One Lucky Dude

Bike Hit and Run Right Here on Anna Maria Island...

Came across a blog post we wanted to share. The blog is '10:10 Talk - leading people into healthy lifestyles and activities they can get excited about'.

It is such a story of interest we took it upon ourselves to reprint it here (in part) on the Anna Maria Island Life blog. Hope you don't mind Chris.

To read the original post and view all his photos, go to I'm a Lucky Man. It is a story about a man's fateful bike trip home from Rotten Ralph's on Anna Maria Island.

We are so glad you're alright. You would think that of all places, Anna Maria Island would be a safe ride, and that if something did happen the culprit would at least stop!

I'm a Lucky Man

I'm a lucky man.  Those of you who know me well enough to know my family, my wife, my friends, my playmates, my job, my work associates, my home, my dog, my cat, my bike (this list could go on for a while), you all know that I'm a lucky man.  To be sure the credit for my luck belongs to God, and I thank him daily.

A funny thing happened on my way home from my Rotten Ralph's ride yesterday.  I got hit by a car.  So why do I feel lucky?  Before I explain the answer let me give you the skinny on the accident.

The RR ride is an out and back from my house to the northern tip of Anna Maria Island and back.  It's a scenic and seemingly safe ride as there's a bike lane on almost the entire route.  So I'm now headin' back home, about 15 miles into a 21 miler, riding in the bike lane on the "causeway", the two-lane road which takes you to the beach, when all of a sudden - THUMP!  And I'm launched, bike and all, into the air for what the police estimated to be 20 feet.

Thankfully I was sent to the right into the grass and dirt instead of into to road and oncoming traffic.  Best I can tell, I came down on my butt and back - 'cause that's where I hurt.  Plus my left rib cage is sore where I think my aerobar hit me.  So I'm layin' there, wind knocked outta me, and I'm kinda pissed, thinking "I can't believe somebody just hit me".

Two "angels" came for me.  BTW, the perp never stopped - which is becoming all too common according to the police and EMT guys.  The first angel was Kirk.  He saw me on the side of the road and stopped.  I was able to get up on one elbow but still hadn't caught my breath.  Kirk called 911, and picked up the scattered pieces of my phone - which is ok - just the battery and cover popped off.

I wasn't ready to sit up, but I thought of all of you next.  This'll make a great picture for the blog!  So I labored to reach into my back pocket and fished out my Olympus Stylus Tough waterproof/shockproof camera.  "Would you mind taking a picture?" I asked Kirk.  He obliged and snapped one. 

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Again Chris, we are so glad you are alright.

Thank Goodness for Angels!

Be sure to check out the 10:10 Talkblog. There are more photos and some comments, as well as lots of healthy lifestyle ideas and things to get excited about!