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Driving down I85 to work today in the HOV lane. Conditions = overcast and misty with a slight layer on the road. Thats not an issue usually; however, my shield was getting misty and when I wiped it smeared like oil. At that very second I caught a whiff of diesel. I was doing 75 and I thought "what the hell" 5 seconds later it was like I was driving on an ice rink. I can't tell you all how I maintained control and slowed and stopped to the inside berm; I can't tell you how I didn't get splattered from another car; I can't tell you how I then managed to get the nerve up to get on the bike and cross 6 lines of high speed traffic during rush hour. What I can say is I am thanking God I'm alive. It took a while to get back on the highway. Drive safe!!

Glad to hear it ultimately turned out to be one of those "No Harm, No Foul" moments after it was all said and done, Paul.

Sounds as if after all these years in the saddle your riding instincts just kinda took over and you didn't attempt to make any sudden change in maneuver, which is most often the exact thing to do in situations such as that.

But then again, WHAT does this "Dickhead" HERE know, HUH?!

(...sorry, I JUST couldn't resist that last comment...yeah, my memory is MUCH too good, huh Paul!)

Wow! Glad you are ok. I have had lots of road debris on 85 but never a spill / slick to contend with. I usually only hit it between Spaghetti Junction and Clairmont so don't even have time to get over to the HOV lane.

Clairmont is the first exit I was able to get to when I got to the right side of the highway. Things are a bit fuzzy from the huge adrenalin rush. I don't know if diesel spills are common but I have been researching these things. They are deadly to motorcyclists. If I wasn't so busy scraping my underwear clean I might have thought to call someone and report it.

HOLY.... Paul I'm glad to hear you made it through this close call. We become so accustomed to just doing our thing we sometimes forget to think through the real possibilities.
File this adventure away as you never know when you'll need to fall back on this learning experience.

Have a drink and relax,
I'll see you Saturday brother

I lost a battle with an oil slick back in the day. Glad you are OK.

Wow. Well done on keep it upright. Diesels spills are common here on the outside of corners where trucks spill from their overflow and the smell is always a giveaway but you're usually right on it before you smell it. I've never encountered a spill that covers the whole lane or road. Very scary.

One of the few times I was glad to be on 4 wheels instead of 2 was when I passed a parked bus that was spewing diesel all over the road. I was going slow and in a straight line but the van was still wobbling all over

Glad you came out of it ok, even if it ruined your kecks

Most of the articles I have read have addressed the problem in England. Not sure why it is such a thing over there. (Kecks huh? Interesting name for undies)

Like Dwight said, all's well that ends well. Good on you and valuable lessons for the assembled.

jh

I am glad your here to tell of your slippery slide. People can agree or not but when your number has been pulled in the big bingo game your out, until then enjoy, anything less ain't living.

Diesel sucks!!!!!

Whew!

It seems you understand the importance of slow and easy outside of the er cough, hack, nevermind! Hair raising tribulation for sure. Another 'grandkids tale' so to say, another around the campfire tale this coming May!

Simon And Garfunkel tune inspiration.

Back in the day that would have been a Lord Calvert moment.

Sound like a very lucky man with angels all around you.

Thanks gentleman. I do believe, as you do Lark, that when it is time, you will punch out. But the good thing is that it put some things in perspective. The light of day has been a little brighter, my boys' fights a little more tolerable, my wife a little more perfect and work just a means to enjoy life.

And I still want to hit the skyway and the tail hard this weekend!! Keep your mind and body focused and ride!