Coming home last night around 7pm with saddle bags full of groceries, the last 1/4 mile before I turn to my street is a nice set of turns that I like to have fun with. Posted 35mph, decent visibility, I take it at about 45. Nuthin crazy. I entered turn 2 just about ready to push the loud button and I see a very young deer standing on the inside apex just off the pavement. I immediately grabbed a handful of whoe, got upright and fully compressed the forks. meanwhile this bugger started doing the panic-dance and turned right for me. I was just about stopped when the rat attempted to change direction and it's rears slipped on the pavement, kicked out and hit my front wheel. Meanwhile, I'm keeping an eye out for momma and family. I came to a complete stop, didn't put my foot down, then rolled away intact. I glanced in my mirror and saw this stupid critter get up and bolt into the woods then started to laugh inside my helmet. I was lucky to have my head in the game and not drifting into other thoughts. The cool thing is, I've been practicing e-stopping/keep-feet-on-pegs maneuvers in an empty lot the past few months and it seems to have paid off.
I'm going back to practice more this weekend.
Ride safe.