(Near) Suicidal Sheep

as I was exiting a favourite rh bend on way back from Manchester over Saddleworth Moor this evening, crazed sheep leaped from banked left hand verge, skidded to a halt about 2/3 of the way into my side of road, approx 30 yards in front of me.

No chance of stopping, but horrible moment of 'will it stay put, so I tighten line and go round on right, or will it suddenly carry on, so I should try and go left'.

Eye contact with with sheep. Picked right. Sheep stayed put. Very narrowly avoided having to explain to some farmer that I had killed said sheep. And avoided some lovely bruises and scratched up bike at the very least.

Said many many many many many prayers of thanks, once heart had returned from my mouth back to its proper place.

Note to self - ALWAYS keep an eye on the verges in the countryside for banzai wildlife. A lesson nearly learned the hard way.

Lucky escape! Sheep are dangerous creatures, and more dangerous when their lambs are on the opposite side of the road.

Originally Posted by sloppy joe

Very narrowly avoided having to explain to some farmer that I had killed said sheep. And avoided some lovely bruises and scratched up bike at the very least.

You could have asked nice Mr Farmer why his fences weren't maintained properly instead

[Bluepete]

I always keep bungee's with me, just in case I hit anything edible I can carry home!...

Squirrel is tasty!



Pete

You could have asked nice Mr Farmer why his fences weren't maintained properly instead

Aye, true. Its a stretch of road where there are often sheep along the verges, and I frequently wonder whether the farmers bother maintaining fences.

I usually spot them, keep an eye on them and slow down if one looks like it wants to end its life. But in this case I was so focussed on the bend, that until the sheep was in the road, I had not seen it. As well as thanking my guardian angel, I was kicking myself for not having spotted the little bugger earlier. As before, lesson learned.

With regards to bungees, my bag was bungeed to the back, so if contact had occurred, and the bike was still rideable, then yes, perhaps lamb curry would have been for tea tonight. Although I am not insured for a pillion...

I always watch the sheep - more so their babies when going over the moors. The moors I live by are all open so the sheep wander around but are known to suddenly just wander across the road and dont really care about the traffic.

Must say though I really wouldn't be on the look out for one leaping out from the embankment at me lol.

Glad you didn't hit it - they make an awful mess and are bloody hard objects to hit and do a lot of damage! glad your ok and your heart rate went back to normal - now go buy yourself a new pair of underpants hehe

Undercrackers already in the wash! Cheers.

I have the same, but with full grown cows, the farmer doesnt maintain his fence, and the cows regularyly get out and just either stand in the road or wander out infront of you. Has resulted in a few panic moments, from myself and a lot of accidents and dead cows from others.
However a jumping sheep is something new.

Coincidentally my mate's wife hit a sheep round there about a month ago. Minced the sheep, did about £2k damage to their car.

Still thanking my lucky stars.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VYdheuyu3KQ

Here`s mine

Yoinks. Close.