“Yet, I also acknowledge that I deserve to be dead about 3X’s because of my own stupidity,”
Nothing like looking at open space when a mountain curve becomes a hard left turn with about 3 feet of gravel between pavement and the edge. Somehow my senses transitioned from looking ahead to looking down as I fought for the optimum curve, lean and braking pressure. That was 40 years ago but I can still remember the texture of the asphalt.
Yep! Angeles Crest Highway almost claimed me as a stat because of that very thing. I went up shortly after the runoff from snowmelt had finished for the year, but didn’t take into account all the sand that would be on the inside of the curves.
Bouquet Canyon Road was another a few years before that because of a curve I misjudged. Went in too fast and the compound curve closed up on me.
I miss riding and get a wistful look in my eye whenever I see someone obviously enjoying their ride, but I’m just not willing to risk it any longer. Too many responsibilities.