Element

It's pretty awesome - I'm driving again, I'm kayaking again, I'm biking again, and while I do wear the black wrist brace for these "high risk" activities, it's doing effin' great. I am so happy right now! and active! Doing the best I can to pick up where I left off in terms of fitness.

I can't wait to go skiing this winter...

Oh - and do you live downtown/H'Burg/W'Boro? I looking for partners to go biking/blading with - Please get in touch!)

Out riding with Sean and Leigh

Here I'm holding it in my left hand:

Broken finger, clean, complete break.

This is the pressure plate from the clutch assembly in my 2005 Honda Element:

When the finger broke away, it inhibited the pressure-plate from separating from the disk, so the clutch could not be disengaged at all.

I could not get the truck in gear Friday morning, this is why. My mechanic says it wasn't my fault, it just happened on it's own... And that Honda clutches rarely fail. Even the service guy from the Honda dealership was surprised.

Pressure Plate & Disk
Usually they kiss, and I separate them.
Right now they're not getting along. Before I couldn't get between them.

Haven't gotten the final bill, but the last estimate was $1100-$1200... plus the $100 for the tow truck.

---

Update:
So clutch #2 turned out to be defective...
so I'm still waiting...
so this sucks...
so much...

On the eve of my Element's fifth birthday, Honda announces they'll stop making producing them after 2011.

On my way home from K's last week, I witnessed an accident southbound on Riverside Drive at Industrial Avenue. I'd lined up in the left straight lane, which turns into the "Alta Vista Only" left turn lane onto Industrial Ave.. Apparently the car in front of me didn't realize this subtle change happens. So after queuing, s/he realized the traffic in the right lanes was still flowing, so the driver unceremoniously veered into the left-straight-through lane and cut off a Taurus, who, in the process of trying not to have a collision, slammed on his brakes and veered right... hitting a Civic in the right-straight-through lane. The driver/vehicle that caused this was long gone.

I decided to stick around because in my opinion the Taurus driver had no option and made the best of a bad situation, and thus was not at fault. (And could've hit my Element instead if he'd gone left instead!) I gave the drivers involved some advice and snapped some pictures. Left them my business card, told them I'd give a statement to the Police if needed, and then I left.

Apparently the boyfriend of the Civic owner is considering filing an insurance claim... So the mother of the lad driving the Civic called me this morning asking for the photos, which I've sent along. (They're easy enough to find in my gallery if you're so inclined...)

Considering the Civic is a 1989, rusted out monstrosity, that I doubt would pass an E-Test... I really hope this isn't going to turn into a protracted affair for those involved. It would seem rather futile to me.