What a huge bummer! This is a major issue for all of us - I really wish our roads were designed better to accommodate bicycles!
Here's hoping the OP will be able to check in very soon and let us know status - thoughts and prayers to you!
In reply to all of the above comments;
Doing better, thanks! A short summary....
On 2/14 I had food poisoning really bad to a point where I was throwing up everywhere. On the morning of 2/15 I felt better and met my riding partner in Old Town San Diego where we biked the few miles to the starting point at Ocean Beach Park, dipped our rear tires into the Pacific Ocean and then started heading east. The ride was going great until we hit the Mission Gorge area. It was around 80*F and my stomach started hurting again. Outside of Alpine we stopped for a break at an RV park and inquired about camping there for the night. The RV park didn't allow tents and despite our pleas they didn't budge. I let my riding partner go ahead to secure a campsite at a campground about 11 miles east on the other side of Alpine. Shortly after he left I started throwing up again and sat there for an hour before another Southern Tier rider, a girl named Rebecca, came upon me. She offered to ride the last 11 miles with me to the campground and I accepted. I was still feeling sick but it was early afternoon and wanted to get to the campground to rest since I couldn't stay where I was at anyway. A few miles later as we were on Olde Highway 80* outside of Alpine a car driven by an 84-year-old lady made a sudden right turn in front of me. Never saw it. Never had a chance to brake. I don't remember anything from the accident but according to the police reports I hit the passenger side door of the car and ended up on the other side of the car. The lady was confused and twice asked the police why they were there during the investigation. She told the police she noticed at the last moment she was about to miss her turn and she turned (without looking....). She was charged with reckless driving and her license was suspended. No bike lane in this section but a good shoulder. That's irrelevant though. I broke 3 ribs, punctured both lungs, broke a bone in my right foot, suffered a mild concussion, tore my spleen and tore a tendon in my right hand. I spent 10 days at a hospital in San Diego before being released. I'm currently on week 3 of an 8 week physical therapy regime. Otherwise I had an MRI on Tuesday to see how bad the damage is on my right foot. Doctors originally thought I'd be better off letting it heal as is because surgery would do more damage than good but it hasn't healed like they'd thought. Anxiously waiting to hear back about the results. Headaches are a daily thing but I've gotten use to them. Doctors are optimistic that I'll be back on a bike around May. Hoping to do a short tour in July that I'd already had planned before the accident. My bike was totaled beyond repair.
Two important things here; 1. My helmet... Based on the damage I'm certain I'd be dead had I not been wearing it. 2. I hit the car instead of her hitting me. I'm also certain I'd be dead had she hit me instead of me hitting her.
*At least one news outlet said I was on "Olde Highway 8" but Highway 8 is the interstate that parallels Olde Highway 80
My riding partner was a guy named Larry so hope some of you met him. Rebecca made is as far as Phoenix and decided to call it quits.
Anyway, I think that covers it for now.
Edit: Also make sure you carry your ID on you. I made a stupid mistake and didn't have an ID on me. They weren't able to figure out who I was for almost 2 days.
