After four straight years of multiple week motorcycle trips, Karen & I determined to take a less adventurous, yet none-the-less, eventful ride. With more than fifty thousand miles on the Goldwing, some ten thousands of those upon 2017’s epic cross-country to Florida, other than routine maintenance, repair is a seldom used word within Honda’s vocabulary.
The thirty miles between Kettleman City and Lost Hills, California, would prove to be the most trying experience on the ‘Wing’. Only a couple miles away from our ‘In-N-Out’ burger did I first notice a brown substance. Honestly, at first glance, I thought that my ‘Butler’ drink container had somehow overflowed, and it was my root beer. If you’ve not driven this section of I-5, especially in the middle of summer ,,, well then … you have no idea. An arrow could not be straighter. With only two Off-Ramps to apparently nowhere, and the thermometer reaching 104 degrees … shade is not only a welcomed site, but a mandatory requirement!
Almost immediately I unfortunately realized that this was not my root beer. My next assumption was engine oil, but I would not be able to determine the exact source until we were able to stop. But did I mention, I-5, 104 degrees, and oh … NO shade. Connected via our Bluetooth, I pleaded with Karen to find us shade. A momentary stop under an overpass at least answered the likely source. It appeared to be a blown front left fork seal. With heavy traffic, this was not a place for a thorough examination. Finally, the third exit provided the most desirable shade that I’d ever seen.
Protected by the Chevron building, I parked directly in the very open, and VERY shaded, front area. Before dismantling the ‘Wing’ for inspection, I was off to the little boys room. Big boys need it as well, especially after Dad’s Root Beer. No sooner upon my return, Karen said, “The manager says that this parking is only for the senior manager”. And I immediately thought, “Not today”! An area that could easily park three vehicles, this motorcycle found the perfect repair shop. I did say that it was a clear, open, shaded, spot…in 104 degrees temperature?
Quickly disassembled, I confirmed that the front fork seal was indeed the culprit. But, no sooner did I have the last screw off, did the early twenty-something female manager request that I move the bike. “You are kidding me, correct “? “No”, she said. “This area is for our managers only”. “But, no one is here, and there is plenty of space when he returns”. “Sorry, but you’ll have to move”. “To where”? I asked. “Oh, just around the corner”. So with opened area that could hold three vehicles, I was being asked to move my disassembled bike a mere ten feet.
To this young managers credit, she was calm. For me, honestly, I was mostly calm. But I did inform her a couple times of my very famous saying … “Mercy ALWAYS Trumps policy”! Oh, you have not heard it? Well then ... :) Not likely that she remembers the saying. But I would hope … that she has at least a grasp of the concept.
An ensuing call to my motorcycle mechanic, and it was determined that the Goldwing should be able to travel the additional 170 miles to Long Beach. Tim said, “Drive gingerly and you should be just fine”. Enroute, I made a couple calls to my sister, asking if she’d do a quick search of potential motorcycle repair shops in her vicinity. Yet, I imagined that the chance that one would have any availability to repair the likely ‘fork’ problem, would be slim to nil.
The following day I drove the ‘Wing’ to Mid-City Honda in Paramount, California. That was a Friday, and much to my surprise, the Service agent thought that they could have the bike returned to me by Monday, or Tuesday at the latest. Indeed, sweet news to my ears. Honestly I had thought that it might take weeks to get the bike even to be seen, and that Karen and I would have to fly home and that I'd return at a later date
A couple of days later, with a repaired Goldwing, Karen and I returned to Oregon. Enjoying the east side of the Sierra’s along US 395, through Lake Tahoe and Oregon’s ‘Summer Lake’.
I’m frequently
reminded of this saying, “Mercy Always trumps Policy”. Rules and
policy … they will always be necessary. But … as well, frequently
there will be the case when the ‘Best Policy’ is to be an
instrument of mercy. A lesson, in which I know ... can become a breath of fresh air ... and of peace.
