Dragged from my memory banks..... circa 1966.
At this point of my life, I was a member of Spencer Gulf Skydivers, and I rode a 1962 750 (736 cc) Royal Enfield Interceptor.
One weekend, we were having a skydiving meeting at Port Pirie, 110 miles away from my home of Whyalla.
The easiest way to transport a parachute on a bike is to wear it.
About half way to Port Augusta, for whatever reason, the ripcord became dislodged, and the chute deployed at around 50 MPH.
I stopped... the bike didn't. Landed on the roadway flat on my back, .... no slide, no skid, no roll, just a complete stop and drop.
Uninjured apart from minor bruising and winded, I dragged the canopy to the side of the road, picked it up and started walking towards where the bike had rolled to a stop, fallen over and stalled in the long grass couple of hundred yards down the road.
I was about halfway to the bike when a group of 5 cars approached from behind, and spotting me walking carrying my bunched up gear, commenced scanning the skies searching for an aircraft and / or other parachutists.
Very minor damage to the bike, scuffed / torn seat and dislodged battery cover.
I repacked my parachute out of view of the highway, and ensured that I did not catch and overtake any of the cars that passed.
I might be the only person in the world who has dismounted in this manner, but I do
NOT recommend it.
