Today's 12-Mile Tracking
I started the day's publicly acceptable activities by splitting a large log section with my sore-back-generating hand maul splitter. Then I ran the chainsaw cutting down some more juniper trees for next year's wood stockpile, and after a bit of this I was bushed. I hauled the split wood up to my full-cord wood crib next to the front porch and then had to sit down and rest and drink unleaded root beer, meaning diet.
I was still bushed after resting a while but - having skipped riding yesterday - wanted to ride at least a few miles in futile attempts to keep my belly back behind my belt where it belongs. My back was really talking to me after swinging that maul but I thought perhaps the reclining seat of the recumbent trike would help the old backbone and butt to relax.
I loaded the new-used Catrike into the trailer and hauled it down to the pavement and took off. First I rode west up the hill to the Post Office, figuring if I was too worn out from woodcutting I would call it quits after that short ride. This Catrike is much lighter than any other 2- or 3- wheeler I've previously ridden and, coupled with its easy-shifting 27 gear combinations, it's much easier to pull long hills and such. It's a little squirrely at speed since it has very touchy steering with lots of oversteer but that's supposedly very common with short trikes. I'm getting better at the "lighter touch" on the steering handles and really like the ride.
My back didn't get any better on the ride to the PO and back, but it didn't hurt any worse either, and I decided to keep on riding farther east to do my "normal loop" of about 10 miles in addition to the Post Office trip. The wind was kicking up a bit but it wasn't terrible and did not interfere with a very enjoyable ride.
Ride Started: 12:22 PM Ride Ended: 2:36 PM
Stats from the GPS: Total Miles: 13.0
Overall average speed Moving Avg Max Speed
7.6 MPH 8.0 MPH 32.1 MPH
Total Trip time Moving Time Stopped Time
2 hours 14 mins 1 hour 42 mins 31 minutes
Saturday, October 29, 2016
Wednesday, October 26, 2016
10 Miles with 2 Trikes
Today's Tracking via GPS and Ham Radio
I finally got my GPS, ham radio, and wiring harness for battery supply, antenna feedline, and helmet earphone and microphone installed on my "New" used Catrike Road this morning. I thought I had it finished yesterday but got rained out before Lilly and I got even halfway to the pavement of Frost Road. When I first went out this morning, thinking to make a quick getaway, I realized I had not yet installed the wiring harness for the transmit switch to mount on the right handlebar nor the connection for the helmet harness. That didn't take long to remedy, though, and I was ready to go in less than an hour. Jacque decided she was in the mood for a ride as well, so we loaded up both trikes, hers and mine, on the junk trailer and loaded every other necessity for a ride. Water, snacks, harnesses and seat-pads for the doggies, etc; the basic necessities of life on a bike.
Jacque could have easily hauled both doggies in her side-by-side saddle-baskets, she's done it before, but I wanted to try Lilly again in the belly harness.
All worked fairly well and 'twas a lovely day for a ride in the country, por cierto.
Lilly is a whiner and a crybaby, though. If she's not being petted and spoiled while traveling she tends to whine and beg and drive everyone within earshot absolutely bonkers. So today she drove ME bonkers for about half the ride, after which her whining mechanism seemed to dwindle in strength and she was calm and quiet most of the ride back towards home, not even getting excited when the inevitable snarling dog came running up to the fences in full alarm-cry.
We were all fairly tuckered by the time we got back to the Exploder and trailer, but we realized we still had time to hurriedly clean up and make it to the movie "I'm Not Ashamed" in Albuquerque. This was a film based on a true story of one of the first victims of the Columbine High School shootings. We loved the film and highly recommend it, with one caveat: Make sure you have Kleenex handy.
It does NOT go into the gory details of the carnage, but it gets a wonderful message across: Heavenly Father loves us all.
As usual, no close encounters or dangerous incidents occurred. Great riding weather, and it ain't gonna last forever.....
The geek-stuff on the trike worked fine, as seen by the path reported by its GPS and radio transmitter. I have a few small parts on order to duplicate the setup on the other bikes, but for now this one will do. The trike is much lighter, has more gears, and cruises faster on top end and zips up hills much faster than my other bikes: It's very low slung and LIGHT.
Ride Started: 1:05 PM Ride Ended: 2:56 PM
Stats from the GPS: Total Miles: 10.05
Overall average speed Moving Avg Max Speed
6.28 MPH 8.0 MPH 28.5 MPH
Total Trip time Moving Time Stopped Time
1 hour 51 mins 1 hour 38 mins 13 minutes
I finally got my GPS, ham radio, and wiring harness for battery supply, antenna feedline, and helmet earphone and microphone installed on my "New" used Catrike Road this morning. I thought I had it finished yesterday but got rained out before Lilly and I got even halfway to the pavement of Frost Road. When I first went out this morning, thinking to make a quick getaway, I realized I had not yet installed the wiring harness for the transmit switch to mount on the right handlebar nor the connection for the helmet harness. That didn't take long to remedy, though, and I was ready to go in less than an hour. Jacque decided she was in the mood for a ride as well, so we loaded up both trikes, hers and mine, on the junk trailer and loaded every other necessity for a ride. Water, snacks, harnesses and seat-pads for the doggies, etc; the basic necessities of life on a bike.
Jacque could have easily hauled both doggies in her side-by-side saddle-baskets, she's done it before, but I wanted to try Lilly again in the belly harness.
All worked fairly well and 'twas a lovely day for a ride in the country, por cierto.
Lilly is a whiner and a crybaby, though. If she's not being petted and spoiled while traveling she tends to whine and beg and drive everyone within earshot absolutely bonkers. So today she drove ME bonkers for about half the ride, after which her whining mechanism seemed to dwindle in strength and she was calm and quiet most of the ride back towards home, not even getting excited when the inevitable snarling dog came running up to the fences in full alarm-cry.
We were all fairly tuckered by the time we got back to the Exploder and trailer, but we realized we still had time to hurriedly clean up and make it to the movie "I'm Not Ashamed" in Albuquerque. This was a film based on a true story of one of the first victims of the Columbine High School shootings. We loved the film and highly recommend it, with one caveat: Make sure you have Kleenex handy.
It does NOT go into the gory details of the carnage, but it gets a wonderful message across: Heavenly Father loves us all.
As usual, no close encounters or dangerous incidents occurred. Great riding weather, and it ain't gonna last forever.....
The geek-stuff on the trike worked fine, as seen by the path reported by its GPS and radio transmitter. I have a few small parts on order to duplicate the setup on the other bikes, but for now this one will do. The trike is much lighter, has more gears, and cruises faster on top end and zips up hills much faster than my other bikes: It's very low slung and LIGHT.
Ride Started: 1:05 PM Ride Ended: 2:56 PM
Stats from the GPS: Total Miles: 10.05
Overall average speed Moving Avg Max Speed
6.28 MPH 8.0 MPH 28.5 MPH
Total Trip time Moving Time Stopped Time
1 hour 51 mins 1 hour 38 mins 13 minutes
Friday, October 21, 2016
17 Miles and Stiff Knees
Friday Tracking, Courtesy of GPS and Ham Radio
We were chugging away at home trying to catch up on THINGS (such as pulling weeds, getting broken radios fixed, installing new software, getting Windoze 95 to work in the Brave New World, etc.) and it was well after noon when Jacque strongly suggested we go for a ride. Since her Catrike is now mounted inside as an exercise trike and the Tandem Terratrike was easily retrieved from its protective shelter under the front deck, we did the tandem thing.
Since we already had a list of stuff to do and pick up in Albuquerque, we hitched up the trailer and hauled the tandem to town so we could ride the world famous Bosque Trail .
We decided to park at the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta Museum parking lot and ride the trail from there to the Bosque. There are parking lots adjacent to the trail with easy access; unfortunately they are frequent targets for thieves who enjoy burglarizing parked cars, a well established detriment to the City.
It's close to 4 miles from this parking lot to the Alameda entrance to the Bosque Trail, and we made it to that point maybe a half hour before sunset. After several miles southward on the Trail, it began to get quite dark - and cold as well - so we began to get worried about needing to turn around. We were in desperate need of a bathroom, and Jacque was set to grit her teeth and survive the entire return trip without a break, when we suddenly spotted a VERY unusual sight on the Bike Trail: A Porta-Potty. Talk about a beautiful vision in the middle of the forested riverbank. WOW, we thought, the City had Finally set up a FACILITY along the bike trail.
As it turned out, it was only there for some sort of construction project, meant for construction workers only, not unwashed cyclists, homeless waifs, or other denizens of the Bosque Trail. Temporary though it may have been, it was mightily appreciated by all who stumbled upon it. Cycling trails are wonderful but invariably they lack "facilities", meaning users must either hold it until they explode, or if of the male persuasion such as I, do it in the bushes and trees and other foliage along the trail. Whatever, life is good, and the occasional porta potty is a wonderful relief.
As usual, we met all sorts of odd folks on the trail: Homeless wanderers stumbling along with their quilts and sacks of stuff and layers of warm clothing regardless of the heat, high speed racers zooming along bent over face down in their pursuits, pretty Moms trudging along with their baby strollers (moving barely slower than we were), joggers, and ONE upright tandem with a grinning couple pedaling furiously, and ONE low slung 2-wheel recumbent headed the other way. FUN
We decided to turn the trike around (the path has no turnaround points, so this involves picking up the rear wheel of the Terratrike off the ground and walking it around until the entire trike was facing the other way).
We got a bit more tired and exhausted as the daylight completely faded away, with the last half hour almost totally in the dark. Thankfully we always ride with bright blinky tail lights, headlamps on our helmets, and bright objectionable clothing. Which reminds me as I type this: I need new batteries in MY headlamp.
And, Jacque got her wish for a "long" ride: Stiff knees. But they're still looking and working great.
Ride Started: 4:15 PM Ride Ended: 7:17 PM
Beginning Battery Voltage: 13.2 Ending Voltage: 13.2 Lowest: 12.5
Lowest Temp 57 F Highest Temp: 75 F
Stats from the GPS: Total Miles: 17.51
Overall average speed Moving Avg Max Speed
5.7 MPH 7.0 MPH 21.9 MPH
Total Trip time Moving Time Stopped Time
3 hours 3 mins 2 hours 30 mins 33 minutes
We were chugging away at home trying to catch up on THINGS (such as pulling weeds, getting broken radios fixed, installing new software, getting Windoze 95 to work in the Brave New World, etc.) and it was well after noon when Jacque strongly suggested we go for a ride. Since her Catrike is now mounted inside as an exercise trike and the Tandem Terratrike was easily retrieved from its protective shelter under the front deck, we did the tandem thing.
Since we already had a list of stuff to do and pick up in Albuquerque, we hitched up the trailer and hauled the tandem to town so we could ride the world famous Bosque Trail .
We decided to park at the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta Museum parking lot and ride the trail from there to the Bosque. There are parking lots adjacent to the trail with easy access; unfortunately they are frequent targets for thieves who enjoy burglarizing parked cars, a well established detriment to the City.
It's close to 4 miles from this parking lot to the Alameda entrance to the Bosque Trail, and we made it to that point maybe a half hour before sunset. After several miles southward on the Trail, it began to get quite dark - and cold as well - so we began to get worried about needing to turn around. We were in desperate need of a bathroom, and Jacque was set to grit her teeth and survive the entire return trip without a break, when we suddenly spotted a VERY unusual sight on the Bike Trail: A Porta-Potty. Talk about a beautiful vision in the middle of the forested riverbank. WOW, we thought, the City had Finally set up a FACILITY along the bike trail.
As it turned out, it was only there for some sort of construction project, meant for construction workers only, not unwashed cyclists, homeless waifs, or other denizens of the Bosque Trail. Temporary though it may have been, it was mightily appreciated by all who stumbled upon it. Cycling trails are wonderful but invariably they lack "facilities", meaning users must either hold it until they explode, or if of the male persuasion such as I, do it in the bushes and trees and other foliage along the trail. Whatever, life is good, and the occasional porta potty is a wonderful relief.
As usual, we met all sorts of odd folks on the trail: Homeless wanderers stumbling along with their quilts and sacks of stuff and layers of warm clothing regardless of the heat, high speed racers zooming along bent over face down in their pursuits, pretty Moms trudging along with their baby strollers (moving barely slower than we were), joggers, and ONE upright tandem with a grinning couple pedaling furiously, and ONE low slung 2-wheel recumbent headed the other way. FUN
We decided to turn the trike around (the path has no turnaround points, so this involves picking up the rear wheel of the Terratrike off the ground and walking it around until the entire trike was facing the other way).
We got a bit more tired and exhausted as the daylight completely faded away, with the last half hour almost totally in the dark. Thankfully we always ride with bright blinky tail lights, headlamps on our helmets, and bright objectionable clothing. Which reminds me as I type this: I need new batteries in MY headlamp.
And, Jacque got her wish for a "long" ride: Stiff knees. But they're still looking and working great.
Ride Started: 4:15 PM Ride Ended: 7:17 PM
Beginning Battery Voltage: 13.2 Ending Voltage: 13.2 Lowest: 12.5
Lowest Temp 57 F Highest Temp: 75 F
Stats from the GPS: Total Miles: 17.51
Overall average speed Moving Avg Max Speed
5.7 MPH 7.0 MPH 21.9 MPH
Total Trip time Moving Time Stopped Time
3 hours 3 mins 2 hours 30 mins 33 minutes
Wednesday, October 12, 2016
My, a Windy Tuesday
Tuesday Tracking via APRS and Ham Radio
Now that I'm a free agent again, I am totally free to ride around whenever I want to. Sorta.
I finally got my first post-mission ride in yesterday, and it was the usual 10-mile loop around our East Mountain neighborhood.
PLUS, the wind was up. Not violently so, but enough to require a few lower gear-rings than normal during several parts of the ride. Also, the unpleasantness of having to pedal to maintain speed going DOWNhill....
I love my 2-wheel recumbent, but I'm getting antsy to get my electronics mounted on the new Catrike Road trike so I can enjoy riding it more, especially since it has both higher and lower gears top and bottom for cruising and climbing.
I still maintain balance just fine, but climbing long hills on the 2-wheeler gets tedious at my advanced age and, though I still have no balance issues, crawling along in granny gear on the 2-wheeler means lots of wobbling left and right to STAY upright, whereas with the trike you just keep pedaling and maintaining a steadier course.
Since we have only Windoze 95 on our PC's and laptops, I can no longer upload and edit GoPro videos from my helmet-cam. GoPro deserted Win 95 shortly after Microsoft did. Until we get an upgraded system somewhere within our budget and control, I'm stuck with a very expensive but useless camera. Sigh.
I'm prepping to do a few longer rides, such as 30-milers into Albuquerque and back. Today would be great but I would run out of time (3 hours or so to do 30 miles through the canyon) waiting for me to get the mods done to the Catrike. So I guess I'll just wimp out today (Wednesday) and drive into town and, if time permits, do a short ride before or after on the bike. Gotta maintain my girly figure, don'tcha know.
Ride Started: 12:25 PM Ride Ended: 2:16 PM
Beginning Battery Voltage: 14.0 Ending Voltage: 13.2 Lowest: 12.5
Lowest Temp 71 F Highest Temp: 82 F
Stats from the GPS: Total Miles: 10.67
Overall average speed Moving Avg Max Speed
5.9 MPH 7.6 MPH 24.5 MPH
Total Trip time Moving Time Stopped Time
1 hour 40 mins 1 hour 23 mins 24 minutes
Now that I'm a free agent again, I am totally free to ride around whenever I want to. Sorta.
I finally got my first post-mission ride in yesterday, and it was the usual 10-mile loop around our East Mountain neighborhood.
PLUS, the wind was up. Not violently so, but enough to require a few lower gear-rings than normal during several parts of the ride. Also, the unpleasantness of having to pedal to maintain speed going DOWNhill....
I love my 2-wheel recumbent, but I'm getting antsy to get my electronics mounted on the new Catrike Road trike so I can enjoy riding it more, especially since it has both higher and lower gears top and bottom for cruising and climbing.
I still maintain balance just fine, but climbing long hills on the 2-wheeler gets tedious at my advanced age and, though I still have no balance issues, crawling along in granny gear on the 2-wheeler means lots of wobbling left and right to STAY upright, whereas with the trike you just keep pedaling and maintaining a steadier course.
Since we have only Windoze 95 on our PC's and laptops, I can no longer upload and edit GoPro videos from my helmet-cam. GoPro deserted Win 95 shortly after Microsoft did. Until we get an upgraded system somewhere within our budget and control, I'm stuck with a very expensive but useless camera. Sigh.
I'm prepping to do a few longer rides, such as 30-milers into Albuquerque and back. Today would be great but I would run out of time (3 hours or so to do 30 miles through the canyon) waiting for me to get the mods done to the Catrike. So I guess I'll just wimp out today (Wednesday) and drive into town and, if time permits, do a short ride before or after on the bike. Gotta maintain my girly figure, don'tcha know.
Ride Started: 12:25 PM Ride Ended: 2:16 PM
Beginning Battery Voltage: 14.0 Ending Voltage: 13.2 Lowest: 12.5
Lowest Temp 71 F Highest Temp: 82 F
Stats from the GPS: Total Miles: 10.67
Overall average speed Moving Avg Max Speed
5.9 MPH 7.6 MPH 24.5 MPH
Total Trip time Moving Time Stopped Time
1 hour 40 mins 1 hour 23 mins 24 minutes
Friday, October 7, 2016
Balloon Fiesta Rides
Tuesday's Ride to Pep Boys and Back
Thursday's Early Morning Ride to Balloon Fiesta Track
Wednesday Night Tracking
We've put in a few hours on the Tandem Terratrike this week.
Tuesday evening I rode it over the I-25 overpass to Pep Boys to pick up a new low beam headlight bulb for Jacque's Subaru. A short ride, indeed, but a good stiff climb to get up and down the bike path overpass at I-25.
Wednesday morning we decided to make the tandem actually function as a tandem and rode over to participate in the morning's balloon launches. We got there almost an hour after the balloons had already started to launch, but there were still at least a hundred or more balloons on the ground in process of inflating and launching, so we got to see plenty of up-close action. We had a couple of expensive but delicious world famous Balloon Fiesta Breakfast Burritos, some Diet Coke to wash it down, and then a warm Cinnamon Roll to counteract the effects of the Diet Soda. No tummy-aches, so all went well.
We left the doggies behind in the RV since we worried they would be unduly alarmed at the roar of the burners inflating all the balloons. They forgave us, but barely.
Riding the bike trail into Balloon Fiesta is the only way to fly. That morning there was very little other traffic, lots of places to park and lock the trike once we got there, and for some reason, there were no ticket sellers or ticket takers when we walked in. Maybe they all wandered away from their posts to watch the balloons.
We hiked clear across the park to find the ham radio tent, encountering thousands of people and all kinds of balloons along the way. I was scheduled to operate my radios for the SCAT net (Senior Citizens And Travelers) from Balloon Fiesta on Friday and Saturday, but every security guy we talked to said there was no way to allow the trike on the field itself. So the Friday net was conducted from the RV instead. Maybe I can obtain some kind of advance waiver next time, IF there is a next time.
Then, Wednesday night, we did another first, and rode over for our first Balloon Glow. It was well worth the effort.
This time we took Lilly and Tinkerbell, which was fun but cumbersome what with all the crowding and noises. We planned to eat a Navajo Taco while there, which turned out to be a mistake. EVERY food vendor had lines with at least a hundred people waiting - especially at the vendors selling Mexican fare.
Jacque got in line at Fenrico's (SP?) and I got in line at the vendor 2 stalls away, hoping one line would move faster than the others. The plan was to call each other on the cell phone when either of us got up to the front and got served. My line was longer and it took forever. I was low on blood sugar, a bit spacey, and desperate for some carbs or we would have given up and gone back to the RV for supper. The balloon glows actually ran out of time and closed before we got to purchase anything. ZILLIONS of people, with food lines so long we had to continually open up so walkers and baby buggies etc. could get past us.
I was mildly shocked when I finally got to the window, so I tried to call Jacque, but too many people with too many cell phones.... I called her several times but it never got through. So I handed over $12 for the so called Indian Taco. I was holding Tinkerbell in one arm and trying to get to my wallet with the other, not daring to put her down on the ground with all the food scraps for her to gorge upon. I put on quite a show for everyone within view. Finally I got the dish in one hand with Tink in the other and fought my way back to an eating stand. I tried Jacque several more times to no avail. I expected her to walk up at any time with ANOTHER Navajo Taco, but suddenly my phone rang, she had noticed missed calls and called me back.
When she came over and we started to eat our treat, we wished she HAD gotten another one, since the one I'd just wasted 12 bucks on was (1) cold, barely warm, (2) lacking any beans, (3) NO CHILI AT ALL, (4) VERY few chunks of meat. Just shredded lettuce, no onions, some shredded cold cheese, BAH. I wish I could recall the name of the place to warn everyone to avoid them, but I can't. I doubt we'll EVER try to find a Navajo Taco at Balloon Fiesta in the future. Our NM State Fair may be dwindling in size but, by George, they know how to make REAL Navajo Tacos there, and for far more reasonable prices. (It helps when it's a Navajo lady making the taco in front of your eyes!)
Escaping Balloon Glow was another challenge. Though we moved faster than drivers in vehicles (stopped more than moving), there were hundreds of pedestrians and baby strollers who had used the bike path to arrive and were literally clogging the pathway blissfully unaware of the dozens of cyclists trapped behind them hoping to get through. Many cyclists had given up and were just walking their bikes instead of trying to get around into the clear. After much twisting, braking, and dodging, we cyclists were able to get out into the open bike path and actually spread out and make good progress towards home.
Final Ride Started: 6:13 PM Ride Ended: 9:08 PM
Beginning Battery Voltage: 13.2 Ending Voltage: 13.1 Lowest: 12.9
Lowest Temp 57 F Highest Temp: 67 F
Stats from the GPS: Total Miles: 8.37
Overall average speed Moving Avg Max Speed
5.7 MPH 6.4 MPH 19.0 MPH
Total Trip time Moving Time Stopped Time
2 hours 55 mins 1 hour 18 mins 1 hour 20 mins
Thursday's Early Morning Ride to Balloon Fiesta Track
Wednesday Night Tracking
We've put in a few hours on the Tandem Terratrike this week.
Tuesday evening I rode it over the I-25 overpass to Pep Boys to pick up a new low beam headlight bulb for Jacque's Subaru. A short ride, indeed, but a good stiff climb to get up and down the bike path overpass at I-25.
Wednesday morning we decided to make the tandem actually function as a tandem and rode over to participate in the morning's balloon launches. We got there almost an hour after the balloons had already started to launch, but there were still at least a hundred or more balloons on the ground in process of inflating and launching, so we got to see plenty of up-close action. We had a couple of expensive but delicious world famous Balloon Fiesta Breakfast Burritos, some Diet Coke to wash it down, and then a warm Cinnamon Roll to counteract the effects of the Diet Soda. No tummy-aches, so all went well.
We left the doggies behind in the RV since we worried they would be unduly alarmed at the roar of the burners inflating all the balloons. They forgave us, but barely.
Riding the bike trail into Balloon Fiesta is the only way to fly. That morning there was very little other traffic, lots of places to park and lock the trike once we got there, and for some reason, there were no ticket sellers or ticket takers when we walked in. Maybe they all wandered away from their posts to watch the balloons.
We hiked clear across the park to find the ham radio tent, encountering thousands of people and all kinds of balloons along the way. I was scheduled to operate my radios for the SCAT net (Senior Citizens And Travelers) from Balloon Fiesta on Friday and Saturday, but every security guy we talked to said there was no way to allow the trike on the field itself. So the Friday net was conducted from the RV instead. Maybe I can obtain some kind of advance waiver next time, IF there is a next time.
Then, Wednesday night, we did another first, and rode over for our first Balloon Glow. It was well worth the effort.
This time we took Lilly and Tinkerbell, which was fun but cumbersome what with all the crowding and noises. We planned to eat a Navajo Taco while there, which turned out to be a mistake. EVERY food vendor had lines with at least a hundred people waiting - especially at the vendors selling Mexican fare.
Jacque got in line at Fenrico's (SP?) and I got in line at the vendor 2 stalls away, hoping one line would move faster than the others. The plan was to call each other on the cell phone when either of us got up to the front and got served. My line was longer and it took forever. I was low on blood sugar, a bit spacey, and desperate for some carbs or we would have given up and gone back to the RV for supper. The balloon glows actually ran out of time and closed before we got to purchase anything. ZILLIONS of people, with food lines so long we had to continually open up so walkers and baby buggies etc. could get past us.
I was mildly shocked when I finally got to the window, so I tried to call Jacque, but too many people with too many cell phones.... I called her several times but it never got through. So I handed over $12 for the so called Indian Taco. I was holding Tinkerbell in one arm and trying to get to my wallet with the other, not daring to put her down on the ground with all the food scraps for her to gorge upon. I put on quite a show for everyone within view. Finally I got the dish in one hand with Tink in the other and fought my way back to an eating stand. I tried Jacque several more times to no avail. I expected her to walk up at any time with ANOTHER Navajo Taco, but suddenly my phone rang, she had noticed missed calls and called me back.
When she came over and we started to eat our treat, we wished she HAD gotten another one, since the one I'd just wasted 12 bucks on was (1) cold, barely warm, (2) lacking any beans, (3) NO CHILI AT ALL, (4) VERY few chunks of meat. Just shredded lettuce, no onions, some shredded cold cheese, BAH. I wish I could recall the name of the place to warn everyone to avoid them, but I can't. I doubt we'll EVER try to find a Navajo Taco at Balloon Fiesta in the future. Our NM State Fair may be dwindling in size but, by George, they know how to make REAL Navajo Tacos there, and for far more reasonable prices. (It helps when it's a Navajo lady making the taco in front of your eyes!)
Escaping Balloon Glow was another challenge. Though we moved faster than drivers in vehicles (stopped more than moving), there were hundreds of pedestrians and baby strollers who had used the bike path to arrive and were literally clogging the pathway blissfully unaware of the dozens of cyclists trapped behind them hoping to get through. Many cyclists had given up and were just walking their bikes instead of trying to get around into the clear. After much twisting, braking, and dodging, we cyclists were able to get out into the open bike path and actually spread out and make good progress towards home.
Final Ride Started: 6:13 PM Ride Ended: 9:08 PM
Beginning Battery Voltage: 13.2 Ending Voltage: 13.1 Lowest: 12.9
Lowest Temp 57 F Highest Temp: 67 F
Stats from the GPS: Total Miles: 8.37
Overall average speed Moving Avg Max Speed
5.7 MPH 6.4 MPH 19.0 MPH
Total Trip time Moving Time Stopped Time
2 hours 55 mins 1 hour 18 mins 1 hour 20 mins
Tuesday, October 4, 2016
Tired Tuesday
Today's limited Tracking
I rode off again today towards Balloon Fiesta Park but ran out of time and turned back for home at the Paseo fork-in-the-trail.
It was 50 degrees according to the outside thermometer today and it was downright COLD even with the windbreaker on. Of course this didn't prevent me from getting sweaty later on in the ride.
When I woke up this morning I was sleepy and wanted to lay in the sack a while longer but I do so want to keep my A1C and blood glucose in better control.
The stiff breezes, mild though they were, kept the Balloons from launching on time this morning.
When they finally did, after I got back to the RV, dozens of hot air balloons floated right over the top of us as we were eating breakfast. We were sitting at the breakfast table and heard the loud WHOOSH of a hot air balloon burner and realized they were very close. One was just 50 or so feet above our heads and waved and shouted "Hello!" back at us. The other office missionaries came outside in a few minutes and enjoyed the low flying balloons as they floated overhead at seemingly low altitudes. Great stuff, one of the benefits of living in the Albuquerque area.
Ride Started: 6:12 AM Ride Ended: 7:51 AM
Beginning Battery Voltage: 13.2 Ending Voltage: 12.9 Lowest: 12.5
Lowest Temp 49 F Highest Temp: 53 F
Stats from the GPS: Total Miles: 5.2
Overall average speed Moving Avg Max Speed
6.5 MPH 6.9 MPH 17.9 MPH
Total Trip time Moving Time Stopped Time
48 minutes 45 minutes 3 minutes
I rode off again today towards Balloon Fiesta Park but ran out of time and turned back for home at the Paseo fork-in-the-trail.
It was 50 degrees according to the outside thermometer today and it was downright COLD even with the windbreaker on. Of course this didn't prevent me from getting sweaty later on in the ride.
When I woke up this morning I was sleepy and wanted to lay in the sack a while longer but I do so want to keep my A1C and blood glucose in better control.
The stiff breezes, mild though they were, kept the Balloons from launching on time this morning.
When they finally did, after I got back to the RV, dozens of hot air balloons floated right over the top of us as we were eating breakfast. We were sitting at the breakfast table and heard the loud WHOOSH of a hot air balloon burner and realized they were very close. One was just 50 or so feet above our heads and waved and shouted "Hello!" back at us. The other office missionaries came outside in a few minutes and enjoyed the low flying balloons as they floated overhead at seemingly low altitudes. Great stuff, one of the benefits of living in the Albuquerque area.
Ride Started: 6:12 AM Ride Ended: 7:51 AM
Beginning Battery Voltage: 13.2 Ending Voltage: 12.9 Lowest: 12.5
Lowest Temp 49 F Highest Temp: 53 F
Stats from the GPS: Total Miles: 5.2
Overall average speed Moving Avg Max Speed
6.5 MPH 6.9 MPH 17.9 MPH
Total Trip time Moving Time Stopped Time
48 minutes 45 minutes 3 minutes
Monday, October 3, 2016
Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta 2016 ! YAY !
Balloon Park Ride Tracking via APRS and Ham Radio
I woke up this Monday Morning about 5:05 and speedily leaped out of bed about 5:25.
Honest. I just closed my eyes for a second there.....
Balloon Fiesta started last Saturday, day before yesterday, and thus far the weather has permitted launching of most of the balloons.
It had rained on and off part of the night last night, but as I looked outside all I could see was clear sky and stars, so I assumed it would be a great balloon morning.
I thought I should take a ride up TO the Balloon Park just to see how they were handling bike entries, parking in general, etc. Jacque and I plan to ride there to actually go in and participate on Tuesday or Wednesday, but I needed the early morning ride and was curious to see how many bikes might be clogging the normally-mostly-empty bike trail going into the park.
Believe me, THIS is the way to attend Balloon Fiesta. I encountered NO other cyclists as I rode to and entered the park, there were NO traffic jams blocking the route, unlike all automotive streets leading to or nearby the park, and it was. just. cool. As I entered the actual Balloon Park entry on the west end of the Balloon Park, there were no roadblocks, no orange barrels, nobody demanding payment..... just a few THOUSAND vehicles jammed in together, many blocking the bike path through the park, and lots of bright lights. There was an Albuquerque small city bus trying to wend its way through the throngs of people, and I merely turned around, looked around a bit, and rode back out from whence the way I came.
THEN I must have met twenty or more cyclists heading for and into the parkway, and all friendly enough to respond to my greetings.
I'm sure there's a gatekeeper demanding payment to go further into the park, but getting there is sure painless compared to trying to drive or wait for the bus.
All that enthusiasm and then they didn't fly. The breezes that seemed gentle enough to me evidently were too dangerous for the balloon pilots. The official explanation for cancelling the launches today was " wind ".
Oh, well, still several more days of fiesta left. Hopefully tomorrow....
Ride Started: 6:51 AM Ride Ended: 7:54 AM
Beginning Battery Voltage: 13.1 Ending Voltage: 12.9 Lowest: 12.2
Lowest Temp 60 F Highest Temp: 64 F
Stats from the GPS: Total Miles: 8.13
Overall average speed Moving Avg Max Speed
6.9 MPH 7.5 MPH 20.0 MPH
Total Trip time Moving Time Stopped Time
1 hour 10 mins 1 hour 5 mins 5 minutes
I woke up this Monday Morning about 5:05 and speedily leaped out of bed about 5:25.
Honest. I just closed my eyes for a second there.....
Balloon Fiesta started last Saturday, day before yesterday, and thus far the weather has permitted launching of most of the balloons.
It had rained on and off part of the night last night, but as I looked outside all I could see was clear sky and stars, so I assumed it would be a great balloon morning.
I thought I should take a ride up TO the Balloon Park just to see how they were handling bike entries, parking in general, etc. Jacque and I plan to ride there to actually go in and participate on Tuesday or Wednesday, but I needed the early morning ride and was curious to see how many bikes might be clogging the normally-mostly-empty bike trail going into the park.
Believe me, THIS is the way to attend Balloon Fiesta. I encountered NO other cyclists as I rode to and entered the park, there were NO traffic jams blocking the route, unlike all automotive streets leading to or nearby the park, and it was. just. cool. As I entered the actual Balloon Park entry on the west end of the Balloon Park, there were no roadblocks, no orange barrels, nobody demanding payment..... just a few THOUSAND vehicles jammed in together, many blocking the bike path through the park, and lots of bright lights. There was an Albuquerque small city bus trying to wend its way through the throngs of people, and I merely turned around, looked around a bit, and rode back out from whence the way I came.
THEN I must have met twenty or more cyclists heading for and into the parkway, and all friendly enough to respond to my greetings.
I'm sure there's a gatekeeper demanding payment to go further into the park, but getting there is sure painless compared to trying to drive or wait for the bus.
All that enthusiasm and then they didn't fly. The breezes that seemed gentle enough to me evidently were too dangerous for the balloon pilots. The official explanation for cancelling the launches today was " wind ".
Oh, well, still several more days of fiesta left. Hopefully tomorrow....
Ride Started: 6:51 AM Ride Ended: 7:54 AM
Beginning Battery Voltage: 13.1 Ending Voltage: 12.9 Lowest: 12.2
Lowest Temp 60 F Highest Temp: 64 F
Stats from the GPS: Total Miles: 8.13
Overall average speed Moving Avg Max Speed
6.9 MPH 7.5 MPH 20.0 MPH
Total Trip time Moving Time Stopped Time
1 hour 10 mins 1 hour 5 mins 5 minutes
Sunday, October 2, 2016
A Bicycle Ride is Not a Big Deal
Today's No Big Deal Tracking via APRS and Ham Radio
This ride took place yesterday, and I'm only just now blogging it as LDS General Conference is unfolding on the Roku-assisted TV screen.
I was (as usual) running low on time last night and needing to flop and get some sleep. I hadn't blogged about the latest bike ride and was considering just skipping it [again].
I thought to myself "After all, a bicycle ride is no big deal" but this thought congealed in my muddy brain as a title for a blog entry. So here goes again.
Saturday, yesterday, was a full day for LDS General Conference, 2-hour sessions starting with the first 10 AM session, the 2:00 PM session, and the Priesthood session at 6 PM.
I watched the first session with Jacque and then hit the road, hoping to not miss too much of the 2:00 afternoon session. I almost made it.
Since it was Saturday, I was able to do a 10-miler. It's not a new route but it never stops being a great loop to ride. And, as usual, I rode swiftly away without my GoPro camera. I had actually put a fresh battery in it to make sure it would perform well, and still forgot to take it out to the bike with me. At least it gets less wear and tear that way... BAH
This fall weather is perfect for riding. Even later in the day when the sun is high it seldom tops 80 degrees.
The wind was, at first, a bit off-putting but it turned out to not be bad at all. It only slowed me down for a few minutes at a time once or twice during the ride.
When I stopped for s short water break I noticed my chain had jumped off the lower idler pulley. I hadn't noticed anything unusual until this.
A short twist of the wrist with the pocket multi-tool cured this minor difficulty.
Now, a short listing of reasons why riding a bike is no Big Deal:
-It doesn't take much time out of your life
-Studies actually point to gaining extended life from the times dedicated to exercise
-A few moments or hours of enjoyment and exposure to nature is certainly No Big Deal
-Feeling like a million bucks after cooling off from a ride is No Big Deal
-Lowered blood glucose the rest of the day is No Big Deal
-Having a low pulse rate from regular riding is No Big Deal
-Feeling the wind in your face while under your own power zipping down the road is No Big Deal
-Etc.
Ride Started: 12:43 PM Ride Ended: 2:03 PM
Beginning Battery Voltage: 14.2 Ending Voltage: 12.7 Lowest: 12.7
Lowest Temp 75 F Highest Temp: 87 F
Stats from the GPS: Total Miles: 10.37
Overall average speed Moving Avg Max Speed
7.2 MPH 8.1 MPH 29.5 MPH
Total Trip time Moving Time Stopped Time
1 hour 26 mins 1 hour 16 mins 10 minutes
This ride took place yesterday, and I'm only just now blogging it as LDS General Conference is unfolding on the Roku-assisted TV screen.
I was (as usual) running low on time last night and needing to flop and get some sleep. I hadn't blogged about the latest bike ride and was considering just skipping it [again].
I thought to myself "After all, a bicycle ride is no big deal" but this thought congealed in my muddy brain as a title for a blog entry. So here goes again.
Saturday, yesterday, was a full day for LDS General Conference, 2-hour sessions starting with the first 10 AM session, the 2:00 PM session, and the Priesthood session at 6 PM.
I watched the first session with Jacque and then hit the road, hoping to not miss too much of the 2:00 afternoon session. I almost made it.
Since it was Saturday, I was able to do a 10-miler. It's not a new route but it never stops being a great loop to ride. And, as usual, I rode swiftly away without my GoPro camera. I had actually put a fresh battery in it to make sure it would perform well, and still forgot to take it out to the bike with me. At least it gets less wear and tear that way... BAH
This fall weather is perfect for riding. Even later in the day when the sun is high it seldom tops 80 degrees.
The wind was, at first, a bit off-putting but it turned out to not be bad at all. It only slowed me down for a few minutes at a time once or twice during the ride.
When I stopped for s short water break I noticed my chain had jumped off the lower idler pulley. I hadn't noticed anything unusual until this.
Now, a short listing of reasons why riding a bike is no Big Deal:
-It doesn't take much time out of your life
-Studies actually point to gaining extended life from the times dedicated to exercise
-A few moments or hours of enjoyment and exposure to nature is certainly No Big Deal
-Feeling like a million bucks after cooling off from a ride is No Big Deal
-Lowered blood glucose the rest of the day is No Big Deal
-Having a low pulse rate from regular riding is No Big Deal
-Feeling the wind in your face while under your own power zipping down the road is No Big Deal
-Etc.
Ride Started: 12:43 PM Ride Ended: 2:03 PM
Beginning Battery Voltage: 14.2 Ending Voltage: 12.7 Lowest: 12.7
Lowest Temp 75 F Highest Temp: 87 F
Stats from the GPS: Total Miles: 10.37
Overall average speed Moving Avg Max Speed
7.2 MPH 8.1 MPH 29.5 MPH
Total Trip time Moving Time Stopped Time
1 hour 26 mins 1 hour 16 mins 10 minutes
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