Horizons Unlimited - The HUBB - Asian Iron Butt

I really enjoyed this. Very entertaining. Evoked memories of a trip heading south out of Bangkok in 1973. Me and a mate, "H", aboard his CB175 Honda. We had the bright idea to leave at midnight 'to avoid the heat and the traffic'.
So, we bade farewell to the good folk at the "Thai Song Greet" ( a famous backpacker haunt from the late 60s to the 80s), in Rama IV Rd and headed south.
Now, I didn't have a helmet and my mate didn't have a visor on his. But he did have sunglasses!
So when the insect night life became unbearable - he donned them!

We came to grief about 20km south of Petburi. The road was raised above rice fields and a big pipe was destined to go underneath. Half the trench had been completed. There was a flimsy wooden barrier, then a pile of gravel which acted as a take off ramp - no lights or warning signs - not even a skull and crossbones!

I was dozing on the back when I heard my mate yell, "Shit!" Next, I'm flying through the air. I landed on my right side, my elbow tucked in to my ribs. The point of my shoulder, my upper arm and hip "absorbed" the impact.

For some reason I was worried I'd broken my pelvis. I was frightened to move but knew I had to. The bike was on its side, motor running. My mate, "H" was moaning, "I can't see. I can't see. Where are you? Are you ok?"

Very gingerly, I managed to roll onto my left side. No grating sounds came from inside my body. - thank Christ for that!

I managed to get to my feet. The bike was only metres away. I could smell petrol. I killed the engine then got to "H". He was bleeding profusely from cuts to his forehead and cheeks.

We managed to stem the bleeding using the sarong I'd been wearing as a turban. We knew we had to get to hospital.

We managed to pick up the bike. I thought I'd be able to ride it and get us both to hospital in Petburi. But when H got on the back, his weight caused the swing arm to engage the rear brake arm that had been badly bent in the accident.

So, we were going to have to stop a vehicle. We had an English/Thai dictionary and looked up the word for hospital - something like 'Rong phyabal'
There was little traffic. The first couple of cars that stopped just looked at us, then took off. Then a truck rumbled up.

We stopped it. There were two guys and a young girl about 16 - 18. The guys didn't want to take "H" to hospital. But this angel of a girl argued with them passionately and they relented.

I mananged to get on the bike and, sitting as far forward as possible, it was rideable.

We lucked in again at Petburi Hospital. The nurses and doctors and the other patients, were fantastic to us. "H" got stitched up - 27 stiches - and he healed perfectly. I was cleaned up and x-rayed - nothing broken! But I was in hospital for five days and it was quite a while before I could raise my arm above horizontal.

It was, in the end, a real life affirming experience. There are so many good people in this world - it's usually the ones at the top that you have to worry about!

I have never forgotten the kindness of the Thais we met through that experience. The stupid things you do when you're young and bullet proof eh!

Once again, thanks for a great story. All the best. Steve