Do you ride mostly solo? (I do.)
Do you ride mostly remote area / less frequently traveled road? (I do.)
Follow the link and read the story
https://www.pressdemocrat.com/news/8926265-181/missing-motorcycle-rider-found-after?sba=AAS
Butts Canyon Road (It's not that remote. It's not like you are heading to Cambodian jungle, alone on a motorcycle.)
https://www.google.com/maps/place/Butts+Canyon+Rd,+California/@38.5728172,-122.9272629,10.1z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x8084674e31c1e509:0xc49765eba64b8a9c!8m2!3d38.7238488!4d-122.5111246
He was lucky, because he wasn't riding alone.
So, riding partner (NOT a passenger) is, in a way, very valuable.
That said, I still ride alone.
Well, I'm going for a ride now, just by myself.
I will write a little bit more when I come back.
As with most outdoor activities, be it cycling, motorcycling, hiking, it's a good reminder to let folks know your planned route and approximate return time.
After reading and thinking more about this, I'll probably turn on locations sharing on my phone so my spouse has an idea where I am, at least when I have coverage.
Ouch! I hope that dude is OK? I ride alone a lot, East of San Diego. The lack of cell service, and the unlikely-hood that anyone would find me, keeps me going slow-ish. I should probably file flightplans with my wife, but sometimes you just get out there and start riding around without thinking of where you are going, and that is really nice also.
Hopefully the rider will have a quick, complete recovery. Might be a good idea for those who trek into serious wilderness to carry a personal tracking device.
I almost always ride alone. I use an app called ESR (Eat Sleep Ride) and pay for their annual Crashlight service. You can input up to 3 phone numbers in it and if the app detects a crash, it displays a visual and audible alert that gives you up to 3 mins to cancel it (minor crash or false alarm). If you don't cancel it, the app will send a text message or call the three numbers and a recorded message will give the caller your last known location with address and GPS location.
I think it's like $20 a year, well worth it.
I think some of you remember this.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P8JpIvywtyU
https://www.knoxnews.com/story/news/local/2016/10/26/dragon-motorcycle-crash-survivor-shares-final-goodbye-videos/92744086/
When you go off the cliff, fall 50+ feet down, often (but not always) you get seriously hurt, can't crawl up to the road.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JLN7ksG0oBw
The problem is, spontaneous, unplanned ride is so much more fun, than the kind of ride everything is all well planned and you are just following the plan ...
And, many people think about GPS tracker (such as SPOT), but as soon as they know the cost,
https://www.findmespot.com/en/index.php?cid=130
https://www.amazon.com/SPOT-Satellite-GPS-Messenger-Orange/dp/B00C8S8S4W
"Uh, Do I really need to spend THAT much money ? (for subscription plus device) That's a little too much money for something I don't need until I crash really badly, which may never happen ...
I always have phone with me, so it should be Okay ... (completely forgetting about the Murphy's law. When you go down the cliff on your motorcycle, either there's no cell coverage, or you don't have it because it flew off from the back pocket of your jeans ...)
I'm NOT saying GPS tracker is the right answer.
It's just ... you know, going for a ride with just a phone, credit card and drivers license and nothing else, is ... not a good idea.
So, this time, it's a 70-year old man (in a car) went off the road 30 feet down.
His family reported him missing around 9:45pm Wednesday, found Thursday (Thanksgiving day) afternoon.
https://www.mercurynews.com/2018/11/22/deputies-make-miraculous-thanksgiving-rescue/
The area is NOT rural. Still, when things go wrong, you can disappear rather easily.