Taking a breather at the Orestimba Corral to assess our condition after crashing on the way down the hill from Will's Pond.

I'm a little shaken up right now, but trying not to be. A few minutes ago, on the way down the (not very steep) hill from Will's Pond, I was thrown off the 10-ton bike when it fishtailed upon hitting some powdered clay, and I couldn't regain control.

The oak trees heard me land chest-first on the road with a thud. I immediately jumped up, just to prove to myself that I could, that I wasn't hurt. Somehow, the front wheel of the bike ended up turning 180 degrees and just needed to be turned back. Amazingly, neither of us seems to be seriously injured.

The layer of clay dust on the road seems to have prevented me from getting road rash. One leg feels quite bruised and I'm hoping that those sore ribs are just bruised too.

The 10-ton bike also seems to have survived despite the force of the fall. The only damage that I've noted so far is that the overloaded rear rack bent just a little. Kudos to Old Man Mountain for making tough racks, and to Trek for making a tough bike.

I try to make this a normal break by taking a few photos, eating a Clif bar, and sucking back more of my disgusting iodine-infused water, which is quite warm now.

I'm very lucky. I haven't seen anyone in four days.