Yesterday afternoon/evening I had a situation come up that I'm still not comfortable with. Today after thinking about it, I am furious and want to take some action.
About 6 PM yesterday (Saturday) I left my house on the ST and headed up Hwy 28 to Mountain Rest and was then going back roads to Long Creek to pick-up barbeque for our dinner. I was on a long 10 or 12 mile road with almost no traffic - ever. This was a county road with very few houses. I came up on a 90's model Red Chevrolet pick-up driving in the same direction at speeds of 45-55, not erratic or anything that concerned me. The driver was a white male in his mid 30's I'd say, long hair, no shirt, left window rolled down. When I came to a long straight, I dropped 1 gear and went around. I glanced at my mirrors before returning to my lane and at 70 or so -he was closing fast - "what the he11?" I sped up to 80 and pushed my normal speeds through the next several curves. This is an area full of deer and I was traveling at speeds much more than I'm comfortable with. The pavement is not really asphalt, but more like smooth rocks/stones embedded In asphalt - the stuff that gets really slick at the slightest hint of rain. There was nowhere to pull off and I kept thinking to myself that I was going to get hurt driving as fast as I was.. I saw an on-coming car and decided then to slow and wave. Keeping him in my mirrors to make sure he was going to slow too once he caught up, I tooted my horn twice and raised my hand as a friendly wave at the next several houses - giving the impression that I knew these people. Something worked. The guy slowed down and kept his distance and at the next intersection used his right blinker - you guessed I damn sure made a left.
I just wished there had been a trooper or sheriff anywhere on that road. I have never been harassed like that before and the thought of mixing it up with a truck vs. motorcycle was not fun. I never got his tag since while behind him - he was normal. I darn sure wasn't going to provoke him and U-turn to follow him for a tag number.
Have you ever had this happen? What was the right thing to do? I don't normally carry a gun, but having one yesterday would not have helped - both hands were busy driving away from this moron.
I thought about going back that route today in my truck and make that right turn he did - in hopes I could see that same Red pick-up and make a formal complaint to the SHP. There was nothing special about the truck and at the time, I wasn't paying a lot of attention to it, so recognizing that exact one would be difficult, but finding it would be like a needle in a haystack - who knows, he could live down a dirt road, park behind the house, or could have borrowed the vehicle. I decided to get out and ride again today and enjoy the scenery and no let this consume me.
Best Regards,
Gordon
