Getting Hit by a Truck

Got some catching up to do again. Finally got a hold of Joanna in la Junta and things are happy again. Some apologies on both our parts and a promise to try (again) to communicate better.

Truck on the Carretera Austral

We cruised through two 70km days to make the Termas de Amarillo on the 7th and had the place basically to ourselves. Thirty km more brought us to Chaitén but it was in those 30 km that I got hit by a truck.

Zoned out, as I tend to get while riding in the rain, I was heading down the left-most tire track in what was essentially a single-lane road cut into loose gravel being used to “improve” the Carretera. I heard a car behind me and moved to the right-hand track just as they accelerated and move to the right to pass. The next few moments were slowed as is common with the “fight or flight” response. At that moment I was dialed to maximum “flight.”

The car and I were both in the soft gravel outside the tire tracks. I had overshot the right-most tire-track and found myself stopping quickly, one foot out of my toe clips as to keep from falling. They were unable to steer, while they were skidding to a shop, I was slowly coming to the realization that I needed to accelerate. I now had a chance to see my adversary and it wasn’t a car, but a truck with a high-walled cargo bed. With only one foot still on my pedals, all I could manage was to push with my left foot as if I were riding a scooter.

Fortunately it was enough. I watched as the truck’s front bumper closed on my rear rack and gave it just a gentle kiss before the truck finally stopped at the end of 30 foot skid marks. The driver and passenger both made sure I was alright before checking on the cargo: a 400 lbs cow. No wonder they didn’t maneuver very well!

After I got my heart to stop trying to jackhammer its way out of my chest, I let the truck go first and continued into Chaitén.