Bonneville America Forums Forums Off Topic Discussion Forums Lounge Done the stupid saturday.....

Went to the "Thunder over Georgia" biker rally on saturday, got there around 2:30 in the afternoon (man it was hot), started drinking bud light, we kept drinkin till 10:30 or so, and was feelin pretty darn good, but had nowhere to stay, so we had to make the 60 mile ride back to Rome. My friends were on a Honda VTX 1800, so I just kept them in my sights. We were'nt physically "drunk", but probably would'nt have passed a breathalyzer...We were more tired and drained from the sun than anything. I did'nt think we would ever make it to Rome, but did with no problems. I would find myself in extremely deep thought, almost like a dream, and NOT aware of my surroundings. I was to the point of exhaustion and extremely lucky me and my green '05 TBA did'nt meet our fate. I again learned ALOT and was very fortunate to get home, will sleep on ground next time!!!

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We were'nt physically "drunk", but probably would'nt have passed a breathalyzer...

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basically you're saying you shouldn't have been on the road.
so not only were you putting yourself at risk but everyone around you as well.
i hope as you say;

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I again learned ALOT and was very fortunate to get home, will sleep on ground next time!!!

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.
as opposed to 6 feet below the ground.

AMEN!!!
I'm sure MOST of us have been in the same situation.
I'm hopeing ALL of us learned DON'T DO IT AGAIN!
I've slept under trucks, picnic tables, borrowed tents,
even in the open!
Hope everyone learns a little from your story.
Everyone else is out there tryin' to kill us.
Lets not do the job for them!!!!

Reminds me of those new "buzzed driving is drunk driving" commercials.

I'm exempt. Drank enough til 1987 to last me a lifetime. None since.

It's dangerous and stupid in today's world, and yes I've made that same wrong choice in the past. Now I try to think about the consequences of possibly causing an accident or never seeing my kids again, that keeps me pretty straight. I think just about anyone these days would understand a roadside nap rather than riding impaired. Glad you made it home safe, hope you remember the lesson!

So it sounds like you had anywhere from 8-10 beers. My friend, you were drunk, in denial, and lucked out.

How many time do you think you can get away with that???

Leave the drinking until after the riding or sleep wherever...

Without lecturing, be careful guys.
Drinking OR tired and riding don't mix.

Honestly I'm glad this was brought up. Sounds like he learned a lesson he is not ashamed to share with others, and with 99.99999% of the Nor'east rally talk about beer, it is a nice reminder for us to me smart!!

I mix in a bottle/glass of water about every other Bud Light. Usually works out to one beer very hour which is within the guidelines. You just need to be aware of how much you're drinking when you have a long ride in front of you. A beer or two won't hurt, just hit the water to keep from getting a buzz.

My left leg is now an inch and a half shorter than the right
one because of this kind of thinking. That happened 11/15/83
and I still get nightmares. One drink parks me for the day. Period. Ground-sky-ground is a losing game.

When I first got my bike 3 years ago I "swore " I'd never drink if I was going to ride. Three months later I figured, one drink doesn't even buzz me so I'll just be extra careful... the next year I'm riding from bar to bar... early this summer it's double bourbons and I'm thinking of doing Crazy Larry stunts. " A man takes a drink, then a drink takes a drink, then the drink takes a man." Obviously not everyone can drink in moderation. Many can and do and I'm not passing judgement on anyone just relating my battle with the bottle. I'm seven weeks clean and sober and hope to remain that way. I must admit that finding places to go to is harder if I rule out the pubs. But I do get to ride to work each day and I stop by a local river for a cig and morning meditation and gratitude. Probably more than y'all wanted to know.

Good to get stuff off your chest though ...

Glad you made it dude. Sounds like you learned as well. When I bought my BA I promised two things to my wife and kids: I'll always wear a lid and the bike sits after even one beer. Nobody loves the suds more than I do, but I just keep things in the correct order.

Ah, but here's the REAL problem, my friends: when you are drunk, you don't believe you are drunk, and therefore you think it is OK to drive. That is precisely why drinking and driving don't mix - the more drunk you are, the more sober you believe yourself to be!

Hindsight, after all, is 20/20 - and anyone who has had a DUI/OVI can attest to THAT

Siggy

Here's a little reminder for some of ya. I'm not a "friend of Bill W.", but I am a cousin! My Grandmother's maiden name is Griffith...

Yeah, you guys are all correct....I did feel competent enough to ride, but the exhaustion was the real factor, as drinking in the heat and sun really takes its toll. I now call her (my bike) the "Beckler Bike", as my neighbor, whose name is Beckler, has an 06 TBA, and would never dream of going over 40 miles one way on his new bike...Me and the wife finally "made up" the next night!!!

B717doc, If you were drinking for approximately 8 hours, you were intoxicated. Please learn from this and thank God you made it home alive.......Angelis