My "guesstimator" about time to travel a certain distance has been somewhat off lately, and I don't know why.
I looked at the map and saw Yuma was located on the Colorado river then screwed up the calculation by thinking, "Well, it takes about six hours to get to L.A. from here, and Yuma is about halfway, so it should take two-and-a-half hours or so, right?"
Why I paid NO attention to the fact the distance was 220 miles is beyond me.
When I turned the corner from I-10 to head West on I-8 and saw the remaining distance was almost 190 miles, I mentally kicked myself.
Oh well. A friend once said, "The difference between a disaster and an adventure is ATTITUDE."
Let's make this an adventure!
It all started when I did something I knew better than to do:
I slipped over to eBay "just to check it out".
"Let's see what's available in GoldWing land!
Ooh, there's a beautiful black one. NO RESERVE. Let's click over to Kelly Blue Book and check values there."
I show the photos to Sara Jean. She LOVES it.
The starting bid is MORE than reasonable. I click and put the 'Wing in my "Watch list" then think, "What the heck... why not put my foot in the door by starting the bidding?
I can then sit back as bidding proceeds and decide if I really want the bike!"
So I submit the minimum bid.
"You're the high bidder!", eBay informs me.
Two days pass. I'm still the high (Only!) bidder.
Oh well, there are still three days left in the auction. No sweat.
And then I get an "eBay message" from the seller:
"I've had problems with guys winning my auctions, then not bein' able to come up with the funds. I'd like to sell you this bike... what's your best offer?"
I thank him for his attention and tell him I'd like for the auction to proceed normally. I don't want him to be shortchanged, (and I already have five motorcycles. I'm still doubtful if I want it. When I placed the bid I was pretty sure my bid would be wasted.)
I give him a little information about me and tell him I WON'T drop the ball on him if I win the auction.
He writes back. He's also retired military. He's a Christian man. He likes what he hears.
He too is buying another bike.
He wants me to have this 'Wing.
He's closing the auction.
I own it.
I'm stunned, but Wow!
It's BEAUTIFUL. The price I'm paying is unbelievably low.
It's physically not real far away, so shipping isn't a problem. More back-and-forth notes with the seller and I find I REALLY like the guy.
We drove down two days ago and I rode the bike back to Phoenix with Sara Jean in trail.
I'm knocked out by it. When I bought the '89 'Wing my friend BZ
said something to the effect, "I wish I had known you were truly interested. I'd have suggested you buy a later model 'Wing", and he listed several reasons why I'd like the newer model better.
And now I know why-
The only thing similar about these two bikes is the appearance of the flat-six engine.
The new bike handles better, looks better, is more efficient in a dozen ways, and is faster to boot.
But now I MUST do something I hate to do:
I gotta sell a couple motorcycles!
I'll let ya know how that goes.
4 comments:
Does that qualify as an Oopsie??? :-) Glad it worked out in your favor though! Enjoy the bike!
AHA!
What year Gold Wing is it?
BZ
It's an '03 BZ, with ABS brakes.
Constantly garaged, you have to look mighty hard to tell it's not new.
Bosslady would use my butt as a doorstop if I had 6 bikes... But brother-man, you've got to do what you've got to do.
Let me know what you're selling, if only for conversational purposes. Some of us tend to vicariously live through your adventures. A list of your stable is overdue also, BTW. But that's just my take.
Y'all ride safely, amigo. The cagers won't look out for YOU.
Post a Comment