Back to Square One
On Sunday, June 5 we were riding across MT 200 when we encountered a construction zone. The road was muddy and slippery. About 3 miles later Beth went down and unfortunately the bike fell on top of her. Motorists stopped to help. I was 1/4 mile ahead and walked back. By the time I got to Beth, those who stopped had lifted the bike off her and called 911. They stuck around until the ambulance came and assisted the EMTs.
The ambulance took her to the clinic in Jordan, MT, 29 miles to the west. The clinic stabilized her and arranged for a helicopter to take her to St. Vincent’s hospital in Billings, MT, where she is now in ICU. She has 8 broken ribs, cracked pelvis, and possible torn ligaments in her right shoulder. She is scheduled for exploratory surgery late this afternoon (Monday) to see what, if anything, needs to be done to her pelvis. Nothing can be done surgically to her ribs. They will deal with the shoulder later. You know we wear all the protective gear all the time. The gear did its job; Beth has absolutely no road rash or head or neck injury.
Beth is in good spirits. They are managing the pain, but her ribs and shoulder are still bothering her. We hope to know more about what follows once she comes out of surgery and we talk with the doctor.
Our Motor Maids friend, Cindy Black, in Billings has been invaluable. Both our bikes and the trailer are at her place after being towed from the accident site and I am staying in her RV for the duration.
I do want to get Beth’s bike home to St. Pete for repairs. The Extended Service Plan doesn’t cover accident repairs and delays in getting parts make it impractical to have the work done here. If anyone knows a good way to get the bike home, please PM or call or text me.
I’ll post updates occasionally. In the meantime, we are very appreciative of all the thoughts, prayers, offers of assistance, and help we have received from family, friends, and the motorcycle community. We’ll let you know more as events unfold.
Hello Tim,
So sorry to hear about Beth’s accident. 8 broken ribs will take a little while to heal that’s for sure. Talk to the local dealer about having her bike crated up just like how they are delivered to the dealer from the factory. Then you need to call a freight company that provides LTL (less than load service) between Billings and where you live in Florida. If you ship direct from the dealer to dealer they will have the forklift to load and unload at each end. Saves you the hassle of having to receive a damaged bike at home and then move a damaged bike to your local dealer. I don’t know what freight charges would be in the U.S. but it would run about 1 – 1.2K to ship coast to coast up here in Canada. Crating the bike will help protect it from any further damage. If you call a car or bike forwarder they usually have to drive the units on and off the trailers and they may not be willing in this case because of the damages already on the bike.
Thanks, Troy. This is good information.
Our thoughts and prayers are with you both!
Sometimes there’s god so quickly…
All my love and prayers from a distance. Anything I can do please advise. 🙏
Keeping you both in thoughts and prayer. Will keep my ears to the ground on a way home for Beth’s bike. Cindy B. will keep you sheltered and fed. She’s a good soul. Love you guys!!
Gentle hugs and prayers! Please let us know if we can help? Maybe the auto train can get the bikes home more effectively?
We’re so very sorry this happened, and we wish for a speedy recovery.
Heartbreaking news Tim. So sorry to hear this. For sure we will lift you both up in prayer😢❤️
I was so sad to hear this happened to Beth and the long trip is cancelled!!! I know you’re both so looking forward to it. Please tell her I’m thinking of her and praying for healing and appropriate pain management!!! So thankful she has no brain injury! So kind of Cindy Black to open her home & RV to you! Thanks for the update. Hugs & prayers!!!
So sorry to hear this news after just getting back on the road. Thankful that there were Travel Angels watching over both of you. Wishing Beth a speedy recovery.
What an awful turn of events! Glad she is doing as well as she is! And she’s in good spirits?? What a trooper she is!
So sorry to learn this news. You are right, it could have been worse. Wishing Beth a speedily recovery…… the bike can be fixed and you’ll eventually get to Alaska another time.
Prayers for you.
Call HOG and see if they can recommend a transport company. We are so sorry and we pray for a speedy recovery.
Yikes Tim. Sorry to hear about this. Please let Beth know that we are thinking about her and sending our best wishes. If there is anything I can do to help you in any way, let me know.
So sorry to hear about the accident! Prayers for both of you. Love & gentle hugs from Carol & Art
So sorry to hear about Beth, sending healing prayers your way n wishing her a good recovery.
Thank goodness for the protective gear and her knowledge of what to do on a fall over situation.
Thoughts and prayers go out to
Both of you for a speedy recovery.
Herb P.
Recently found your site and started following your blog since start of this trip…so I’m very sorry to hear about Beth and the accident, wishing her a full and speedy recovery (slow and comfortable can sometimes be best for bones!). ATGATT proves to be right again, so glad it helped reduce her injuries, especially protecting her head.
Our thoughts and prayers are with you all and for a speedy recovery.
Praying for a speedy recovery. I am so glad you both gear up and take safety seriously. So sorry to hear about Beth’s accident but glad to know the outcome wasn’t worse. Friends who step up in time of need, what a blessing! ~Dolores Cook
Tim, so sorry to hear about Beth’s accident. Sending prayers to you both.
Tim,so sorry to read of Beths accident.I will be praying for a speedy recovery.If I can be of any help please reach out.
Ed and I are so sorry to hear of Beth’s accident. We are sending our thoughts and pray she will do well with professional help.
I’m so sorry to hear this!!! If we can be of any assistance please let us know. You’re both in our prayers🙏
We were on the road all day and just found out the news. Glad it wasn’t worse. Hope the surgery goes well and her recovery is swift. Let us know if we can help in any way.
As so many have already said, Annamarie and I are so sorry to hear about Beth’s crash and injuries. We wish her a speedy recovery and hope everything heals to perfection! Not sure there’s much we can do from here but if we can help in any way, please don’t hesitate to ask. Take good care and safe travels home.
Thank you everyone. Beth’s surgery went well. They put 2 screws in her pelvis. The shoulder should heal on its own. She has to stay off her feet for 6 weeks.
We are grateful for your love and concern.
Prayers are with you both. Glad for ATGATT. And hope Berh has good recovery.
I rode into Billings with a mechanical issue and the HD dealer was very good. You may get some help from them. Billings is good size city so services or otherwise should be good. I rode out of Yellowstone to Gardner and the road was closed for a mud slide, it all worked out but I was pins and needles riding down the mountain out of Yellowstone. The road was wet and brown from the soil but the Dunlap tires did stick. You never know what you will encounter on a motorcycle trip. Beth most likely has titanium screws which are the most common fasteners the orthopedic surgeons use. Give you a lot of credit to post after what you have been through.
So sorry to hear about this unfortunate accident!!! Wish her the quick and uncomplicated recovery. Sending you both much love! – michelle Lie
🙏
Praying for the surgeons hands and a recovery to be restored to dance and run again. Smart, safty gear is proof that it did it’s job cause you never know! God Bless you Beth!!
Just wanted to let you know that you are both in our thoughts and prayers back here in St. Pete!! We pray for a speedy recovery!! Thank God for the safety gear… that’s for sure. God Bless!!
Tim and Beth -So very sorry to hear of this mishap in your wonderful vacay trip to AK and SD. God speed and God Heal you friends in body and soul. Gentle hug and prayers for you
Sending well wishes and a speedy recovery for Beth!
Oh Tim, please know you both are in our thoughts and prayers. We’ll stay updated. Best to you both.
Oh no! That’s so terrible! Wish we could help. Glad her body will heal. Sending love and hugs.
Tim, such sad news, but hopefully, Beth will heal quickly. My thoughts and prayers are with you both.
I’m just now seeing this news. I’m so sorry to hear about Beth’s accident. I hope she heals quickly. I’ll keep you both in my prayers brother 🙁
Holy Smokes, I’m so sorry for Beth’s accident, but also for the end of a dream trip that you two have been planning for a while. God’s speed for a fast recovery and an end to Beth’s pain.