Over the long weekend in August I was involved in a fatal motorcycle accident. This article isn’t intended to do anything more than perhaps be my final telling of this tale and maybe help someone else out there.
First let me explain for those of you who don’t know I am a Mason or a Free Mason. Why, doesn’t matter at this point or if you have questions about the secrets of Freemasonry, that is a post for another day. The reason this is important to this story is that I am also a member of a Masonic riding association called the Widows Sons. Riding as a club, is when the accident happened.
Another slightly important factor is that I got separated from my wife of 15 years at the beginning of the summer, why is that important you ask? Because I was never supposed to be on this ride.
For the last couple years one of the chapters of Nova Scotia Widows Sons, the Temple Guard chapter has a weekend trip to Cape Breton to ride the famous and majestic Cabot Trail.
This year’s ride was scheduled August 3rd, 4th 5th and 6th. We would ride up to Cape Breton Friday, ride the trail Saturday and attend the Cape Breton bike rally on Sunday returning home Monday.
The ride up was gorgeous, we had amazing weather. We traveled the highways of Nova Scotia and safely all arrived at the Cabot Trail Motel in Baddeck where we would spend the weekend.
Weather was threatening to impact the weekend so a couple different plans were hatched, we could ride the trail either day and would wait and see what the weather decided to do. The trail ride itself is pretty amazing but wet roads and steep inclines meant that this wasn’t a trip you wanted to make in bad weather.
I had never ridden the Cabot Trail, I’ve ridden through Cape Breton but had never been on the trail itself. Was I nervous? Not really, at that point I had never been in a serious accident despite riding for 10 years, I was super confident in my abilities.
The ride itself was awesome, the weather held off and due to some construction we got even closer to the edge of the cliff, you could look right over the edge and see miles below the waves crashing against the rocks. All from the comfort of your motorcycle.
Again, until the accident this was a great ride. We had ridden most of the trail, had a great stop for lunch, everyone was in a great mood, it was a great day.
Our second to last stop was to pick up supplies at the NSLC for that night, we did that in Cheticamp and headed for our last stop before returning to the motel, the Dancing Goat coffee shop.
We were leaving Cheticamp approaching the Co-op store, a line of 15 motorcycles, traffic was busy but not crazy busy. I was in the back third of the line of bikes which was rare for me, usually I was at the front of the line but I wanted to get as much footage of the long line of bikes as possible.
As we were passing the Co-op store, I noticed to my left 2 motorcycles in the oncoming lane, one started to lose control of his bike. His handlebars wobbled, he tried to correct and as I was watching he accelerated around a truck stopped in front of him in his lane, shot past me into our lane and directly head-on into my WS brother Gary.
Everything happened so fast, yet in my mind I can remember certain details in crisp clarity that I honestly wish I could forget. It was like a movie, the two bikes exploded, both men were thrown into the air. I screamed and yelled for the guys in front of me to stop. But its standard practice to not stop a whole line of bikes on the side of the road, plus the first two thirds of the group had no idea what had just happened.
I think I was screaming ‘oh my god’ over and over again. I pulled my bike over and started yelling at bystanders to call 911. I then realized I could call myself, I took my phone out and dialed. I also had turned on my camera (I thought I was recording and had shut it off, instead I recorded a bit of the call). That video is below.
In that video you see our brother Troy, laying and talking to Gary telling him he will be OK and that we were there for him. You can see brother Steve trying to figure out what had happened, talking to witnesses. You can hear the panic in my voice, I’m not proud of it but I didn’t know what to do. I panicked, I was yelling at bystanders asking them for specifics to give the 911 operators to tell them exactly where we were.
The only word I’ve been able to use to describe this event is horrific, as I sit and type this there have been tears streaming down my face and my hands have shook the entire time. Bernie, the man who lost control of his bike died there on that road in front of us. The amazing first responders of the area were there in what seemed like no time at all and took Gary off in the ambulance to see what could be done for him and what condition he was in.
While Gary was being taken to hospital the rest of us had to ride back to the motel. I don’t think any of us really remember that ride, we were completely in shock. I remember catching up to a couple brothers who had left before myself, they had to pull over and refocus before they could get back on the road. Somehow we all made it back to the motel and started to share with the others what had happened.
That night had a lot of highs and lows, at one point it seemed like Gary was in very good condition with very minor injuries and then an hour later the report said he was in quite bad shape and needed to be in our thoughts.
By this point word had gotten out and brothers were reaching out from all over to try and understand what had happened and to offer their support. I started drinking heavily as the images from the crash started to really haunt me. Specifically the image of the crash itself and the images of the man dying on the pavement. I didn’t know how I would get rid of them and yet I felt completely guilty for worrying about myself while our brother clung to life and might not make it through the night.
The next morning the tone was sombre, another update on Gary seemed to indicate things weren’t great, there was potentially some head trauma and he was in an induced coma to see what would happen next. Some of the brothers decided to ride home that day, it was a miserable day and you couldn’t have paid me enough to get back on my bike, especially in anything less than great weather. But I know some of the brothers had to deal with what happened in their own way, needed to be back with loved ones.
Myself and some others decided to wait until Monday to head back, the weather was nicer but I personally was dreading driving 4+ hours back on my bike. I was scared. Any time a car went by in oncoming traffic I would flinch and swerve back towards the middle of the lane, it was dangerous I shouldn’t have been on my bike. But at the same time, I needed to be on my bike, if I didn’t ride it back I don’t think I would have ever gotten on it again. I was terrified, haunted by the images I couldn’t get out of my mind but I was determined to not lose this part of who I am.
We all made it home. Life started to move on as it does.
Gary is still in the hospital today, his road to recovery is going to be long but hopefully we’ll have our brother back with us to ride again one day soon.
The men, my brothers who were with me that day all continue to deal with what happened in our own ways.
Some of us are talkative, some of us are quiet.
Some of us, have ridden every day despite being scared we were going to die every time we’ve gone out, others have not ridden very much since.
I don’t know what else to say, I hope no one is offended by anything in this article. Its been the hardest thing I’ve ever had to write but I think its been good to get it out. Please keep Gary in your mind and send him positive thoughts.
-- Downs out.
Hi there,
I'm Mike, welcome to my little corner of the web.
Hope you like what you see here, please leave me a comment whether you did or not. 
My Brother thanks for telling this. Although I have heard of this accident all the way up in NB. It was in itself a sad tail of what looks to be and as you tell it a most wonderful ride with a sad ending to it. I Hope Brother Gary does make a full recovery. As well as all those whom are affected. I wish I had some words to say here to comfort all those whom are affected and read this. But we all eventually have to get back up and ride, as those whom have fallen and moved on do share this same passion. And it feels like the best way to respect them is to ride and trust in yourself brother you may never forget that day, and maybe that is the point. But to Live is to Ride and Ride is to Live.. SMIB
Thank you for the kind words brother.
SMIB
Mike this took more guts to write then you will ever know. Thank you for Sharing. Getting things out helps with PTSD. I love you as my nephew and like a kid brother and as a friend. Take care and know that I am always here for you.
Keith
Thanks uncle Keith, it wasn’t easy but I’m glad I wrote it.
STOP CALLING ME UNCLE. I am glad you wrote it too
Thank you for sharing Downs. Sorry to hear about what happened here. I used to have a bike and I remember wiping out one time on a gravel road. I broke my clutch and ripped open my leg. That minor accident has stayed with me for 20+years now. So I completely understand what being in shock is like. Had my cousin Leonard not been there to help me out I don’t know how long I’d have sat there. Anyway be well my friend, sending positive vibes your way
Thanks for the positive encouragement Chris.
Brother, what you have experienced is horrific and tragic and unfortunately it appears unavoidable.
I remember hearing about the accident and it touched us all as it could have been any of us. Prayers are with our brother Gary, the poor lost soul’s family and all of you that experienced it.
Thank you bro, for the words and the support.
Wow Mike. I can’t imagine how horrific that experience was and how tough writing that post was. Our thoughts are with you all.
Thanks Mike, it wasn’t easy that’s for sure. But I’m hopeful that it will help others.
Thanks for your positive comments dude.
All the best to Gary, yourself, the other Brothers who were riding that day, and the families of all that were involved! May TGAOTU provide you all with the strength and love to carry on.
Fraternally
Bob
Thank you brother Bob.
SMIB
Thanks brother Mike for sharing prayers for you and brother Gary.
Thanks brother George. Appreciate the kind words.
A heart breaking story Mike, I am happy to hear that your brother is on the mend.
Dealing with a crisis like is hard but I think that putting it out there instead of holding it in will prove to be a step in the healing process.
Sending healing thoughts, prayers & love to you & all your brothers.
Love you tons.
Thanks Aunt Kay, I certainly hope that this was the right thing to do.
Your Grandpa Downs had a serious biking accident. He had a beautiful Harley. It was burgundy with lots of chrome, and he kept it polished all the time. He really loved it but got rid of it after the accident. Uncle Dewart picked me up at school and took me to the hospital to see him What a sight. He had been going up a hill at night and when he got to the crest of the hill, when his bike and lights leveled out, right in front of him was a vehicle backing out of a lane. Needless to say, the first responders had to look through an orchard to find him. He was lucky but he never rode again.
Wow, Aunt Carol thanks for telling that story, I didn’t know that about him.
Hi Mike. I was forwarded this link this morning and have had a pretty tough day since watching it. I’m glad you shared your experience and the video. I have watched it dozens of times now and the scene looks, sounds, feels horrific. It sounds like you are dealing with it the best way you can. I want to thank you for being there along with your other brothers for Dad on that day- and also the comfort that you brought that day you visited all the family in the hospital when things weren’t looking so good for him and we really couldn’t wrap our minds around what had happened. Seeing a glimpse of what he went through is heartbreaking- but hearts are healing each day as he continues to make small gains and steps forward. See you again one day.
Thank you, i know what we are going through pales in comparison to what you and your family have been through and I appreciate your comments so much.
I know how hard that video is to watch, once I found it it took a couple attempts to sit through it.
I hope this helps you guys by providing as much info as we have and as always, anything I can do or any of our brothers for any of you or your dad you just need to ask.
We will see each other again soon, were all linked now, hopefully every time after this is only more and more positive.
Thank you again for the kind words.