Caught in a dust storm!!!

[mimitabby]

wow, maybe you should carry a dust mask? they're not very heavy!
what a story! was there a little eddy of dirt on your back?

I'm glad you made it back home to tell your tale.

a WALL of dust!! YIKES!

[pooks]

That's terrible! And what about your lungs -- that can't be good. Do you need to go to the doc?

[Running Mommy]

If I don't stop coughing I will. I noticed it when I went for my run this morning. I was actually coughing up brown stuff (sorry for those who just had breakfast!! ). What I'm most worried about is valley fever. there is an organism that lives in the dust particles out here that can make you quite sick. So I'm really going to watch out for that!!
Oh and yes, I did have dust pooling on me! And my neighbor pulled a stick out of the vent of my helmet too!!
As for the wall of dust.. It is literally a WALL of dust, sometimes a mile high. When a big one is coming in the local channels track it with a helicopter and show aerial views of it. It's a rather amazing sight. Very dangerous too tho!

[Nanci]

That's crazy! Is your bike ok??? (I'd have been laying on top of Lava to protect her!!) Just think if you could have taken a picture of it!

[SalsaMTB]

I have to admit, I did laugh a little at the beginning of your story, partially because I can't even imagine what it's like to go through something like that. The part where you said to yourself "Boy it sure is nice out here" as a huge wall of dust was headed your way just made me laugh pretty hard at the image I made in my head.

Glad you're OK though. Hope the lungs clear up quickly. How long does it take to find out if you got Valley Fever?

[Deanna]

Glad to hear you're going to be okay. Is there anything to help clear up the lungs or do you just need to wait it out? Does your bike need a new paint job? I'm not even going to ask about the state of the oiled parts, I imagine it crunched all the way home. I think you're lucky you were able to ride it and didn't have to walk all the way in the state you were in!

[Running Mommy]

UPDATE:
I just made a dr's appt because my lungs HURT (bad) and every once in awhile I cough up brown stuff w/ flecks of red. I just want to make sure I'm ok.
The bike is fine. She's my german tank mtn bike. It's a low end Specialized, so no real loss if something were to happen. Now if it were Valentina my tri ride- yeah I would have been on top of her. But I'm lucky!! If I had been on her I would have been toast!!
I dropped the mtn bike and sat down in the dirt next to it and curled up (the only thing I could think to do) and when a huge gust of wind hit it actually moved my bike a bit. I haven't really looked at it. I'll have to check her out when I get home, but I'm sure she's caked in dust. Tho her drivetrain was already pretty dusty. I know I was caked head to toe! My shoes are a mess! I did ride her home except I had to walk through a wash because I couldn't really see at that point, and I didn't want to try to manuver through a deep sandy wash.
Since I wasn't really planning on going far I didn't have my cell or even a water bottle w/ me. Actually my mtn rig has no cages. But I couldn't even wash out my eyes. They were stinging pretty badly. I was squinting to get home. I really don't know HOW I got home??!! I think it was pure adrenilin!! I was afraid that a thunderstorm was behind it.
Anyhoo, I learned my lesson!! ALWAYS take a cell, and some water!!!!

[chickwhorips]

As for the wall of dust.. It is literally a WALL of dust, sometimes a mile high. When a big one is coming in the local channels track it with a helicopter and show aerial views of it. It's a rather amazing sight. Very dangerous too tho!

it is an amazing sight but really scary! i've been out driving and been stuck in the middle of one when i lived back in mesa. they are great if your at home looking out a window.

i'm glad to hear your somewhat ok, except for the coughing. hopefully its just from having to much dust in your lungs and not valley fever.

rest and stay out of the heat and dust. let us know what happens at the dr's office.

[snapdragen]

Wow RM! I saw the dust storm on the news this morning, hope all goes well at the docs.