What a day! Bitter sweet. After the Berkeley gathering with Landry Thompson, Susan Davis, and Sue Henke, I reached the Princess and found a note on the seat—I BACKED INTO YOUR BIKE AND IT (and the Pea) fell over. Here is my name and contact info. I was parallel parked five feet behind his space. Damage—cosmetic: large scar on the right side of the Pea, scratches on the Princess as well and the cell phone mount snapped from the violent fall. When I called the perp, his response was–‘It happens, no big deal!’—Not where I come from. Bike is fully rideable but wounded. Off to Novato to a wonderful gathering hosted by Joanie Carlson (Mengarelli). Giant year book photo awaiting my arrival, lots of munchies, and a special gift: Joanie’s home-made brownies to take on the road! Gathering included Pat Kavanaugh, Cynthia Sawtell, Barbara McShan, Barbara Daseking, and Joanie. We had a great time sharing memories and life stories. This video includes the stories from the Berkeley and Novato gatherings. I will make a separate video for the Novato and Napa gathering.
As if the day’s initial disaster wasn’t enough, when I reached Napa and the country store picnic, en route to the second of three venues (the wine tasting), my Gopro camera (and all the day’s video footage) fell out of my pocket and on to the road way (about a 3 mile stretch). Martha McGettigan was following behind me and saw the leather case bound on the roadway and told me what happened after we arrived at the winery. She and Bob Fitzwilson unselfishly drove and walked the entire 3 mile route–looking for a leather case. It was 96F and the sun was blazing. I was sickened by taking a short-cut in not storing the camera and case in the bike’s top hat compartment–that’s what heat, fatigue, and excitement, plus age can do to good judgement. I was sickened and cut my activities with the joyous Napa group: Claude Minnot, Chris Dilley, Rod Weems, and Martha McGettigan as I disgustingly headed for Santa Rosa to buy a replacement camera. After incessant prayers, (yesterday, July 7th) while visiting Vicky Bowen in Davis, Andrea Jones (from Petaluma) called and reported the camera and case was found by an Australian (Angel) living in Angwin. The angel viewed the video and looked up Andrea’s phone number. A miracle, all the video was intact despite the camera none functioning—The prayers worked; I rode back 120 miles to pick-up and hug the angel. I otherwise would not have gone back, except that the distance and schedule permitted riding over the twisties in the mountains to reach her house. Next video will be part two of the Longest Day.
Here is the first part of Day #14