Back in the Saddle

Today's Repetitive Roundabout GPS Track

We've  been RV-ing for the last 10 days and did not take any foot-powered vehicles with us on the trip to NM to visit family and friends.
Thus it was with some enthusiasm when we arrived home (in MO to a cooler cloudy day about noon) that I saddled up the Catrike and gleefully took off for some leg-stretching.
I have delved into a new type of shoes, part of the reason for riding the trike.
Z-Coil Shoes have been around for quite a while. They were developed in Albuquerque NM and the original factory was located there and I knew about them and had friends wearing them but at that time I didn't think I needed them.  Especially at the advertised prices.
Fast forward to today and my month's-old sore feet problems and my interest has peaked, especially since my long time buddy Mark told how his z-coils had healed HIS sore feet.
We went down to the store and bought the first pair I tried on, a nice set of gray tenny-runners for 200 bucks.  30 day full refund from anywhere if not satisfied.  After 2 days I doubt I'll take them up on the return, even if they haven't totally eliminated my foot pain.
They were comfy, at first, pedaling away down the streets, but within a mile or so my feet had gotten too hot to take it any more.  No pain from pedaling, but the built up heat was torture, so I stopped and put on my "Ho Chi Minh Combat Boots" for the rest of the ride.

I refer to these open toed sandals as "Ho Chi Minh Combat Boots" because they closely resemble sandals made in Vietnam during the war.  They were old jeep tires plucked from our GI garbage dumps by the locals, who cut out sections in the shape of a foot-sole and added straps to attach them to the user's foot.  Many of the poorer North Vietnamese and Viet Cong troops wore such boots.
Thus the moniker, even though we US GI's happily bought and wore them for relaxation.
Anyway, even with socks still on, I was able to complete the ride around Mountain Grove.  In the past I have used these sandals with NO socks for additional air flow around the toes but the feet tended to burn and peel even with spray sunblock applied.
I stopped for a couple of rest breaks in the shade, resting the tired feet on the pedals at rest.
I received, as usual, several waves and "Nice Bike!" comments at various places this time.  As I trudged past one house with a passle of kiddos on the porch, one of them hollered out "Hey, that's COOL!"  - I thanked him, and absent mindedly added "Actually it's a bit HOT right now...."
I was pleasantly surprised to find my legs tolerated the uphill and downhills without undue complaint, even though I had not ridden for 10 days.

Ride Started:  3:56 PM      Ride Ended:  5:53 PM

Beginning Battery Voltage:  13.2   Ending Battery Voltage:  13.0 Lowest Voltage:  12.9

Beginning Blood Glucose:   153   Ending BG: 141

Lowest Temp:  75 F    Highest Temp:  82 F

Stats from the GPS:  Total Miles:  5.51
Distance Walked: 1/2 mile
Overall Average Speed       Moving Avg          Max Speed
  2.8   MPH                           6.4  MPH              16.9 MPH

Total Trip Time                   Moving Time        Stopped Time
 1 hour 57 mins                   52 minutes            1 hour 5 minutes