Trashed on the M6

I was out with the Hell's Grandads yesterday coming back from The Lakes - just south of the M55 junction, I was leading doing a steady 70 in the outside lane, in busy traffic.

Up ahead a classic M6 shunt - van & car collided & stopped in the fast lane, I pulled up pretty sharp as did Mick who was just behind me and we both stopped in the now stationary queue - just about got my feet down - looked round & a guy on a CBR was flying down the outside lane obviously no way could he stop. He tried to avoid me but clipped the back & near side - knocked me very hard & I fell off and the impact took off the exhaust, rear peg, pannier and I think has bent the frame as looking at it from the rear, the seat was definitely at an odd angle.

The others in our group were about 1/2 a mile behind & later said that they'd seen this guy in a group of 4 pass them and all hurtling towards the slowing traffic without apparently slowing down!

The guy had his girlfriend on the back & I think she broke her leg - as their right legs hit the left side of my bike - anyway ambulance & police called & the two of them got taken off in the ambulance.
The police were excellent - sorted the whole thing out - and probably fortunately stopped my trying to ride the bike home - as it did start up (amazing just how noisy a Pan is with only one exhaust) - so they arranged for it to be recovered - I went home on the back of Mick's bike and I'm glad to say lived to ride another day! I'm guessing that they'll write it off, especially if the frame is bent, but will have to wait & see. So all in all it rather spoiled what had been a good day out!

The rear view - looks like the frame may be a tad out of line! note the lack of nearside pannier & exhaust


note lack of silencer & rear peg

On the Pont-Neuf bridge

After a stressful sales presentation a little stroll through Paris before flying home.

Tonight's wine

Tesco's finest - works for me an excellent wine, full bodied and very flavoursome