Today's Ham Radio/GPS/APRS Tracking
Jacque's knee was treating her well enough today that she suggested we go a-riding. So we did.
It's been a while since we rode the famed Bosque Trail in Albuquerque, so that's where we went today. Our several-day pause between bitter cold spells has been much appreciated, though we are starting to worry about our no-moisture-since-before-Christmas situation. It's still JANUARY, after all, so it's hardly tee-shirt weather. It got close to 60 degrees in town for a high (Actually, 55) but it was sunny and enjoyable.
The doggies, Jazzy and Tinkerbell, normally ride in the basket just behind Jacque's head in the rear. Jazzy's yippy screaming yelps hurt MY ears - even though I'm up front and 6 feet or so separated from her - and she doesn't respond well to training efforts. So normally Jacque develops ringing ears, or headaches, after passing a few OTHER dogs that the very sight or sound of causes Jazzy to erupt in full voice. Today I decided to try riding with her in MY lap, up front where she could see what we're passing, in hopes it might help her avoid boredom and her semi-continuous whimpering and whining in between screaming sessions at other dogs.
This worked out fairly well, in spite of her being a "handful" about half the time. When we passed other dogs and she started her deafening screeching, I found I could usually silence her by grabbing her and holding her close, or even by blowing into her ear or face while she was trying to "raise steam" for the next bark. Throughout the ride, she was MUCH quieter although of course not totally silent.
She quickly learned to balance herself on my midsection and wasn't too bad about trying to crawl up into my face or over my shoulder to pester Jacque. We had a short restraining harness on her to prevent her from leaping or falling off completely. Soon, we will try one of those front-carry "dog-papoose" waist arrangements.....
The dogs are just too much fun to leave behind on such outings, in spite of the complications they produce. (Such as always having to get carry-out food or dine in outdoor patios.)
Their cuteness delights us as well as 99.7% of passers-by. Untold kiddos and their parents exclaimed aloud as they noticed us in passing today. We stopped at Tingley Beach for a potty break, and while resting, three apparently Muslim ladies, all wearing head-scarves, approached the doggies: A Grandma - looking lady, a twenty-something young mother-looking lady, and a girl about 9 years old. They were speaking some foreign-sounding language, making unintelligible exclamations of delight as they approached the dogs and me, and the little girl ran right up to the dogs and fearfully patted Tink on the head, gasping and pulling back her hand when Tink turned around to see who was petting her. "Grandma" quickly approached, and to my surprise, SWATTED the little girl away from the trike. I thought she was upset the girl had approached the dogs, but I was quite surprised when she sidled up next to the dogs and posed and smiled for the other gal to take her picture. The young mother with the camera asked timidly if she could TAKE a picture and I of course agreed. "Grandma" then allowed the young girl to approach again.
The cutie girl again then petted both dogs timidly, darting back when the girls tried to lick her hand. Evidently she found the dogs irresistable but had little experience with cute friendly fuzzy dogs. Jacque missed this demonstration, and when I told her about the rather rough treatment of the youngest girl, she told me she had seen such behavior before with Muslim women. Very different. Sad that everyone's not totally up to my basic standards of behavior..... including me ;?)
The last 2 or 3 times we've ridden the Bosque Trail, an old ragged coyote has appeared in the middle of the trail in front of us and - though he has always jumped off into the trees before we got too close to him - we worry a bit about him finding our little doggies too much of a temptation to resist. So, from Tingley Beach, we only rode as far south as the Sonic Drive-in that lies conveniently close to the trail. There we stopped and pigged out on some tasty Politically Incorrect Junk Food.
After this deviation from good health, we rode back north instead of south and did the Mountain Road detour over to Old Town and put in a short appearance there before riding back to our dinosaur-powered bike carrier vehicle. There, again, Tink and Jazzy smiled to their adoring crowds of admirers. We normally get a soda or an ice cream treat of some kind at Old Town, but we were still a bit overstuffed from our Sonic Stopover.
Trip Started: 1:30 PM Trip Ended: 4:01 PM
Beginning Battery Voltage: 13.7 Ending Voltage: 13.2
Lowest Temp 45 F Highest Temp: 55 F
Stats from the GPS: Total Miles: 9.38
Overall average speed Moving Avg Max Speed
3.7 MPH 7.3 MPH 15.0 MPH
Total Trip time Moving Time Stopped Time
2 hours 30 mins 1 hour 17 mins 1 hour 13 mins
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