Ambushed on the cycle path this morning!

[solobiker]

I am so sorry this happened to you. I do not understand why someone would even do that. It makes me so mad that this type of thing occurs. All you or anyone that this has happened to were just out trying to enjoy their day. Grrrrrr

[Catrin]

Glad you are ok! This is just terrible, glad you are coming back soon.

[emily_in_nc]

Thanks everyone. Today most of the immediate scrapes and scratches from yesterday are much improved. However, I have a sore neck on the left side -- I guess some whiplash from where the fishing line caught me in the face and then pulled me back. And a sore muscle area near the underarm on the right side. Weird. We're getting ready to ride bikes to town for groceries, and I think I'll be fine. We will be on a much wider road where the chance of something like this happening again are minimal.

But yes, it does suck that the police are not good here. In fact, they have been a real joke up until recently. There are some new officers in town and a new constable, and apparently things are improving, but I still know that something like is is so minor they'd probably not take it seriously. The town is FULL of tourists right now, and keeping them safe in town is their primary concern, not some isolated prank in the boonies north of town. Even in the US, though, I am not sure I'd bother to report a line across a bike path that happened once. Would you?

[OakLeaf]

Even in the US, though, I am not sure I'd bother to report a line across a bike path that happened once. Would you?

I'd report it for sure. You're lucky to have escaped with minor injuries - this could be a deadly booby trap. The chances of someone actually getting caught, obviously, are small, unless someone's been running their mouth (which happens more often than you might think ) - but I'd still make a report. Occasionally someone is caught and prosecuted.

[Blueberry]

If it happened near where I live, I would report it. It it happened in a more remote area, it would depend on how likely I thought the cops were to actually respond.

[Artista]

Emily, I'm so sorry that this happened to you. I would definitely report it in the U.S. Even if the culprit isn't caught right away, these incidents are publicized in the Denver news. The publicity encourages people to report suspicious activities on the trails, which could prevent a deadly prank in the future.

[roguedog]

THAT EFFING SUX! WTF is wrong with people?? (I just had to kinda yell the indignation and anger and all that.)

Glad you're ok and healin' up and it hasn't stopped you.

Aren't you coming back stateside soon? Where did you all decide on? AZ or FL or ..?

[emily_in_nc]

Aren't you coming back stateside soon? Where did you all decide on? AZ or FL or ..?

Yes! We're flying back to the US on March 10. Can't wait. :-)

We're going to travel around for a couple of months, mostly visiting relatives. Then in mid-May we'll be heading out to Prairie Village, Kansas, where we'll be renting a house from friends of ours who are going cruising in their sailboat. We'll be kind of informal house-sitters, but they understand we plan to travel. We want to spend some time in the west, and Kansas is an easier place to do that from than our previous state of North Carolina.

[emily_in_nc]

If it happened near where I live, I would report it. It it happened in a more remote area, it would depend on how likely I thought the cops were to actually respond.

And that's my point exactly. Where I live, I can predict with 99.9% certainty that nothing would happen. It's a very different world down here when it comes to things like police protection.

[Wasp]

So glad your going to be ok. What kind of POS does stuff like that?? Someone could of been seriously injured or worse! Is this a common occurrence in that area?

[AppleTree]

HIDEOUS! Just over the top outrageous... it is hard for me to fathom what goes on in some peoples' wormy little minds.... what is the point? I am SO glad to hear that you and your husband weren't seriously hurt.

But I always like to think that karma comes back to bite the lowlifes who do this sort of thing. At least that is my wish. Usually I wish it for people who break glass over the bike trail, but this time I will wish it for whoever strung that wire over the cyclepath. Losers.

[emily_in_nc]

Is this a common occurrence in that area?

Another expat posted in the comments area of my blog that it is -- though he mentioned logs, nails, glass, and telephone wires being used on the path. But that is mostly where people pass through other's properties on the beach side. Property owners don't appreciate motorized vehicles (golf carts and motorbikes) on the beach, and I totally appreciate that as our condo is right on the beach, and we HATE it when a motorcycle roars by, spewing gas fumes into our home.

But where this happened to me his was on a part of the path that is open to motorized vehicles and goes behind the houses, NOT on the beach. That's what was so weird and confusing about it. There aren't even any houses that close by.

But yes, sabotage like this can happen anywhere. Just haven't ever experienced it before anywhere. I don't understand why some people are so hateful to want to hurt others. But I do believe in karma. May whoever did this get theirs!