|
Lonnie:
The hypothermic rider was Franklin "Clair" Jensen. We were fighting a headwind a couple of miles out from Dairy Queen at Pichaco Peak and it was a driving rain with sleet. I was taking my pull and when I looked back to switch there was no one behind me. I stopped and looked back and could see no lights from my fellow riders. I thought about going back to look for them but due to the weather I chose to wait up ahead at the Dairy Queen. About 5 or 10 minutes later Steve and Clair came rolling in. Apparently Clair had gotten dizzy and had to stop. His body was starting to shut down. We found what shelter we could and wrapped up in space blankets to try and warm up. After a while a truck who had stopped to get gas saw us huddled and shivering in the doorway and asked if we needed help. Clair definitely needed help. Our good samaritan put Clair in his truck and got him warmed him up. He also offered Steve and I a tarp to wrap up in until we each got a few minutes in the truck to warm up. We were also given some extra raingear for the ride in. We were clearly very grateful for this kindness from a complete stranger. It would have been very difficult for Clair to continue in those conditions without it. This stop cost us about an hour but made it possible for all of us all to finish the event together.
Susan:
It's incredible to me that you guys continued the ride at all after the Picacho incident. Did the driver of the pick up truck offer you a ride?
Lonnie:
Yes we were all offered a ride. Steve and I knew we would continue but we weren't sure Clair could finish and we tried to get him to ride in the truck. He refused because he is a tough old buzzard and with a little proper care he came back to life. Clair may shrug it off as just a bad patch but he was in real trouble. But, he is also tougher and more determined than most riders half his age and he would have crawled in if thats what it took. Steve was very supportive and we looked after each other as best we could. I got a flat tire in the last few miles but we fixed that quickly and rolled on home. I must say that Arizona is quite a sight after a storm like that one. I'm sure that many people never see in their lifetimes all of the things that we saw and experienced that day in southern Arizona. |
