The September 15, 2019 saga of the bicycle ride in Desert Hot Springs
Andrea and I were spending time at the Marriott Resort in Desert Hot Springs, CA near Palm Springs when Andrea recommended we rent a couple of bikes and take a ride. Earlier hours in the day saw the temperature rise to over 105 degrees so our decision to wait until 5:00 p.m., after the scorching sun dipped below the mountain peaks to the west, seemed well-informed. We began our ride leaving the resort property headed south on a slightly downhill grade to the south. The 3 geared cruisers were easy to pedal along the bike lane of the 4 lane divided road. About 45 minutes into the ride, we turned a corner to climb a three-quarter-mile hill. Andrea was good about maintaining conversational contact as we rode and resembled the EverReady Bunny consistent with her pace. I, however, realized my advance-aged system required me to direct my effort and choose to pump the pedals on the bike and say nothing, or stop pumping and redirect my effort to form words and verbally respond to conversation, but certainly not both! The youthful Andrea was able to simultaneously converse and feverishly pump the pedals of her bicycle uphill in the 95-degree evening heat of Desert Hot Springs. I constantly told myself not to quit, not too far now, you can do it, if I keep this pace, the sooner I’ll be able to stop and rest!
I made it to the top of the hill and turned the corner where Andrea had pulled to the curb to drink some water. She handed me the thermos of cool quenching water. I drank several gulps and lowered my kickstand to step off the bike and walk to a roadside decorative large rock to sit down on. Sweat was flowing from all my glands. I sat there searching for the ability to bounce back and recover from the hill climb to continue down the long final leg of our ride. I placed my head in my hands as I looked down to the ground noticing the large ball-type cactus next to my left leg and the smaller river stone rocks next to the large rock I was sitting on. With each breath of hot air, I was not improving, although Dr. Andrea rapid-fired questions of me to determine her next move. No, regarding chest pains. No regarding dizziness, and nausea. No to a number of other questions. I was just really tired! I insisted that I just needed a little time (more time than I thought) to be able to continue riding. I could hear Andrea on the phone calling the resort to request they come to pick us up. My head in my hands, staring at my feet, there was no relief from the heat, even with cool, wet compacts on my head and neck. Andrea later told me that I commented: “I just needed to lie down here for a minute.” (I don’t remember saying that) From my perspective, I opened my eyes and saw the large ball-type cactus supporting my left leg off the ground. I remembered thinking, Hmmm, that should hurt! My eyes caught the feet of other people that pulled over to assist. By now, I hear Andrea calling 911. We happened to be across the street from a fire station, so paramedics were there in a couple of minutes.
My focus remained on the voices and the feet as I was helped back to a sitting position on the large rock. Blood now on my left leg where it had been impaled by the long sharp cactus spikes. Dirt on my left arm and shoulder where I apparently assumed a horizontal pose in the rock and sand. I was helped to my feet to sit on the stretcher and wheeled to the ambulance and pushed in where the air conditioning began to work its magic. I.V. drip and EKG. The worst ruled out and then the paramedics remarked: “you’re 69?” (code for What the hell were you thinking out here on a bicycle in this heat?) I could hear Andrea saying how we thought dusk was a better time for the activity, but they quickly added that should be left to an early morning outing since the residual heat of the day carries to the late night. Andrea locked the bikes at a tree and rode with me to Eisenhower Medical Center Emergency room. I was able to ask for lights and siren for the last two blocks of the ride, but they declined. For the next two hours, I was evaluated and tested to make sure I could be released without further trauma to myself and liability to them.
So, what have I learned from this experience? As a healthy and proud man, I automatically think “I Got This!” I Can Do This!” I’ve had a lifetime of experience being young and virile with unbridled physical abilities. Now at the doorstep of age 70, you imagine there are limits to your stamina and endurance, but rarely are you faced with sliding on the slippery slope of demarcation that suggests you could easily fall off the edge, and that edge is RIGHT THERE in clear sight! I will look forward with better 20/20 foresight, stay cognizant of what I must now learn to thrive into the 7th decade of life, and learn to celebrate longevity. God is Good!