help.
Reply to this comment
3 years ago

Jeanna & Kerry SmithTo Curt & Helene ReedThe dog owners are definitely the villains in this story. I hope they were telling the truth about their dogs being vaccinated. We have numbers to call to follow up with the county health department. The dog will be quarantined for 14 days even if it's rabies vaccine is current. I'm very glad it wasn't an unknown dog that couldn't be located.
Reply to this comment
3 years ago

Log in to comment or reply

So, my leg hurts, I don't know how it's going to heal, and I'm not sure how I'm going to feel about riding for the next few days, but we met some kind and generous people which made the whole incident much easier to handle.