Tag Archives: Cutler Coast

I Just Got Another Google ‘Pixel 6 Pro’ — I Broke My ‘Old’ One On The Bold Coast.

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by Anura Guruge
on June 28, 2022

Click to ENLARGE.
Click image to access this post from last October. My prior phone mishap on the ‘Bold Coast‘.

Yes, yes, I KNOW. I can get the screen replaced — & I am. I am sending it to ‘Google’, via ‘FedEx‘, for the repair & it is going to cost me $259. So, yes, in theory, I didn’t have to get one — just use one of my old phones in the interim. Yes.

But, I have kind of attached to the amazing camera on the Google Pixel 6 Pro & would have missed not having it — & as you must know, it isn’t as if I don’t use it everyday. We have proof. Plus, as ever (contrary to what anyone thinks or believes) there is ALWAYS impeccable method to my madness. Given my early background in mainframe computers I am a rabid believer in hardware redundancy — e.g., we have 3 generators, 2 snow blowers, etc. SMILE. So, I, for the last four years or so, always have a backup for my main phone. I typically keep my previous phone as that backup. So, I DID have a Pixel 5 (from last year) as my backup.

But, Teischan wanted my Pixel 5 as a backup for her Pixel 5. She loves her Pixel 5 & dreads having to get something other than another Pixel 5! I have tried to get her a Pixel 6 but she refuses. She plans to continue using a Pixel 5 as long as she can. So, she wanted the Pixel 5 & she already has it. So, I don’t have a backup (& you can’t count my old ‘Pixel 2‘ as one, because I use that purely as my ‘Audible‘ playback device).

So, now the old Pixel 6 Pro, when fixed, will serve as my backup — for now. Come December I will trade it in for a Pixel 7 Pro and my new 6 will become the backup. SMILE. Remember, I no longer buy 2 to 3 cameras per year as I was wont to do. I just use Pixels.

I did have a ‘plastic’ screen protector on the phone. But, that did NOT have a chance. The phone fell face down onto pebbles & one just went straight through.

MIRACLE. The phone has kept on working! Even the icon beneath the HOLE (which happens to be the ‘Bank of America’ APP) still works! That is impressive.

I broke the phone on Tuesday, June 14, 2022 — my 1st day on the ‘Bold Coast‘ on this most recent trip. But I have managed to use it, without any undue trouble, till today — 2 weeks. The only that is problematic is the fingerprint reader — & to be fair there are cracks on the reader.

It had just stopped raining & it was windy. The phone was slightly damp. The wind blew my hat off. I went to catch it & the phone slipped out. Yes, I have learned.

This as you can see is NOT my first phone mishap on the Bold Coast. I dropped my Pixel 5, at ‘Cutler Coast‘, two trips back. I learnt from that. I now make sure that my phone will NOT accidently fall off.

Learnt another lesson. I now have a GLASS screen protector. That might help. But, I am also going to TRY using a lanyard when I am at the Bold Coast. That might or might not work. I trip quite often, on the Bold Coast, on my many hikes. If the phone is attached to me it could get hurt! What can I say. In the Bold Coast book I am now writing I point out that the Bold Coast can he hard on phones. I speak from experience.

The MIRACLE At ‘Cutler Coast’, Maine.

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by Anura Guruge
on October 10, 2021

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Click to ENLARGE. A typical section of the trail. Some bits are worse.
Click to ENLARGE. Details of hike per my ‘Garmin‘ smartwatch.
Click to ENLARGE. GPS track of the hike per my ‘Garmin‘ smartwatch.
Click to ENLARGE. The back of my Google Pixel 5 with its fluorescent green label.

What are the chances of finding a phone that you accidently lost, during a fall — on your own, at dusk, on a gnarly wooded trail?

Well I did. Much to my amazement, against odds stacked against I. I am areligious. But, I kind of attribute this to a huge backlog of good karma. (SMILE) I still can’t believe I found it. But, I did.

Here is the story …. THE MIRACLE at ‘Cutler Coast’, Maine.

It was last Sunday, October 3, 2021. I was on my way to Lubec for a 4-night trip to my beloved ‘Bold Coast‘. I had left home, in New Hampshire, at 7:20am, & was slowly meandering my way up. It was close to 3.30pm when I got to ‘Cutler Coast‘. I was going to do a quick amble to the coast, along the ‘Coastal Trail’, get some pictures & head back. As the 2nd & 3rd photos testify I indeed managed to do that. I made good progress.

On the way back, not that far from the coast, one of my feet got caught on an exposed, raised tree root & I fell. Not too badly. No harm, no pain. I was wearing a hooded sweatshirt. Since it was already getting dark I had my sunglasses tucked into the sweatshirt at my neck & my Google Pixel 5 phone in the ‘hand warmer’ pocket. The sunglasses went flying, to my right, when I fell. I saw & felt that. I poked around, found them & tucked them back. I thought I was FINE. (I wasn’t.)

I got to the car just ahead of 5pm. I was happy. Bar the small fall it had been a great amble. I was going to get a drink. I wanted to take some pictures of the car park. I patted my pocket for my phone.

NO PHONE!

NO PHONE!

I looked all over. Checked the boot of the car. Then the reality sunk in.

It too must have fallen out when I fell.

Would I be able to find it?

There were three empty cars in the car park. I had no one with me — NOR another phone with an active service. So, I could NOT call my phone to see IF I could hear it ring. My Garmin watch does have a ‘Find Phone’ option — but it was stating (quite correctly) that my phone was not in range.

It was now past 5pm. My watch told me sunset was at 6:30pm. I just had time to hike the trail again.

And that is what I did.

Along the ‘flat’ parts & those with boardwalks, I galloped. I didn’t amble. I was running. I got towards the end of the trail. I could see the coast through the trees. I knew I had gone far enough. I turned back.

I started closely studying the green scrub to the right of the trail. My glasses had flown to the right & I had a hunch that my phone too must have flown in the same direction.

I got myself a stout stick. I started beating down the brush on the side with it as I walked. I didn’t have to go far.

I SAW IT!

Given my advanced age & that I don’t share it much, I CANNOT remember my cell phone number! So, I have it written on a bright green strip of fluorescent green so that I can get t it when I need. As luck/karma would have it, my phone had fallen face down. The back of the phone, with the fluorescent green label, was facing me. The fluorescent green label made it stick out. I FOUND IT.

I can’t tell you I relieved I was.

It was indeed a MIRACLE.

Tons & tons of accumulated good karma.

THE MIRACLE at ‘Cutler Coast’, Maine.

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