I had stayed the night in Sibley, MS. at Rehoboth Church of God and Christ and was looking forward to seeing Woodville, knowing that it would be a chore getting across the Doloroso hill tops.
On Tuesday January 30th I recall my last break, a rest stop on a bridge, was just over 10 miles north of Woodville along Highway 61, the Mississippi River Trail ( MRT bike route). About a mile later, I was struck from behind by an SUV. From the SUV, there was no horn, groan from the strain of brakes, or tires biting into or gripping asphalt, it truly came as a vicious and instantaneous surprise. I neither recall the handle bars leaving my grip, nor my cleated shoes, which were mechanically secured to the pedals, somehow coming free. One moment I'm on my bike and the next I'm trying to contort my body for an attempted controlled crash landing with the asphalt, a futile thought and gesture for I was hurled like a rag doll with forces unimaginable.
As my body came to a halt on the asphalt, I crawled around looking for Daisy, my dog. I found her crate quite empty and sudden panic overwhelmed me. "Daisy!!!", I shouted in fear. It was then that I saw her beyond the wreckage in the grass off the right side of the road, cowering either from my shout or herself recovering from the trauma... the instant transport of her body from her crate to grass under her feet. I can only imagine what she had experienced for she was struck milliseconds before I was launched. It was not long after that she got her tail a wagging and she trotted parallel to the road, wagging her tail cautiously and shaking off the previous moments. I grabbed her collar, scoured the last known location of her leash, found it and secured her to a sign post.
My most valuable cargo having been secured, all five of her appendages looking normal with no kinks, bumps, or bends, I went to my next task of locating my valuables; phone, back-up batteries, wallet, ID's, all of which were originally in my handle bar bag and now scattered in the travel lane of the highway. I suppose it was about this moment that I noticed a citizen take charge, placing his personal property (truck and trailer) and himself at risk to prevent further injury to Daisy and I by blocking the lane up-traffic from the wreckage. The driver obviously waited for a lull in southbound traffic for which to drive North on this south bound stretch and park his pick-truck and trailer blocking the travel lane that held the remains of our transportation, then exited his vehicle and ran further ahead, the entire while waving his arms to further warn oncoming traffic of the lane closure ahead. Traffic heading south bound would now encounter a man waving his arms directing them to the passing lane, then his truck facing the wrong direction, then the wreck as well as the many folks working in impromptu coordinated road clean-up. This is just one man that I wish I could thank for rising to the occasion for the safety of others and Daisy and I.
A man and his wife (I later heard was a registered nurse) had stopped to help in any way they could. So many concerned citizens inquiring to my physical health and what I needed in the way of assistance. So much of what littered the scene was now essentially trash, things that sustained us while on our journey now held little meaning. A lady with a phone to her ear, telling me that 911 is on the line with her while asking me if I required medical attention. The driver of the vehicle expressing concern and offering apologies and regret; my feeling sorrow for this fellow and thinking how hard he must be beating himself up. A thought of an ambulance coming for me rather than being available for someone in dire need. A man handing me a necklace and telling me this may be important...my military dog tags. Someone telling me they had found my phone, but it turned out to be just one of my USB battery back-up packs. The lady whom had notified me of her call to 911 and was still on the phone with them, took it upon herself to help scour the area for my phone, my only connection to my family (my friends and "Veterans and Their Pets"). I would later find it nearly 75 yards further south in the middle of the roadway in the travel lane according to Frank Davis. Frank counseled me as though he knew what must be going on in my mind and offered the clear headed forethought of me returning to Natchez rather than transporting me to Woodville; it has bike shops and people that know of me and our mission and more resources that I would need later on. The selfless advice of strangers looking after a fellow human.
The people that came together in this dark time, their faces drawn with sorrow? Pity? Disbelief? Sadness? Fear of the unknown - finding themselves part of something we all hope never happens to "us"? They seemed to be all on autopilot contributing in each their own way to bring order and comfort to what looked like a tiny war zone. I felt as though they each looked the way I felt. It was grim yet beautiful in its own way.
I took some quick photos with my phone of the debris and amongst all the communication aimed at me... is this yours? Is this of value to you? Would you like to place things important to you in this bag? (*I'm in tears writing these memories*) May I offer you a ride? I want to offer you help... I logged on to social media and posted without thought, photos of the scene. Normally in times of trouble on the road my first call is always to "Veterans and Their Pets" but here on Highway 61, so very far from any of my known support group, surrounded by strangers, it was here in Mississippi I found myself needing no one but these folks on the scene.
I eventually left the scene Frank Davis of Natchez who kindly said that his trip to Woodville, MS could wait. He brought me to Under The Hill Saloon where Andre had said that I was welcome to make use of his patio.
Later in the evening, Michael West of "Veterans and Their Pets SM", the organization I am riding for, sends me a much needed text. The text listed two veterinary clinics close to me. Advised me to call and ask which will take payment over the phone, take Daisy there; have them give her a thorough examination including x-rays, and an adult dog blood work-up; make plans to have them board her while you (Harold) see to your own injuries. Daisy would be in good hands while I was being treated.
On Wednesday, January 31st, I called upon Frank Davis once again, at his earlier insistence that I not hesitate to do so, for a ride to Natchez Veterinary Clinic to drop Daisy off and then to Merit Health Natchez for my own needs. His schedule on this day dovetailed perfectly with helping us with our needs.
I had finished with my exams at Merit in time to avoid having to board Daisy for the night, assuming that I could get there in time. I had called Jim Smith (Natchez Architectural and Art Discoveries) of Natchez, also at his insistence that I not hesitate to call for a ride, to see if he was able to pickup Daisy and I. Jim was not immediately free to do so, but when I called Frank, again, he was just a mile away and had finished his business for the day.
Frank and I arrived at Natchez Veterinary Clinic in time to pick up Daisy and spare her any more undue separation anxiety. I, and they, found her in excellent health...pending blood work results. I asked about the bill at which time I discovered yet another good Samaritan had called in to pay her bill, Colleen A. Miller, another good Samaritan I have yet to meet. I took a photo with the staff with tears still in my eyes.
My tour for "VeteransAndTheirPets.org" is so much more than me, pedaling my bike and sharing my story. It is made up of countless thoughts and prayers and other contributions made along the way by countless thoughtful people. I and Daisy are such a small part in a very large whole.
My x-rays as well as Daisy's reveal nothing remarkable, initially. Daisy's blood work will be in later today. Some of my injuries have worsened since the incident, while some new aches and pains have recently appeared. I will request an MRI for the exact nature of my injuries are as yet unknown.
If my health allows, I plan and hope to ride out of here as soon as possible, to finish my cross country commitment.
I have asked a third party, Trailside Bicycle Company out of Canfield Ohio experienced with insurance claims and familiar with my now totaled rig to guide me in my replacement rig and associated gear.
To:
-The fellow directing traffic,
-The lady that stayed on the phone the entire time with 911,
-The nurse and her husband,
-The EMS staff,
-The highway patrol,
-The man who diligently scooped individual pieces of my fishing tackle box,
-The man who found my military dog tags,
-The man who asked if my spoke nuts scattered in the gravel were valuable pieces,
-Under The Hill Saloon,
-Colleen Miller for your help with Daisy's examination,
-Frank Davis for the rational ideas and transporting a homeless man, his dog, and his home...
...I wish I could thank you all including others I've failed to mention or recognize.
Thank you!!
UPDATE February 14, 2018
Hello all,
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