And I AM indeed the lucky one, as I learned at Stephen & Lisa's place, from news reports, and first-hand witness testimony, that just 12 days after my crash a US brother-rider - same age as me (52) - fell whilst riding a rented tourer (prolly something like a BMW R1150RT, or similar) in exactly the same vicinity as where I tumbled.The source of the witness testimony? Well, bizarrely, another couple, Canadians Sven & Amelie (Sven being Lisa's cousin), with whom I also got real friendly - because they were also temporarily stopping over in the Counsell Household here in Queenstown the same time as me - witnessed this second fatal accident in the rear-view mirror of their rented campervan. They were shocked with the experience, needless to say.
Sadly, Brother Patrick M Stoffey (RIP) went back home from NZ to his loved ones, in California, covered in a body bag.------------------------------
But right now (early afternoon on Sunday, April 8th - 1:30pm) I must stop tapping the keys of my ultralight laptop's keyboard, as I have a plane to catch in just a few hours' time.
I'm off to San Francisco in the northern hemisphere, and the early Springtime sunshine, for 2½ day / 2 nights' stopover ... and so it is .. the Endless Summer adventure continues.
I get back to Blighty-based Heathrow Int'nl Airport next Wednesday morning. It'll be good to cross over the Tamar River that evening and be back in Cornwall.
I shall elaborate further on the fantastic events that took place between Sat-Mar-17 - the day my plans changed - up to the present, and beyond, next week, from the comfort of my Cornish living room .. :o)
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