Courtesy of Jeff Smith:
Not the worst ride but close. After
being treated to a nice breakfast thanks to
Leonard, and a rousing political debate thanks to
Leonard and Rich, I rode off alone to do a quick
pass over Mt. Hamilton.
Riding out to the junction was nice, little traffic,
clean road, feeling good. Stopped at the
Junction had a Ginseng Tea (picked up the
pace a little leaving there). So on the first high
speed straight I felt something, thought by jacket
snap popped, ignored it, my first mistake.Arriving on top, at the observatory. I thought I
should take a picture. I only had the iPhone (or
so I thought) but should be good enough for the
news letter. Well I parked and was shocked to
see my rear cowling was missing as well as the
contents of the rear compartment, iPhone, hat,
etc. Panic.
Retracing my steps for ~20 miles I spot the bag
containing the phone, much relieved, assuming
the phone would survive in it’s case. Not so
lucky, a car had run over the bag crushing the
phone and all its other contents are scattered
everywhere. Bummer, but at least I didn’t loose
my data to some unknown.So tracking back further, I spot my hat. A Laguna Seca
hat, collectable yes and the cowling! Well the hat is OK
but the cowling is beat. Still intact but badly scratched
up. So I put it all back together and it fits tight. I leave
for the top again and stop; double check the cowling,
all is well. Off home I go.
So half way down, I come across a car full of drunken
teenagers and decide it’s best I pass and lose these
losers. So on a hard acceleration over some bumps the
freaking cowling pops off. This time the drunken
teenagers run over my hat that flies out and the clasp
is destroyed, it’s hosed. I’m pissed now.
After checking and rechecking, I decide to ride home
and if the thing comes off again I’m leaving it. After
bouncing down the asphalt twice it’s pretty dead
already.So it stays on, but I am cruising down I280, speed picks
up, I look in my rearview and a CHP is on my butt and
I’m doing 78 mph. I give up, slow down, and put on my
blinker to pull over when the stars must have aligned.
The CHP doesn’t stop, just takes off and leaves me, oh
thank you officer...
So it was an expensive ride. The iPhone was considered
unrepairable, in fact it was “catastrophic damage”
which means Apple will not give you a repair
replacement for $199. You by a new iPhone for $399,
ouch. Then the cowling was $150, plus gas at $9, minus
breakfast $12, makes this a $546 day.
