OUTBACK ODYSSEY on KLR. if I can, you can

[Ian Robinson]

EARLY SEPTEMBER 2011.

Preparation almost complete:

I now knew I could be in BIG trouble. Only minutes before I was happy that the re assembly of my swingarm linkages after regreasing was complete. Then in the blink of a eye, my right hand was implaled by the alloy rod on the bottom of my footrest. It was jammed between the stand handle and 190kg KLR650. there was only 2mm still showing and I thought "thats gotta be in a long way" . the next couple of seconds are still a bit of a blur. I only had my left hand free to lift the bike off. that done. I wrapped my hand in an old tee shirt, drove up the the local hospital and after 5 hours, morphine, X-rays and stitches I drove home thinking how lucky I was to be able to move all my fingers. Fortunately it did not go right through, saved by a couple of layers of skin. Infection was my biggest concern now with only 18 days to departure.