I slapped a piece of duct tape on it as a shield, leaving plenty free so I could adjust it as necessary in flight. It would have been awful embarassing, trying to bend the stick in flight. I preflighted and mounted up. One thing I was glad of was my new pair of goggles. My old trusty ski-goggles had gotten pretty filmy and scratched.
Engine start, and taxi out.
Auburn airport actually lies in a valley, and had been in shadow for about fifteen minutes. I did a run-up, checked the lights, and taxied to the hold line as a Bonanza came in on short final. I stayed in the pattern, shooting touch and goes as it grew darker. The eastern sky seemed a bit cloudy. Then, over the mountains, I saw a sliver of white.