Emotional Day - My Wrecked Ducati Monster 696 After My Accident [PICS]
Jan 26, 2010 | 03:26 PM
#1
Thread Starter
| Teamspeed Pro
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 23,875
From: Orange County
Emotional Day - My Wrecked Ducati Monster 696 After My Accident [PICS]
It was an emotional morning today.
As many of you already know, on July 4, 2009 I ran my Ducati Monster 696 off of a cliff in the Ortega Canyon. I nearly passed away, spent 9 weeks in the hospial and am still recovering. The members of the forum have been so supportive of me. You have treated me like family through this whole ordeal. So I wanted to share this important moment with you.
After the accident, one of my closest friends picked my bike up and hauled it to his home. He has kept it there for the past 6 months. He has never pressured me to come and see it or pick it up. He also didn't want to bring it over to my house because he didn't want to force my family to look at it everyday in the garage. He is a good man.
Well, this morning I finally got the courage up to go over to his house and look at the bike. I also had it towed to the repair shop. It was an important psychological moment for me. There was a lot of laughing and a few tears as well.
The bike is pretty badly damaged on the side it went down on but not too bad on the other side. The handle bar is bent badly and the gas tank cover is shot. There are a lot of little dents and dings that will need to be fixed as well. The damage to the bike wasn't as bad as it could have been. The bike actually hit the guard rail and didn't go over the cliff. When the bike hit the rail, it propelled me over. I took the brunt of the damage. Amazingly, the battery still had juice and it fired up the first time we tried!
Seeing the bike reminded me once again how happy I am to be alive and how our lives can change in the blink of an eye. I have learned so much through this experience. Most of all, I have learned to better appreciate my family and friends. Those of you who supported me through this hard time are a big part of my recovery. The flowers, letters, notes, emails, visits, phone calls, prayers and especially the support I had over the holidays - the 250 Testarosa engine model rocks my desk - will never be forgotten. I really have no words to express the thanks.
I want you to know how much I love you all for that.
Take care,
Dana
As many of you already know, on July 4, 2009 I ran my Ducati Monster 696 off of a cliff in the Ortega Canyon. I nearly passed away, spent 9 weeks in the hospial and am still recovering. The members of the forum have been so supportive of me. You have treated me like family through this whole ordeal. So I wanted to share this important moment with you.
After the accident, one of my closest friends picked my bike up and hauled it to his home. He has kept it there for the past 6 months. He has never pressured me to come and see it or pick it up. He also didn't want to bring it over to my house because he didn't want to force my family to look at it everyday in the garage. He is a good man.
Well, this morning I finally got the courage up to go over to his house and look at the bike. I also had it towed to the repair shop. It was an important psychological moment for me. There was a lot of laughing and a few tears as well.
The bike is pretty badly damaged on the side it went down on but not too bad on the other side. The handle bar is bent badly and the gas tank cover is shot. There are a lot of little dents and dings that will need to be fixed as well. The damage to the bike wasn't as bad as it could have been. The bike actually hit the guard rail and didn't go over the cliff. When the bike hit the rail, it propelled me over. I took the brunt of the damage. Amazingly, the battery still had juice and it fired up the first time we tried!
Seeing the bike reminded me once again how happy I am to be alive and how our lives can change in the blink of an eye. I have learned so much through this experience. Most of all, I have learned to better appreciate my family and friends. Those of you who supported me through this hard time are a big part of my recovery. The flowers, letters, notes, emails, visits, phone calls, prayers and especially the support I had over the holidays - the 250 Testarosa engine model rocks my desk - will never be forgotten. I really have no words to express the thanks.
I want you to know how much I love you all for that.
Take care,
Dana
Last edited by Barrister; Jan 26, 2010 at 03:39 PM.
Jan 26, 2010 | 03:31 PM
#4
Teamspeed Pro
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 7,015
From: Home
Dana, bikes are replaceable, lives are not. We are all grateful for your recovery and have missed you while you were gone. This place was not the same with out you.
It must have been tough to go and see the bike for the first time since the accident. Just remember we're all here for you.
Take care brother!
It must have been tough to go and see the bike for the first time since the accident. Just remember we're all here for you.
Take care brother!
Jan 26, 2010 | 03:34 PM
#5
Teamspeed Pro
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 31,976
From: Minnesota
You've got the heart of a lion, Dana. I'm surprised the bike isn't in worse shape considering how extensive your injuries were but it sounds like both you and the bike ought to make a full recovery!
I'm not a religious man, but I keep you and your family in my thoughts daily.
I'm not a religious man, but I keep you and your family in my thoughts daily.
Jan 26, 2010 | 03:41 PM
#7
Teamspeed Pro
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 31,976
From: Minnesota
^^^Ah, gotcha. You know, you see stuff like that happen in cartoons as a kid and think it's funny but it's certainly no laughing matter in real life. I'm so glad you're recovering well, not to mention posting on TS!
