Caught in a dust storm!!!

[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!!!!