Sunset on Pistol Beach

Update on my injury...

The image I posted with the narrative about breaking bones in my hand needs a little more explanation. I had the legs of my tripod splayed flat across the top of a very rough but level rock. The wind was blowing so I needed total stabilization. With the tripod on the ground I was sitting cross legged on the ground behind it, for like 45 minutes. During which my left leg fell asleep... completely. I didn't fully realize it at the time but I lost all feeling in my left leg.

When I went to stand up I began to realize something was seriously wrong; I had no sensation whatsoever from my left hip down to my toes. I initially thought just my foot was asleep. So I stood up (I don't know how I managed to get to my feet...) and I proceeded to stomp my left foot to get the blood flowing again.

All of a sudden I began to lose consciousness as the blood began to return to my leg, but my heart couldn't keep up with the required blood pressure. I was totally confused as I began to black out and fall to the ground. I remember trying to keep my balance as I was falling downward and stumbling around, hoping to avoid falling off the nearby cliff. But, down I went.

I was wearing my leather driving gloves (thank God!) and I remember seeing the ground coming up rapidly, yet I was totally helpless to change that.

I landed primarily on my left hand, left leg, and left butt cheek. All landing squarely and firmly on the extremely ragged rocks around me. When I came to I couldn't stand up and yelled for help. A motorhome about 20 feet away in which the occupants had been watching the sunset either couldn't hear me or chose not to respond. So I laid there for several minutes assessing my condition and realizing I was the only source of help I was going to get since my car with my wife in it was about 100 yards down the road.

Finally I managed to get to my feet and maintain balance, I picked up all the gear that went flying all around me, gathered my camera and gear and headed back to the car.

After loading the gear back in the trunk (aka boot for my English friends) I proceeded to tell my wife about what just happened... she was horrified. I was in extreme pain and was seriously thinking about calling for medical assistance.

I began to drive down the road and in the rear view mirror I saw this scene unfolding before my eyes. So naturally, I pulled over, got out, setup and shot away. Certainly this opportunity was far more important than the pain I was feeling. And, I'm so glad I stopped to keep shooting.

Ok, so the update... I got my hand checked out and found out I didn't actually break any bones. I was very surprised to learn that, and I'm still feeing quite sore in several places but definitely getting better.

So, thank you all so much for your many kind (and funny) comments about this whole debacle. This is the third major fall I've had in a about the last 16 months and am very grateful to my creator that I was cared for through all three.

--Jim--