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ActionshotsNH combines my passion for outdoor adventure and photography. I share family adventures, hiking, hunting, fishing, 4-wheeling, motorcycles, cars, skydiving, aerial photography, New England scenery, foliage, barns, and the outdoors through photos and stories from the places and experiences I enjoy most. CLICK ON PHOTOS IN EACH POST TO ENLARGE THEM.

Friday, January 30, 2026

Loudon Classic - Motorcycle Weekend - 1985

In 1985 my roommate and I liked riding motorcycles so we decided to head north to watch the races in Loudon, NH.

Race weekend had a bad reputation.  The campground was a scary place.  No police, ambulance, or fire would go in.  Anything happened in the campground and you would need to be carried to the ambulance waiting at the front entrance.  

Up on Animal Hill we saw cars on fire, motorcycles on fire, lots of drinking, and guys jumping Harley's over burning bikes.  One guy went up a makeshift ramp, over a burning motorcycle lying on the ground, landed in the gravel and cracked up.  His arm, shoulder, and chest was all torn up. (no shirt or helmet)  They slowly took him to the ambulance.  It wasn't the safest place to venture. 

I wanted to take pictures of the racing and get close to the track so we headed in.  I took pictures at turn 4.  We were close had a great viewing point as the bikes came off the turn.  I am still scavenging to find more pictures.  No digital cameras back then.
 
Several years later they cleaned it all up.  NASCAR was talking about racing in NH.  It would mean tearing everything down and rebuilding the track, stands, etc.  If the track events and the track reputation didn't get more family friendly NASCAR would go elsewhere.  

The track was rebuilt, new stands, etc. and the events were cleaned up.  NASCAR now races here twice a year.  The motorcycle races are the last weekend of NH Motorcycle Week and much more family friendly now. 

I wish I could find the rest of my pics ...

Go to: "Search This Blog" at the top of my page and type in Loudon Classic to see other Loudon Classic posts.

Sunday, January 4, 2026

"Nurse Megan" helps save a life at Kohl's



Years ago my daughter Megan was on summer break from college (a senior in the nursing program) and was working at Kohl's in town.  She worked 2 shifts that day … 8AM to 2:30PM … then another from 5:30PM to 9:30PM.



She pulled into the driveway that night at 9:30PM which was early.  I was in the family room when she walked in.  I turned and asked “Did you get out of work early Meggy?”  She looked at me and started to cry … Not what any dad or parent likes to see … FATHER RADAR ENGAGED ...


She said “I have to tell you something bad that happened”.  I can tell you those are words a parent doesn’t want to hear.  Deep breath … deep breath …


She calmed down a bit and sobbing … told me what happened.

Kohl's has many sections; clothing, shoes, jewelry, and it includes a kitchen section.  While on her evening shift a young woman came through her line and purchased a large kitchen knife.  Megan asked the usual, do you have a Kohl's Card, Kohl's Coupons, etc.   She said the customer was friendly, and they chatted … next customer.

Megan went on break.  Soon after there was a “Call 911” over the employee headset.  Megan came out of the break room and saw people crowding around the bathroom so she went in.  The last stall in the bathroom had blood all over the floor.  A woman had tried to commit suicide … several wounds … one very deep forearm wound … blood was everywhere … It was the same young woman who had purchased the kitchen knife from Megan a few minutes before. 

Megan put on gloves from the store first aid kit … she took the knife away which was still in this woman's hand … she applied pressure to the wounds and started talking to the woman.  Meggy told me she thought the woman was going to bleed out …

She started asking the woman questions to engage and told her … don’t fall asleep … keep your eyes open … look at me … What is your name?  Answered.  How old are you? 23 years old.  What’s your favorite movie? Answered.  Where is your purse/wallet? Answered.  Meggy told her that she would be her friend and help would be there soon.   The woman said she didn’t want to be alive and wanted to stop talking. 

A couple minutes passed.  Megan said the woman started to slump over but was still semi-conscious.  At that point, the police and emergency personnel arrived and they took over.

Megan was upset saying she was the last person the woman spoke to when she purchased the knife.  I said … no … no … As you were helping this woman, you were the last person she spoke to before the EMTs and police arrived.

Megan got a call from her boss late that night saying the woman was taken to a hospital and was alive … They had stopped the bleeding.  Her boss said "Megan, you helped save the woman’s life".

We told Megan God put her on a second shift that day for a reason.

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