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Topic : Could have been a tragic day
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 fasteddy 
Chaac
Reg. Date : 16/10/2008
Posts : 963
Location : Wisconsin, United States
Posted : 16 Nov 2011 - 04:31   Post title : Could have been a tragic day
 
Winter is setting in here this weekend so I had a friend help me tow my camper (caravan) back from where I do my weekend job flying. I wanted to get it back home before the snow came (so it would be here in the spring if a friend comes for a visit)

The snow hit right at the part of the journey I was trying to avoid, when we started navigating down the hills of Duluth. As we were crossing the "High Bridge", a tall 3 mile long "Span" bridge that extends between Duluth, MN and Superior, WI across the St. Louis River as it rolls into Lake Superior. It was windy but just as we crossed the span we were hit by an incredible gust of wind that actually caused the trailer to shift and the truck to rock, worst of all it actually grabbed the rolled up awning that was secured in transport position and unfurled it, ripping the supports loose and the thing then went airborne and ripped clean off the camper, the supports then crossed into the other lane preventing cars from coming around us. With limited visibility because of the snow and wind, we could not see what happened to the entire awning. I watch in horror as we in rush hour traffic but I could not see if any thing happened. There is not shoulder or pull off on the bridge and we were forced to keep moving because there is a curve in the road at the span making it notorious or pile ups when the simplest of things happen.

We got at the bottom of the bridge and turned off on a side street and began dismantling the support rails so that we could drive on. I looked up the bridge and it did not look like traffic had stopped as cars were still moving which from personal experience on accidents up on the bridge was hopeful. Could not make an effort to go back because folks have died and cause accident trying to stop and remove debris on this bridge and it was a 15 minute trip up and back and we still had the trailer in tow.

I was sick to my stomach thinking this freak accident could have hurt some one or worse. I had made certain before we left that these supports were secure in their transport mode as working the back of a helicopter makes you way to over the top on safety. I went over and over in my mind wondering if I could have missed something when I checked it four separate times! No there was no mistake.

I called a Sheriff buddy and told him what happened and I was worried about what might of happened and if there was anything I needed to do. He called the City boys who patrol the bridge and they said no one was hurt and the junk was removed.

It really shook me up...the thought of something I was associated with could have hurt someone, accident or not. Imagine a 12X 12 piece of canvas with a metal roll coming at you...guess folks were being looked after tonight.

 
www.fasteddysports.com
Post edited by fasteddy on 16 Nov 2011 - 04:32
 Author 
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 Leethal 
Zeus
Reg. Date : 24/01/2011
Posts : 6,545
Location :  Australia
Posted : 16 Nov 2011 - 05:43   Post title : Re: Could have been a tragic day (Re: fasteddy)
 
Close call there Eddy. Great to read that no one came to harm, thank goodness no motorcyclists were around

Did you enjoy a stiff drink post nerves??

 
Experience is something you get just after you needed it
1600,Foran Razorbacks, Meerkat bypass, Dyno tune, real headlight,plenty of chrome,switchblade pegs, Nitron R3 shocks & Ikon progressive fork springs etc. Scorpion Western Low handlebars. PH adjustable fork caps.
 Author 
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 Birdy68 
Thor
Reg. Date : 16/07/2009
Posts : 3,352
Location : Bad Zurzach, Aargau, Switzerland
Posted : 18 Nov 2011 - 16:41   Post title : Re: Could have been a tragic day (Re: fasteddy)
 
Phew.... Close one there!

Time for a sit down and single malt whiskey if you ask me!!!


 
Birdy68
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Leave the pork pies for now - get the sausage rolls while they're hot!

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 Author 
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 EnGage 
Thor
Reg. Date : 14/07/2009
Posts : 3,155
Location : Grand Rapids, MI, United States
Posted : 18 Nov 2011 - 19:50   Post title : Re: Could have been a tragic day (Re: Birdy68)
 

Birdy68 wrote:

Phew.... Close one there!

Time for a sit down and single malt whiskey if you ask me!!!


Why only have one malt when you can have many

 Author 
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 fasteddy 
Chaac
Reg. Date : 16/10/2008
Posts : 963
Location : Wisconsin, United States
Posted : 18 Nov 2011 - 20:52   Post title : Re: Could have been a tragic day (Re: EnGage)
 


Or...a Bong-A-Thon



How how about just a run to the laundry to clean my skivies?




 
www.fasteddysports.com
 Author 
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 PES 
Chaac
Reg. Date : 03/01/2009
Posts : 927
Location : Tulsa, OK, United States
Posted : 19 Nov 2011 - 08:03   Post title : Re: Could have been a tragic day (Re: fasteddy)
 
Glad everything turned out okay Eddy.

 
"Four wheels move the body. Two wheels move the soul."-author unknown
 Author 
Post  
 EnGage 
Thor
Reg. Date : 14/07/2009
Posts : 3,155
Location : Grand Rapids, MI, United States
Posted : 19 Nov 2011 - 12:56   Post title : Re: Could have been a tragic day (Re: fasteddy)
 
fasteddy wrote:



Or...a Bong-A-Thon



How how about just a run to the laundry to clean my skivies?




I did get you to drink a manhattan during putt to the southwest. That put a few hairs on your chest

 Author 
Post  
 fasteddy 
Chaac
Reg. Date : 16/10/2008
Posts : 963
Location : Wisconsin, United States
Posted : 27 Nov 2011 - 14:37   Post title : Re: Could have been a tragic day (Re: fasteddy)
 
PS those who know me, the "Bong-a-thon is a joke.


 
www.fasteddysports.com
 Author 
Post  
 EnGage 
Thor
Reg. Date : 14/07/2009
Posts : 3,155
Location : Grand Rapids, MI, United States
Posted : 28 Nov 2011 - 23:32   Post title : Re: Could have been a tragic day (Re: fasteddy)
 
fasteddy wrote:

PS those who know me, the "Bong-a-thon is a joke.


Then how come we had to stop during our southwest trip at every field you suspected had some Mary jane