I left California to be at the Big Mountain Run in my town of Reliance, Tenn. The Cycle Source Big Mountain Run is held 2 miles from my house. I, however, was over 2500 miles away. I rode back and arrived the day of the event. It was a good turn out with all the happening people enjoying the activities and this year there were some good ones.One of which was the Scooter Tramp triathlon. The contestants had to come out of a zipped up tent, put on their boots, run across a field to their motorcycle, race down to the river, STOP, take their boots off and swim to a boat in the middle of the river. There were several close calls in the race but everyone seemed to come out OK till it was my turn. I really got caught up in the moment and came blazing in towards the river much too fast. I knew I was in trouble with no traction in the mud and gravel. I came sliding in sideways and just as I thought I might pull it off, the bike dug in and high-sided. I knew to abandon ship so as the bike flipped, I let it throw me and landed on my feet but I was going too fast and did a cart wheel before coming to a rest on the concrete boat ramp. I felt my thumb throbbing and thought it was broke, then I looked and my crumpled heap of a motorcycle and decided to continue on with the race. I swam out to the boat and of that day had the best time and got first place.
The next couple of days my thumb hurt but I could move it so I thought maybe it was a sprain or a jamb. I continued on the next couple of days at the event competing in the rodeo games, riding with everyone across the backwoods creeks and even reaching under a tree stump in the river and pulling out a big snapping turtle. There are videos of all this on my facebook profile or search "Bean're" on youtube.
I had a deck to build in Miami so after the BMR I put the bike in the back of my truck ( I hate doing that but needed my tools and truck to do the job) and headed south to Miami. I got down there and was suppose to have the job finished that following weekend. It was sweltering hot and my thumb was really hurting and the first thing I had to do was demolish the old deck and load it into my truck and haul it away. I worked a couple of hours but gave up and hoped to do it the next day. The next day arrived and I began only to bump my thumb and the pain was excruciating. I decided to go to the emergency room. They x-rayed it and said it was broke in 3 places and that I needed surgery. They put me in a temporary cast and sent me home. In the cast, they pulled my thumb back and it was that night I really painful. Later that night I removed the cast since I was going to have surgery anyways.The emergency room visit was on a Friday and I wasn't able to make an appointment with the surgeon until Wed. I worked everyday on the deck pacing myself and slowly getting a little done at a time. By the time my appointment came my thumb was heeling. The doctor said I needed the surgery. I explained it was getting better. He said it was serious enough that maybe I would have trouble riding my bike even after his surgery AND rehab. I then informed him that I rode my bike to see him that day with no problem. He said I shouldn't be doing anything till it heeled. I told him I was building a deck everyday and in 2 weeks had mini bike races at the Smokeout that I had to attend. He stared blankly at me then said " Well I guess evil Knievel had some broken bones that he had left to heal on their own so maybe you will be ok." I now wonder if that means I can start wearing a cape?
I continued on my own route but many people said I should seek a second opinion. I decide to hire a professional ( a private nurse) and even at her rates ( hourly) she was still cheaper and the rehab techniques was much more enjoyable. I am well on my way to a full recovery and am feeling very confident about the mini bike races. Hope to see everyone at Rockingham, NC and cheer me on as I blaze through yet another race!
