Australia day was on sunday, and it was the second big biker protest against the VLAD laws. A group of friends and i went, along with a few thousand others, and rode to central Brisbane to do our bit.
I also have been told, but not looked for any evidence yet that there were rides in America in support of the cause.
Some good speeches from independent politicians and dignitaries, and some heart felt stories from families effected by the nonsense.
on the ride home we were on the highway in the middle lane comming up behind slower traffic. in the fast lane a bunch of Viet Nam Vets were comming through soe we waited till they passed before merging. The vets had been at the protest, and they waved as they passed. i looked behind and saw a couple of guys speeding to catch up with the vets, and thought id wait till they passed before making a move. as the second one passed me he was right on the vets tail, and the staggered line of vets had to brake due to something ahead. the guy passing me was going a bit to fast, panic'd at the brake lights, and grabbed too big a handfull of front brake. As a consequence he went down at about 110 KPH right in my view. his Suzuki Boulivard skated along the Motorway in a shower of sparks, and the guy rolled alongside me as i applied a healthy serve of brakes to the trike. I pulled up to the side of the motorway alongside him laying in the third lane.
He was conscious and sort of trying to get up. A van pulled up behind him which offered protection from traffic coming up from behind. he was probably about 60, and quite a large man. He had lost quite a lot of bark sliding along the tarmac, wearing a vest and short sleeved T shirt, but being conscious andholding his head up was a good sign he wasnt too smashed up. I calmed him down and got him to rest in the recovery position, and reasured him that even though he probably hurt like hell, he wasnt injured bad, and would be ok. he was still holding his head uo as he was too big to rest his head down so i kneeled down so he could relax and rest his head on my knees till someone got some blankets. kept reasuring him and asked if he had any more pain, he said his ribs hurt , and luckily that was on the side facing up, had a look and there was no obvious wound so i susspect he may have broken a rib or two. not much you can do about ribs on the side of the road so just reasured him there was no wound there, and it might be a bruise. By that time there was a croud, and the ambulance was on its way. a nurse arrived, so we took off.
we went to the park ridge pub for a beer and being Australia day there were activities going on, ( thong throwing contests etc) oh and if you dont use that term, its a rubber sandal). My mates volunteered me in a pie eating contest, and I won.. wooo hooo... won a drink card, and a Meat tray.. shouted my mates and the other competitors a beer and we headed off to Pauls place for a BBQ dinner..
All said and done it was an interesting Australia Day.
I also have been told, but not looked for any evidence yet that there were rides in America in support of the cause.
Some good speeches from independent politicians and dignitaries, and some heart felt stories from families effected by the nonsense.
on the ride home we were on the highway in the middle lane comming up behind slower traffic. in the fast lane a bunch of Viet Nam Vets were comming through soe we waited till they passed before merging. The vets had been at the protest, and they waved as they passed. i looked behind and saw a couple of guys speeding to catch up with the vets, and thought id wait till they passed before making a move. as the second one passed me he was right on the vets tail, and the staggered line of vets had to brake due to something ahead. the guy passing me was going a bit to fast, panic'd at the brake lights, and grabbed too big a handfull of front brake. As a consequence he went down at about 110 KPH right in my view. his Suzuki Boulivard skated along the Motorway in a shower of sparks, and the guy rolled alongside me as i applied a healthy serve of brakes to the trike. I pulled up to the side of the motorway alongside him laying in the third lane.
He was conscious and sort of trying to get up. A van pulled up behind him which offered protection from traffic coming up from behind. he was probably about 60, and quite a large man. He had lost quite a lot of bark sliding along the tarmac, wearing a vest and short sleeved T shirt, but being conscious andholding his head up was a good sign he wasnt too smashed up. I calmed him down and got him to rest in the recovery position, and reasured him that even though he probably hurt like hell, he wasnt injured bad, and would be ok. he was still holding his head uo as he was too big to rest his head down so i kneeled down so he could relax and rest his head on my knees till someone got some blankets. kept reasuring him and asked if he had any more pain, he said his ribs hurt , and luckily that was on the side facing up, had a look and there was no obvious wound so i susspect he may have broken a rib or two. not much you can do about ribs on the side of the road so just reasured him there was no wound there, and it might be a bruise. By that time there was a croud, and the ambulance was on its way. a nurse arrived, so we took off.
we went to the park ridge pub for a beer and being Australia day there were activities going on, ( thong throwing contests etc) oh and if you dont use that term, its a rubber sandal). My mates volunteered me in a pie eating contest, and I won.. wooo hooo... won a drink card, and a Meat tray.. shouted my mates and the other competitors a beer and we headed off to Pauls place for a BBQ dinner..
All said and done it was an interesting Australia Day.
