I sure wish we could have talked longer, but I was afraid of the phone bill to Canada. 
I'll have to look into a different kind of call plan that includes Canada.
Here's to a quick recovery, Sue! [smiley=beerchug.gif]
a wish for a quick recovery from me as well.
On the subject of phone bills, Melena, have you ever heard about Skype - an internetphone making it possible to call any phone on the earth at a very low cost? see
www.skype.com.
On the subject of gravel on roads and gravel roads: At an advanced drivers course last year, I involuntarily left the racing course in a curve because I got scared. My speed when I left the course was appr. 40 mph and the bike went straight ahead in the deep sand/gravel pit until the speed went below 20 mph at which point the deep sand/gravel caught my front wheel and forced me to leave the bike in an unauthorized way. The point is that the bike will keep a straight course and keep upright as long as you do not try to alter the equilibrium by braking or pulling the handles.
An interesting exercise: Place a streak of sand appr. two inches deep and 15 inches wide in a place where there is enough space to make a 90 degree turn. Drive through the sand while making the turn with maximum angle and as much speed as you dare. The first time you try this you will feel that the bike disappears beneath you which of course is not the case but it does move in an unfamiliar way. Try a couple of times more to get acquainted with the feel. !
do not do this if your tires are worn or cold! The point is that as soon the tires hit the tarmac after going through the gravel they get their grip back and the bike continues on the designated course and that if you know how it feels you do not panic.
Sue this has of course nothing to do with your accident and I apologize if it sounds arrogant. My point is that to drive your bike safely you have to know how it behaves in extreme situations and as you are a very experienced driver you have probably been in situations from which you have learned a lot about your bikes and your self.
This makes your accident rather inexplicable and Melena's and your hypothesis of a deer hitting your rear or the hypothesis of a sticking engine blocking the rear wheel are probably sound.
An acquaintance of mine lost control of his bike leaving a roundabout: the weather was cold, 45 F, and his tires were cold. No gravel, no oil on the road and his speed did not exceed 20 mph. I fear cold tires more than gravel because they can be very treacherous!
greetings from a grey, showery but rather pleasant north
trolle
