shiftshaft/long ride in 1st!

[Cruiser]

Well I was out for a big dual sport ride Saturday,, 120+ miles mostly trail planned,, weather was beautiful, 65 and sunny,, at about mile 32 coming down a hill with a hairpin to the right I was just shifting down and the shifter dropped. I stopped and looked down it was just pointing at the ground. Just rotated like it wasn't attached,, so I putter down the trail to the road. I'm about 24 miles from home at this point,, I start down the skirt,, a whopping 5mph! Any gear but first! At about an hour I made it 6.1 and found a place to call for a truck. Got here home and had the side cover off in minutes. The shaft broke free from the pawl,, right at the weld. I called the sorta local GG dealer and the parts kid said He broke his the same way too,, cheap part, like $30,, but he said they were on backorder....
Such a clean break I took it over to a buddy who works fabricating parts for fire engines,, he has his own tig welder(my next big purchase), I should have it back better and stronger,, maybe today too!!
I'll post a pic when I get it back,, should have gotten a pic when it was broken,, but was kinda pissed off at the time..
Anybody here break one of these??
Later,,
Steve