Guardian angel for cyclists
On the very hot Sunday afternoon of July 12, cycling on a long, quiet, sparsely populated stretch of country road in Arnprior, two cyclists were cruising along at 30 kilometres per hour. One of the cyclists, with a burst of energy, flew down the road and into the distance. The other came over the crest and on to a diagonally situated railroad track. Unprepared for what happens when you cross at the same angle as the track, the front wheel slid into the rail and sent the rider through the air and into the ditch. The cyclist was me. No sooner had it happened when a car with two women stopped. They said they saw me fall and asked if I was I OK. I know I was in shock when I started brushing away the gravel in my leg and shoulder and said I was fine. We had only ridden 70 kms on our 100-km trek and all I could think of was that I still had 30 more kms to go. Both ladies just stared at me as I reconsidered and rather quickly sat down on the side of the road.
The rest was a blur but I was to understand that these ladies chased down my companion, who returned and was removing gravel from my extremities while entertaining me with his crazy sense of “medic” humour. The women went to their home and came back with medical supplies, an ice-cold water and even a ginger ale.
As I was visibly shaken, it was decided that I be taken to the hospital. The name of the woman who rescued us was Lise. Lise arranged to have our bikes picked up by a neighbour and stored on their property while we she drove us the 20-minute drive to the Arnprior hospital. Not knowing the extent of my injuries, I was very worried, to say the least. But the caring and gentleness Lise displayed — she could have been my mom. It was hard to believe that we were strangers.
Once settled in the hospital waiting room, my new-found guardian angel drove my companion to Kanata, almost an hour drive, to retrieve his car and pick up one of the bikes. He then drove back to Kanata, got my vehicle, picked me up and recovered my bike.
Lots of bumps and bruises, big time road rash and a rotator cuff injury — luckily I didn’t break anything except my helmet. Not bad for a 62-year-old!
Thanks to this small-town community of kind-hearted strangers, and a first-class lady whom I know only as Lise, I am recovering from my injuries, and truly believing in guardian angels and the goodness each of us has at our disposal to help someone in need.
Linda Corke, Greely