This is hardly an account of an amazing trip, rather a tale of perseverance and the grace of others. A few of you might sympathize . . .

Yesterday I planned a short overnight m/c camping trip with a colleague (who doesn't ride and lugged a bunch of gear to the site. Gear=Beer)

I decided to lengthen the ride for myself and to try out my new NY State 'enhanced' license. This permits me to drive straight into Canada without a passport (thank you TSA.) Lovely weather, minor embarrassments at the border ("What do you mean you've come to Canada for a cup of coffee then you are leaving?".) Hey, I can't help it. I get profiled thanks to my Syrian mom.

Anyway, on the way back down to campsite in central Adirondacks (Forked Lake rustic campground--trust me, it's gorgeous) I was suddenly stricken with fierce abdominal pain. Long story short, rode the last 100 miles with eyes crossed and only stopped twice to vomit.

I don't know I rode those last 60 miles or so. Don't really remember
much except that the roads were among the best I'd ever ridden. No
traffic, long sweepers up and down, lots of tight twisties. Probably helped keep my mind occupied and off of the really impressive degree of discomfort I was feeling.

Do I have to mention that my bike performed like the proverbial well-oiled machine and never gave me a moment of pause that it might let me down?

I programmed the trusty GPS in to have it navigate me to the nearest hospital (yeah, it was bad pain.) which turned out to be a nursing home. I dismounted, and walked in doubled over in pain. A nice fellow coming out of the building asked me if I was alright (I wasn't) and he called an ambulance. He was there with his 96 year-old mom, who was dying. He also offered to store my bike for me at his brother-in-law's garage in town. I was in no position to refuse, so I accepted and took the 30 minute ride to the hospital in Saranac Lake.

A side note--this fellow and his family have substantially restored my faith in total strangers. Turns out he used to race motorcycles in hill-climb events. Good Samaritans for sure.

So, I've got kidney stones. I'll just say that the pain is 'exquisite', and that the pounding of my kidneys on the ride home today was less than pleasant. Never made it to camp, my buddy did pick me up at the hospital and take me to a motel to sleep near the location of my stored bike. My newly-licensed daughter drove to pick up my meds today (thanks to Percocet, I'm sitting up and typing now.)

I'll be planning another similar trip as soon as my kidneys, bladder and scrotum will permit. If you've never ridden in the Adirondack mountains of NYS, then I would wish for all of you the chance one day to do so.

OMFG! That's brutal, Bob! But I'm glad you enjoyed the ride inspite of your, erm, minor discomfort. Glad you're here with us to tell the tale. Yep, some meds are very good for what ails us. It sounds as though things will all work out. Oh yeah, how's the bike?
Cheers.

Hey Bob, I know how you feel mate, going through something similar myself with the Docs trying to narrow it down. It's an 11 out of 10 pain so riding a road like that and not being able to enjoy it (never seen it but will soon be getting on google earth) is a shame. Something we didn't have to worry about when we were younger! Hope your next trip comes around soon (and some photos). Take care mate.
Marty.

Helluva story bobgass!

I hope you get back there soon!

What, no pictures!! I thought this was a ride report.

Bob, I spent 13 years working in an ED (Emerg. Room) and I reckon renal colic was getting up there with labor pain (just my best guess). Your efforts riding in that condition are astonishing.

All things will pass. Get well soon.

Cheers,

I was the Samaritan one night, got a call from a friend in the midst of passing a kidney stone. How you stayed riding is a mystery if the pain I witnessed is anything to go by. You must have the constitution of a Yak! Get better then send us a ride report of the journey to pick up the bike!
88KE

All,

The bike is fine. I picked it up yesterday from the Good Sam and was able to 'stagger' the 140 miles back home. My time at home since then has been interesting (pain meds and all), and I'm awaiting word from docs today as to when they can squeeze me in for more poking, prodding and testing.

I most certainly will be posting pics when I make my eventual triumphant return to the beautiful North Country. It's really a gorgeous region and worthy of its four season vacation reputation.

Y'all do post such good pics and reports from rides that I do feel a bit inadequate by not posting, but I didn't have the presence of mind to snap a single one once the pain arrived. Next time, for sure.

Probably just in time for the leafpeepin season Bob

Oh, man, I hope it's sooner than that . . .

Bob,

Just joking about the pics. Aussie humour. Must get better at using those emoticon thingies.

Off topic for a minute:

Last year you responded to my Western Victoria ride report saying how you enjoyed watching Aussie rules football on TV when you got the chance. Well the strangest thing has happened.

Meet my son (63) the Offence center!! Where did I go wrong??



He's loving it and we stand there trying to figure it all out.

Good to hear you got your bike home.

Cheers,

Ha Ha! That's great. Your son must be a man of some size to be given a number in the 60s (offensive lineman).

I love Aussie Football, don't understand it completely, but it's fast-moving and fluid, like 'soccer', I suppose. I must also shake my head in amazement that the hits and licks given/taken are made even more amazing by the fact that the players are wearing naught but their skivvies and a t-shirt.

"American Rules Football" is much more planned, strategized, and as a result, a slower viewer experience. In the USA, it's evolved into a magnificent televised experience, with multiple slo-mo camera angles dissecting each play (and yes, making the live action seem faster!) It's the number 1 spectator sport in the US, hands-down, and it has rendered Sunday afternoons in the 'fall' as prime TV time for more than just post-pubescent males.

In truth, the NFL (pro league) has some of the biggest, fastest, strongest athletes on any field anywhere, and is in danger of making itself extinct, because of the extremely violent nature of each and every play. I love watching, but never played the game at any formal level (my school always had 'soccer', never 'football'.)

Is your son's league in Australia? Is this sport catching on Down Under?

A post-script on the trip:

I passed a stone--approx 5mm--and have been feeling much better. I just looked at the bike this morning, and think I might go for a spin. My innards still feel battered, but better each day. Thanks for the well wishes.

I WILL be attempting the actual completed m/c camping trip really soon, and will bore y'all with pics when it happens.

The league is a state league mostly centered around Melbourne.
http://www.gridironvictoria.com.au/
My Son's team is Melbourne Uni Royals.
http://www.mroyals.com/team/
Made up of US expats, interested Aussies and a collection of Pacific Islanders. There are members from Pakistan and Srilanka.
The quaterback is from Albany NY.

Cheers,

Interesting how culture spreads. Albany is about 70 mi from here. I'm sure the NFL is pleased with this development! Hope your son does well and has a great time.

Are American Football games televised in Aussie?

I think on cable, but not free to air TV as far as I'm aware.
Glad you're on the mend and look forward to some pics when you re run your trip.

As we're a desperate lot when it comes to photos, we'll even accept one of your stone!

Glad to hear you're on the mend!

Blakey are you sure about that? The last stone I passed ripped the tissue out of the LAST SECTION of the urinary tract..........not pleasant, not a good photo opportunity. I will pass on the photo as I will pass on any other stones that are around. Have you seen how they get one of those stones out when it is stuck in the LAST SECTION?

"Have you seen how they get one of those stones out when it is stuck in the LAST SECTION?"

fingers in ears...LA, LA, LA, LA, LA, LA, LA...

ainsjac wrote:Blakey are you sure about that? The last stone I passed ripped the tissue out of the LAST SECTION of the urinary tract..........not pleasant, not a good photo opportunity. I will pass on the photo as I will pass on any other stones that are around. Have you seen how they get one of those stones out when it is stuck in the LAST SECTION?

No but I have a strange feeling we are just about to find out.

No picture taken of stone, hope never to see it again, but it was approximately the size of the 'mini'-roundel on the flip-key of the K75. :silent:

You're a trooper Bob, thank god for strangers, GPS, and a trusty K.

chris

Exactly right, Chris. All three conspired to make the experience turn out as well as it did. Most of the arduous riding that day took place in quite desolate areas of the state, with infrequent traffic and no guarantee of decent people willing to help out.

But, as I was reminded, decent people are everywhere.

Really bad luck being struck down with that, I have a friend whose wife had twins, both breech presentation born naturally with awful pain, who then a year or so later had kidney stones and she told me the kidney stones were far worse.

I know when another friend who had them was told by his doctor that he will pass them he said how will I know when I do? The doc said believe me you will know. Many of the stones have sharp edges which must be really painful to pass.

But good to see you got back and that the kindness of strangers took care of you.
Regards,
K-BIKE

it was approximately the size of the 'mini'-roundel on the flip-key of the K75

I just took a look at the roundel on my key, I get the willies just thinking about what it felt like to pass it! But I'm glad to hear your on the mend and hope you get to do your trip again before the season is out.

Trip is already in the works. Must confess at this early stage though, I'm wondering if the stone was an isolated event or a foreshadowing of interesting things to come.

Guess it's going to have to be one of those get-back-in-the-saddle-pardner moments where one doesn't worry about possible eventualities but simply goes for it. Have ridden a number of miles this weekend, because weather has been so nice, with no pain or repercussion--a plus!

Like Bette Davis said, "Old age ain't for sissies."

Bobgas, having gone through what you have just experienced may I make a few suggestions. If and when you pass a stone, retrieve it and take it to your doctor who can have it tested. Many stones show that diet changes may influence their growth. Many stones are calcium based and a change to your intake of dairy products may help.
The other thing is to have plenty of fluids, about 5 litres a day to wash the kidneys out and lessen the time that particles can aggregate and grow.
Good luck....my last major problem was about 15 years ago and I do understand how you have felt.

I did collect the stone when it 'arrived' and am awaiting word as to its composition. I'm curious if diet played a role. I thought I drank enough water, as well, but apparently not enough.

May get that initial camping trip in this weekend, if the calendar lines up right. Will be sure to post up pix when it does happen.

Brickee wrote:Like Bette Davis said, "Old age ain't for sissies."

Ol' Bette said a lotta good things...like this gem so often forgotten by parents with today's doted on, cotton-wool wrapped youth, "Basically, I believe the world is a jungle, and if it's not a bit of a
jungle in the home, a child cannot possibly be fit to enter the outside
world."

Good to hear your getting back in the saddle.
Remember to hang your food in the trees in them there mountains.
Bears about. Enjoy

Your advice is good and is to be partnered with the other, opposite advice, "Don't eat food in your tent!"

Bears are a familiar friend in the Adirondacks. Most state parks go out of their way to educate campers as to what they should not do while camping, although serious incidents of bear/man tangles are quite rare. We have the black bear around here, a 'relatively' docile species, but still plenty dangerous particularly if you happen to get between the bear cubs and the mother.

Most campers carry firecrackers or some other loud noisemaker that will generally get them to scatter pretty quickly.

When camping with a car, one stores food in the car at night, and maintains a 'clean' camp. With the bike, it'd probably be smart to ration the amount of fresh food you keep with you, and stash in a 'bear bag' hanging from a tree.

Adirondacks. White Face, Indian Head. Just lovely.
Only been there once for a couple of weeks, but fell for the whole area. Great beer, great camping, walking and rides galore. Cheers.

Here's an image of Whiteface Mountain I took several years ago when riding through Lake Placid. Hope this pic brings back fond memories.

Saw a very dangerous looking rabbit when I was camping in Devon last weekend.

Big blue one by any chance Dave.

I aint never caught a rabbit and that dogs no friend of mine...

Thanks for the memory. Lake Placid has some really cool book shops. "I'll be back" as Arnie says.
What is that great beer from the area called? Is it 'Adam Smith'? A lovely pint of traditional made real ale.. yum.
Cheers
Huw

There is a brew, out of Boston, called "Samuel Adams", distributed nationally now, that is a hell of a good beer. Not to be confused, I think, with the Samuel Smith's varieties from GB. I've downed many of them, but never in Lake Placid.

I'm very close to Utica, where one of the last family-owned breweries left in America (F.X. Matt) makes the Saranac varieties, ostensibly from 'pure Adirondack water'. Also distributed on the east coast, they are delicious, fresh beers that make me wanna drink by a fire in the woods. Yes, that's a plug for Saranac . . .

One more pic from up north. This is a pond near Tupper Lake, and has been my 'desktop photo' for a while.

Ah yes a bit of fishing by day and round a campfire at night with some good beverage. that is certainly one nice spot.

Thats it, Samuel Adams. A fine ale. Saranac sounds a proud brew. Keep it in the family!
It is great to drink 'real' beer without gas being added.
I have a small (24 ft) wooden sailing cruiser which I keep in the Thames Estuary up a creek in a village called Faversham. Great sailing waters. Fantastic wild life, (salt water marshes are haven for all migrating birds, seals and fish galore)but thats an aside.
Faversham is home to a great brewery, Shephard and Neame.
A pint of well kept 'Master Brew' is on of the finest tastes ever created.
Cheers
Huw

What a lovely screen saver. Takes you a place where getting your priorities sorted out seems to be clear as a bell.
Don't break the spell, calm reigns; then you realize you forgot to bring the: can opener/emergency rum/Rizla and or matches/mozzie repellent.....
Ommmmmm

Have printed M/C camping 'checklist', but it fails to list rum or Rizla, both fine products to have on hand when the time is right (or wrong.)

Challenging summer days for me, bike is ready, the weather cooperates, but the 'other schedule' is a drag. The camping trip will happen--sooner rather than later, and the pics I send will be as complete a document of the event as the Dept. of Homeland Security will allow--aka, "The Internet Police".

And yes, the screen image is a balm for the nonsense that normally is emitted from this infernal computer. K100 Forum is a happy exception to this!

onya bob! (aussie expresion for "good on you") ....looking forward to the pics ...hope you enjoy the experience

Can't believe you made it home but it's great to hear we (well, my neighbors) treated you well. I grew up on 4th lake and we have a big camp called Birtchwood on Big Moose Lake. If you are up that way again look for a tobacco 1988 K100LT - that would be me.

Or head to the BMI for a cold one.

Ride safe!
-JR

Thanks, JR. I never had a doubt that somebody decent would come along and render assistance, but it was all the more gratifying when it was the first person I ran into.

Have visited several families and camps on the Fulton Chain. Used the old rope swing on some island in the middle, drank beer and sang by the fire at night. It's such a beautiful area and truly a four-season recreational paradise.

Return camping trip is slated for last three days of July--gear is all laid out and ready to roll. The bike is humming along as ever and no signs of a stone-relapse! (That was the kiss of death just then ... )

Mebbe I'll see you rolling up NY 28 one of these days. I passed a maroon RT this morning coming back from work in Herkimer--there are a few sweet Ks out there for sure amidst the Harley Nation!

Rabbits....if you had lived during the war you would have had plenty of rabbit pie..

I did.

Ajays! Great to hear from you.

I have enjoyed rabbit here, folks still raise them for meat, but they're not a staple of our diet. My folks were children of the great depression, and they have told me the stories of scrounging for food. Rabbits were a delicacy . . .

We lived next to the Fesco farm in Borodino (near Skaneateles) for 6 years. I neighbor (a mile away) had about 25 hutches/rabbits. I love rabbit, nice tasty and tender. My brother shot 4 snow shoes last season.

I hope to be up on 28 3rd week of July. I'll stop if I see another K or R - usually do anyways. lol.

Drive safe!

Latest plan to actually consummate the full camping/motorcycle trip is for last few days of July and first days of August. Will be in the Long Lake area, there's a hotel there my buddy sez (can't think of its name) but will be happy to meet up for a drink or twelve. If you are in the region then would be happy to compare bikes, etc. Until then, just marking time in the Mohawk Valley. Short day rides through up/down country/county roads under halcyon blue skies. What a hot, dry, beautiful summer we're having.

Just thinking on the comment about drinking enough water reminds me two years ago my wife got really sick with antibiotic resistant pneumonia and I was with her in the Emergency Ward at North Shore Hospital and on the other side of her bed behind the curtains round her bed was a 60 year old man who had collapsed in the street in Takapuna and struck his head on the pavement and was from the discussion I overheard quite badly banged up.
When the Doc came round to see him I was on the other side of the curtains unavoidably listening to everything said and the Doc asks the man "have you been drinking enough water"? There was some discussion about what he drank that day and then the Doc said in passing to the patient and the nurse "not many people realise as you get older you lose your sensation of thirst, so you need to remember drink water and not rely on feeling thirsty"
That made me think when was the last time I actually felt thirsty I know as a kid one felt thirsty and would happily down water or lemonade and feel the thirst relieved but it has been years since I felt that and I can recall some times in the recent past when I felt unwell because of lack of water (immediately relieved when I drank water). What that has made me think if one can get to a state of dizziness without feeling thirsty then I need to take care to drink enough on long rides, collapsing in the street - bad, collapsing when riding - very very bad.
Regards,
K-BIKE

Thanks for that K Bike it explains a lot to me.
Worth remembering.