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Author writes book while riding a
hospital bed
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| The Lemon Have you ever wondered what you would do with your life should you find yourself involved in a serious accident? Most of us don't think about something like that; hopefully we will never have the need. Ford Willman found himself in this situation when he was involved in a life threatening accident while returning from Sturgis on August 12, 2000. "Life was good, I was on my home with my fiancee as my passenger. In just three weeks we were moving to Hawaii to start a business. We were following an old pickup truck while coming through a small city in northern Utah. I decided to go around the truck and while I was in the process of passing, he turned left right into me. My fiancee was thrown clear and was ok, but I went down and into a post and nearly died from the accident. My right leg was severely damaged and would eventually need eight corrective surgeries." It sounds terrible and it was; but things got even worse. Though Ford was not at fault for the accident, the police refused to give a citation to the other driver, who happened to be a young person from the local community. Thus he was left with no insurance coverage to help him rebuild his life. Luckily, what he did have was coverage from the job that he had just left in preparation for his new plans in Hawaii. Ford would spend six weeks in the University of Utah hospital immediately after the accident. During that period his fiancee broke their engagement, which only added to his despair. Released into a rehab unit for a week, Ford waited while his stepfather drove up tp Utah to pick him up. He then was faced with convalescing for close to two years in a hospital bed that his stepfather had placed in the living room of his home. During this period he went through surgery after surgery trying to save his damaged leg. "I would just grit my teeth every time the doctors told me I needed to have another operation, but the other alternative was having the leg removed from the knee down." It was in October of 2001 that he had a cage surgically applied to his leg, with 22 pins into the bone. This device was on for eight months. Throughout this period of time Ford wondered what he would do with himself. "It was very hard to get around with the cast and the pins and wires attached to my leg. I had to think of something to do that I could accomplish in bed!" The Lemonade Ford's experience with computers and the abilities to do research and write that he developed in earning a master's degree gave him an idea. "I thought to myself, well gosh, why not right a book? The one thing I could do was sit up in bed and type and use a computer. I had more than a half million miles over a 30 year period, riding in Arizona, I loved and knew every inch of road and some great places. Why not share my experience and knowledge of Arizona and add some research into some of the more outstanding areas? A lot of people come here from out of state and they don't always know where to go or what do to do or what are the best things to see or the best places to eat. Even a lot of locals don't know those things. In the process, maybe I could make some money, too! Kind of like, well... when life hands you a lemon, make lemonade!" With a new slant on life, Ford threw himself into the task of researching the best places in the Southwest for motorcyclists to ride, and then turning it into a book form. It would take him a full year to complete the task, which he did mostly from his hospital bed. The E-Book The result is the book "Ultimate Secrets of Riding the Southwest" and in it Ford outlines 25 excellent rides covering the Southwest. Most of the rides are based out of Phoenix and can be day trips, or combined to make a few days into a worthwhile and memorable short vacation. Ford personally has ridden every trip in the book over the 37 years and has stayed in the bed and breakfasts, the campgrounds and checked out the main attractions. In fact, in the rare case that he has not actually experienced something in the book, he tells you up front. Anyone with Internet access can purchase the elctronic book and download it from the website. The cost is $19.95, and the best part is his one year money back guarantee. "The only thing that I ask is that you try the rides and use the information. If you don't feel it helps you I have absolutely no problem giving your money back." You can visit the links to add interest to the rides and make all of your reservations right on the computer. There are maps to help guide you to each destination. Ford Willman got his name because his father owned a Ford automobile dealership. He grew up riding horses and received his first iron horse at the age of 14, as a gift from his father. It was a 175cc Harley Bobcat dirt bike. Living in Iowa, a kid could ride on the roads at the age of 14, so Ford rode all over the state, and has been riding motorcycles ever since. After the accident in 2000, he was unable to ride for more than two years. His right leg has a special fitted plastic brace, which goes under his foot and up to his knee, giving him the ability to ride and bear weight. In August 2002, he purchased a 1997 Electra Glide Classic from a friend who lived in Florida. He flew to Florida, spent a few days getting used to riding again, and then rode the bike all the way back to Phoenix on a 3,000 mile, 10 day solo journey. "It's all been worth it now; all the operations and the work to save my leg. I back riding and I'm excited. I wouldn't be human if I didn't have some fears, but that was why I too a few days to get the feel of the bike before leaving Florida. After that I felt really good; yeah, I can do this, I'm back in the saddle again." |
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