We were coming back from Big Bend in West Texas last year and .... me, being the idiot I am, did not realize that Texas has wild elk! I was cruising down the road leading about 6 other bikes looking at 2 huge shadows on the side of the road. It was pretty early in the morning but plenty of light, it was just in front of us as we were heading east (home). It wasn't until I was right up on them that I realized they were elk. I thought hmmmmm ELK!!!!!!!!!! BRAKES!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Damn near had a heart attack.
KC
Ah, yes. June 1982, on my 1981 Suzuki 650E. Seven or so in the morning. Heading south from Ft. Stockton, TX, headed toward Big Bend. Doing about 75 mph or so (couldn't tell because of the freakin' 55 mph speedometer
)
Up ahead of me, feeding on an flattened armadillo (what else?), a big-assed vulture. He was hungry. I got closer, but slowed down. Got over in the oncoming lane (no traffic). Big bastard got startled and instead of flying AWAY from me, yep, you guessed it - flew toward me. Wing hit me in the helmet, but not hard.
Stopped the bike. Changed my shorts - literally.