Touring - 3 months on the road...first injury

Hey everyone....we are nearing our fourth month of being on the road and recently had our first significant injury and it wasn't even bike related....just carelessness...For the most part, the trip has been fantastic with many high points and this being a low point...

It did make me reflect however how vulnerable you can feel when you are on your own though...

http://pathlesspedaled.com/?p=759

Best,
Russ

That sucks, as a cook I had a grease burn on my arm. Funny how your pain management kicks in.

Yea, I always remind myself right before I do something even remotely dangerous. Hay Be your 2 hours away from anything and your need to ride you bike there. Either that or I focus on a past injury. I focus a bit more after those thoughts.

I avoid fires of any kind, unless I am winter camping and need extra warmth. Fire starter sticks work great for wet wood.

Get well.

wow....that is really scary. but you should be thankful that it didn't turn out worse and damage something that won't heal. i bet that hand hurts like hell- but each day should improve. i think that one of the biggest dangers of a bad burn is infection-so keep it as clean as possible.

at some point you will recover from this and the physical issues will be gone. left will be a new section of your brain that, as wheel says, will operate full time and guard you against making a mistake like this again. so, you'll actually be new and improved once you've healed.

Ive done stuff like that too. Burned hands, broke my nose once trying to be clever while cutting firewood, badly cut hands, all sorts of things. It really sucks, but it will heal, and in six months you will barely remember it. Good lesson to learn too.

Hey man, you dont know me but I grew up in Sacramento and have about a million friends and family there if you need to take a week off the bike for the hand and all. No charge, us tourists gotta stick together! I hope you recover quickly and get back on the road! Even though your not "home" and it feels like you are alone there is always a community of tourists around that look out for each other.

PM me if you need to.

I got a chainring through the face from a bike falling out of a tree 15 ft up touring by myself - yes, you really get to reflect on these things while touring alone - but hey. it makes for awesome stories. Sounds like ya need a break and sample the fine beers in the area! Get better soon.