Sunday Cyclers

Today's Time Around Town

We enjoyed a low key worship service at home today since our Church meetings are still suspended at our chapel.
Sundays feel pretty good as a Day of Rest.  I rarely get a whole lot done on other days but at least on Sunday I don't have to feel guilty about it.
We came up with the idea of a trike ride, since local weather was so pleasant outside, as it has been for the last couple of days.  Today we rode separate trikes, good stuff.

Jacque has dual wire cargo crates on her Catrike Pocket, so of course she got to haul both doggies.
I myself could have hitched up the bike trailer and hauled one or both on MY trike, but Jacque is SO willing.....
We didn't do any monster miles or hills but still got wonderful aerobic exertion .... good stuff.

Ride Started:   2:40 PM      Ride Ended:  3:42 PM
Beginning Battery Voltage:  13.0  Ending Battery Voltage:  13.0   Lowest Voltage:  13.0

Beginning Blood Glucose: 158   Ending BG: 93 

Lowest Temp:  75 F    Highest Temp:    85 F

Stats from the GPS:  Total Miles:   4.26

Distance Walked: .6 mile (Dog Potty Trips)
Overall Average Speed       Moving Avg          Max Speed
  4.2 MPH                                5.0 MPH               17.4 MPH 

Total Trip Time                   Moving Time        Stopped  Time
  1 hour 1 min                        51 minutes           10 minutes

Tandem Terrors

Today's Tandem Trip Route

Jacque wanted to do some riding today so we dragged out the old reliable Tandem Terratrike to do the togetherness thing.
The weather dried up today with super clear skies and bright sunshine, but cooled a bit, thankfully, by a noticeable breeze.
We rode 'round the village square, stopped there to allow the doggies to do their business and admire the plethora of roses all over the place, and went on our way.
We attracted a fair amount of attention today, as usual.  So far as we know we are the only recumbent riders in the community, although plenty of folks ride "normal" bikes locally.
We stopped at one 4-way stop, waved a waiting pickup to take the right of way, but he rolled down his window and said he'd never seen such a thing before and preferred US to go ahead so he could watch us pedaling.
We didn't really plan to go anywhere and didn't;  just rolled around a few blocks and came home.
Tiring but  very satisfying....

Ride Started:   2:00 PM      Ride Ended:  2:57 PM
Beginning Battery Voltage:  12.8  Ending Battery Voltage:  12.9   Lowest Voltage:  12.8

Beginning Blood Glucose: 162   Ending BG: 99 

Lowest Temp:  68 F    Highest Temp:    78 F

Stats from the GPS:  Total Miles:   3.15

Distance Walked: .6 mile (Dog Potty Trips)
Overall Average Speed       Moving Avg          Max Speed
  3.7 MPH                                4.7 MPH               14.9 MPH 

Total Trip Time                   Moving Time        Stopped  Time
  52 minutes                        40 minutes             12 minutes

Thank God for Grandma.... Gear

Today's Shopping Trip Route

I exhausted myself completing another remodeling project today:  Cutting another hole in the roof, installing a vent pipe for the new bathroom ceiling vent, and screwing everything down tight with waterproofing caulk.  THEN putting all the blasted ladder, cords, and tools away.
I had thought I was too tired to do a trike ride today when Jacque mentioned she needed some items from Walmart,  thus shattering my resolve to take the rest of the day off.
I volunteered to take the trike and trailer for the shopping spree (big order of cheese and a Watermelon - without the Watermelon I prolly could have done without the trailer)
I must have overdone the exertion quotient working on the roof and bathroom ceiling, since my Blood Glucose measured a dangerously low 47 just before I rode away, and this after eating a couple of yummy cookies trying to get the BG back toward normal.
So I forced another couple of cookies down and rode away  in splendor.
I was shocked, SHOCKED, to hear a loud crunch and clatter when I go out on the main drag of Highway 95 going north.  I didn't know what had fallen but it sounded important, so I pulled off the side of the road into the grass and stood up to see.  It was my CAR KEYS lying in the wheel-path of all oncoming traffic, and I had to wait for THREE cars to pass before I could retrieve them.
For some reason nobody ran over them, in spite of their precarious positioning where they fell.
Thankful I am they didn't.  Who knows what kind of damage a weighted tire / wheel could have done to them.
I've dropped many things before, but this is the first time the keys had popped out of my pants pocket.
I realized I still had a fat tape measure in the same pocket, from my work project, and perhaps it had crowded the pocket sufficiently to ease the keys outward and onward.
After putting the tape measure into one of my saddlebag pockets, I had no other narrow escapes.
Thankfully.
The bike trailer is not much weight nor effort to pull behind, especially when it's empty.
However, after I strapped the plastical bag containing the several-pound-weight watermelon, I DID notice a bit of increased pedaling effort, and especially going uphill even at a slight grade.  Going the home route involves several small and uncomfortably large hill climbs, and I wound up making frequent use of "Grandma Gear".  For the rare unaware, "Grandma Gear" is the absolute lowest gear, with the smallest gear engaged up front, turning the absolutely largest gear on the rear sprocket for maximum power and minimum pedal-power climbing said inclines.  Makes for slow progress but helps save the lungs and feet slaving away faithfully.
The forecast had called for rain and thundershowers at the time of my excursion, but though there were several black and threatening clouds overhead, no rain interfered with me.
I was saddened to pass a recently-scrunched BEAVER lying in the middle of the road, evidently struck down while trying to cross the road to the other end of the small stream crossing under the road.  We see all kinds of critters in these parts, but beavers are not often spotted.  Poor Guy.
Made it home safe and sound again.  God is Good.

Ride Started:   2:25 PM      Ride Ended:  3:30 PM
Beginning Battery Voltage:  13.6  Ending Battery Voltage:  13.0   Lowest Voltage:  13.0

Beginning Blood Glucose: 47   Ending BG: 143 

Lowest Temp:  75 F    Highest Temp:    82 F

Stats from the GPS:  Total Miles:   5.15

Distance Walked: .7 mile (Dog Potty Trips)
Overall Average Speed       Moving Avg          Max Speed
  4.9 MPH                                7.3 MPH               16.4 MPH 

Total Trip Time                   Moving Time        Stopped  Time
  1 hour 2 mins                      43 minutes           20 minutes

More Errands??

Today's Short Route Around a Few Blocks

I resumed remodeling today and quickly ran out of the proper trim.  Thus I decided to hitch up the Bike BOB trailer and haul the stuff that-away.
The closest and first building supply I went to did NOT have what we needed.  So I rode a few more blocks to CHC (Cabool Home Center, Mtn Grove Store) and thankfully they had it.
We have decided to finally re-erect my 50 foot Rohn radio tower and put the weak TV antenna atop it, as well as a few radio antennas.  Our TV on-the-air is weak here and many in the area have similar towers next to their homes for TV reception.  Hopefully it will help.
BUT, since I gave or sold my post-hole diggers when we moved from NM, I now needed another set, so I pulled one off the shelf labeled "$16.98" and headed for the pay counter. 
I thought 16.98 was awfully affordable for new post hole diggers, and sure enough when the nice lady rang it up it turned out to be THIRTY-NINE and 98 cents, in spite of my telling her it was in a rack marked less than 17 bucks.  I need it, so I paid the money and lashed all onto the bike trailer and made off.

Taking a little detour so as to get a few more carbs burned, I was soon home.
Had to take a rest break to soothe the sore feet.  Then I got busy again cutting and attaching trim to the master bathroom.
Once I got going it was hard to stop until finished, in spite of the sore feet.
I finally got to a stopping point..... until next energy burst.

Ride Started:   2:47 PM      Ride Ended:  3:20 PM
Beginning Battery Voltage:  13.0  Ending Battery Voltage:  13.0   Lowest Voltage:  13.0

Beginning Blood Glucose: 92   Ending BG: 81 

Lowest Temp:  67 F    Highest Temp:    75 F

Stats from the GPS:  Total Miles:   1.59

Distance Walked: .7 mile (Dog Potty Trips)
Overall Average Speed       Moving Avg          Max Speed
  5.0 MPH                                8.0 MPH               26.6 MPH 

Total Trip Time                   Moving Time        Stopped  Time
  34 minutes                         13 minutes           21 minutes

Riding with Purpose: Errands

Today's Problematic Route

This shot from our Visit to Alley Mill Yesterday.
81 MILLION gallons a Day from the Spring feeding this old mill

Well, it was again drizzling (And POURING) rain all morning.  We drove around the soggy countryside and got some shopping done anyway.
Of course, after we got home around noonish the weather cleared up quite a bit and the sun actually peeked out a few times, lighting up the gray sky to bluish in spots.
I thought I should sneak in a trike ride, and finally saddled up and left shortly after 3 PM.  By now the skies had partially darkened again and I worried I might  get soaked by the black clouds speeding overhead, but I suspected if I tried to wait for clear skies again I might miss another couple days of enjoyable exercise.
As it turned out, no rain got to me, but other misadventures did.
I carried a UPS parcel with me to deliver to the UPS dropoff up on the other end of town, with plans to just do the rest of the around-town loop on the way back home.
This all worked fine, but as I chugged along I remembered we needed new windshield wipers on out Ford Exploder, and I had forgotten to bring one of the worn ones so I could match it at the car parts store.  I decided if I got home early enough I would re-ride back to an auto parts store and purchase the desired items.
Sure enough, when I arrived back at the driveway, the weather had not turned bad and I still had daylight and plenty of time for another ride to the parts store.  I googled local stores to see what was closest and Bingo!  Western Auto popped up only a couple blocks away seemingly close to the village square.  When I got close, though, I was saddened to see the "Western Auto" name emblazoned.... FAinTly... on a now - empty building on the square, typical of too many former business entities nowadays.  So I googled other possibilities that supposedly wouldn't be exhaustingly far away.  I settled on the only place I could find:  Ace Hardware on the north end of town.
I arrived after another mile ride at the intersection just before crossing the Route 60 freeway. 
As I waited patiently for traffic to open sufficiently for me to enter the main road, I finally got to cross, with more traffic coming.  Instead of staying on the good pavement, I tried to go far to the right shoulder, which LOOKED fine until  I hit a few water-filled potholes and cracks, whereupon I suddenly realized I had contracted a tire blowout on my right front wheel.  For the next half hour or so I put on a nice sideshow of tire disassembly and replacement.  Several times I thought I should call Jacque to come rescue me but I finally got it back together and rolling again.
For the life of me I could not find any tear or hole in the tire or tube, but the shock of hitting the sharp edge of the pothole had just boogered the air completely out of it.  I carry a spare tube, patches, and CO2 cartridges for inflating tires  "effortlessly", and it just took time and frustration to dig it all out and take out the defunct tube, install a new one, and get the CO2 injector to work and re-inflate the tire.  I was pleasantly surprised to see I still had time to cross the freeway to access Ace Hardware.
The nice lady there said she didn't think they HAD wipers in stock, but sure enough they did, thankfully.
The rest of the ride back was comparatively uneventful, though my feet were burning a bit from the extra time cranking.
Thankfully the new wipers fit perfectly, though of a different brand, so my two small errands were a small success.
Tired but energized, attitude improved... typical results of riding.

Ride Started:   3:29 PM      Ride Ended:  5:30 PM
Beginning Battery Voltage:  13.5  Ending Battery Voltage:  13.0   Lowest Voltage:  12.9

Beginning Blood Glucose: 102   Ending BG: 112 

Lowest Temp:  71 F    Highest Temp:    82 F

Stats from the GPS:  Total Miles:   9.97

Distance Walked: .9 mile (Dog Potty Trips)
Overall Average Speed       Moving Avg          Max Speed
  5.0 MPH                                8.0 MPH               26.6 MPH 

Total Trip Time                   Moving Time        Stopped  Time
  1 hour 59 mins                 1 hour 15 mins       44 minutes

Friday Date Night Long Ride

Enjoyable But Short Route

We sat in house most of the day today with dark cloudy rain skies overhead and rain running everywhere.  For a while it looked like Noah Build Us An Ark.
Howsomever, it actually cleared up and stopped raining later in the day and the SUN actually came out.  We had mostly loafed all day because of the miserable weather.  I spent a half hour or so running the pressure washer to blast more dirt and mold off the siding and roof trim.
Jacque was not feeling very well because of her joints being stiff and sore from being housebound all day.  She was suggesting building one of her fabulous home built Pizzas but needed pepperoni to proceed.
On impulse I suggested going out to eat, and since our favorite Mexican restaurant is only a few blocks away, we decided to do THAT.  Since it's so close, I tentatively suggested riding the trike over for dinner, and in spite of her stiff joints, she jumped at the idea.
Dragging the Tandem Terratrike out of the garage, we soon saddled up and rode off, leaving the disappointed doggies and cat behind.  The dogs enjoy riding in the cart behind Jacque's seat and complain loudly when realizing they are to be left behind.
Dinner was great, although the service was extremely slow.  They do a great job on Mexican fare, and mine even had a few sliced Jalapenos in the Nachos Locos, very tasty and not bad for the Midwest where they think ketchup is spicy flavored.
I left a big tip, in spite of the slow service, to reward them for being open and serving great food in this weird time of the world.
Got home safe and sound, a bit fatigued in spite of the shortness of the ride (The Tandem is HEAVY).
Jacque's joints are much better and our moods of course are uplifted from pedaling around a while.

Ride Started:   5:25 PM      Ride Ended:  7:26 PM
Beginning Battery Voltage:  13.3  Ending Battery Voltage:  13.0   Lowest Voltage:  12.9

Beginning Blood Glucose: 60   Ending BG: 99 

Lowest Temp:  70 F    Highest Temp:    72 F

Stats from the GPS:  Total Miles:   6.69

Distance Walked: .9 mile (Dog Potty Trips)
Overall Average Speed       Moving Avg          Max Speed
  .7 MPH                                4.2 MPH               12.7 MPH 

Total Trip Time                   Moving Time        Stopped  Time
  2 hours 1 minute                 21 minutes          1 hour 19 minutes

Wimpy Birthday Riding

Today's Ever-So-Boring Route

Well, yesterday was the end of my 73rd year on this Earth and the beginning of my 74th. 
Mercy.
As the old saying goes, "If I'd Known I was going to Live this Long, I'd have taken Better Care of Myself!"

I had forgotten that a couple of years ago I rode 73 miles on my 71st birthday in Ohio while we were RV'ing around the countryside.  (I miscalculated the route and rode 2 more miles than planned).
This year I had a VERY temporary fantasy about riding 73 miles to celebrate, but I've been so wimpy and lazy recently that I just decided to do my now-usual ride around the perimeter of our monster city of Mountain Grove (Pop. ~4600).
I now kinda regret not laying out a more aggressive trip, even though it would have taken all day long to accomplish it IF I lived through it, but we all gotta go sometime, right? Right?  - Never Mind -
Our weather forecast had called for afternoon storms but it was mostly just cloudy with a bit of sun peeking through occasionally, and not cold or damp much at all.  I rolled up my pants legs to keep the cloth out of the chain contact, instead of tucking them into my tall socks.  The additional air flow was welcome.
Evidently our locals are getting more used to seeing such a contraption riding through their neighborhoods.  Instead of curious stares I now get lots of friendly waves from people I pass in their yards as well as the ones I encounter in cars on the streets.
Maybe I'll try to do an after-birthday mondo ride.... if our weather ever gets a forecast for a day without rain.......

Ride Started:   2:44 PM      Ride Ended:  4:30 PM
Beginning Battery Voltage:  13.3  Ending Battery Voltage:  13.0   Lowest Voltage:  12.5

Beginning Blood Glucose: 229   Ending BG: 76 

Lowest Temp:  70 F    Highest Temp:    72 F

Stats from the GPS:  Total Miles:   6.69

Distance Walked: .9 mile (Dog Potty Trips)
Overall Average Speed       Moving Avg          Max Speed
  7.1 MPH                              8.2 MPH               21.7 MPH 

Total Trip Time                   Moving Time        Stopped  Time
  57 minutes                    49 minutes           8 minutes

Cloudy Day but Who Cares?

Today's Almost-Predictable Route

You'd think it would get tedious riding around mostly now-familiar territory with little new to see or explore.... BUT it doesn't seem to.
Jacque suggested me taking a ride today, earlier than I normally do, and I should have saddled up when she first suggested it.  A couple of hours later I DID get off my easy chair and rode, thankfully.
The Sun showed its face precious few times today.  We've had a forecast of clouds and rain and mist that has largely been fulfilled, but today it was mostly just dark with threatening clouds that never, as far as I know, produced any rain.
Not that we NEED more rain.  We have a couple of huge piles of slash and small limbs that need hauling away or burning, and Yesterday I actually called the Fire Department and got permission, easily, to light my fire.
The Fire Official likely laughed to himself as he hung up.  I threw a couple of cupfuls of gasoline on the pile, on the downwind side so the slight breeze would hopefully blow the flames farther into the brush pile, and lit the gas with just one try.  It WHOOSHED into flame and after a few seconds  the gasoline evidently burned itself out because all trace of flame and smoke disappeared.  I tried a couple more cups of gas and flame, to comparable result.  THEN I got some corrugated cardboard out of the garage - soaked THOSE in gasoline - and stuffed them into the midst of the pile and tried again.
This combination burned for several minutes instead of seconds, but the brush itself refused to ignite, and after a couple more tries I gave up on the project.  The brush is several weeks old, and in New Mexico they would have burned in glory, but here they have been waterlogged with repeated rain, mist, and fog.  I'll either have to wait for a couple weeks of dry weather and sunshine
(In MISSOURI?)  or load the stuff into my trailer and haul it to the town dump and pay to drop it off.
I suspect it will be worth it to haul it off... BAH.

Back to today.  I decided to get something useful done as well as the fun of riding the trike, so I hitched up the B.O.B. bike trailer and cleaned the pile of cardboard off the floor of the garage so as to haul it to our local recyclers.  That didn't take long, as the recycler is only a few blocks away.  Then I rode the rest of the way around the perimeter of town pulling the now empty trailer.
I was again struck how much simply just casually riding around improves my mood and general outlook on life.  Something about cycling that improves my mood as well as speed from just walking around....
Then just before arriving home I stopped at our local CHC hardware store and purchased a gallon jug of bar oil for the Stihl chain saw.   Been using quite a bit of that lately trying to cut the huge trees cut away from threatening the house down into firewood lengths.
Riding also always does wonders for my blood glucose readings.  Instead of having to pump extra insulin to stay afloat, I have to cut BACK on insulin for the rest of the evening to avoid hypoglycemia (LOW blood sugar for you non-diabetics).

Ride Started:   2:44 PM      Ride Ended:  4:14 PM
Beginning Battery Voltage:  13.3  Ending Battery Voltage:  13.0   Lowest Voltage:  12.5

Beginning Blood Glucose: 128   Ending BG: 76 

Lowest Temp:  67 F    Highest Temp:    77 F

Stats from the GPS:  Total Miles:   5.87

Distance Walked: .9 mile (Dog Potty Trips)
Overall Average Speed       Moving Avg          Max Speed
  3.8 MPH                              6.7 MPH               20.3 MPH 

Total Trip Time                   Moving Time        Stopped  Time
  1 hour 31 mins                    53 minutes           39 minutes

No Sun? Ride Anyway

Today's Higher Mileage Route

Here it is Mid-May and it is COLD around here.  It barely got above 60 degrees here for some unbeknownst reason.  We've been getting lots of rain and cloudy days but a few days ago it was in the comfortable 70's in spite of the relative lack of sunshine.  Not Today. 
Whatever happened to Global Warming?? BAH
Jacque had a garbage bag full of unwanted STUFF to be delivered to the local thrift store, so I gladly used that for an excuse to go for a ride.  Had to tow the B.O.B trailer to haul the big bag, but that detracts little from the joy of pedaling around.
I rode a couple streets I don't think I've ridden before, and it wasn't too bad in spite of some deep long dips in the roadway on the outskirts of town.  As usual, there was little traffic - which is always nice when the shoulders are a bit narrow.  It's invariably nice to encounter motorists who refuse to pass me until there's plenty of clearance, regardless of the road conditions.
I thought several times I should pull off and put on my windbreaker to beat the chill, but it was just barely warm enough that I did without it.  But overheating was definitely out of the question in spite of a few long climbs in Grandma Gear.
Going  east along the street I had not ridden before, I passed a lady out in her front yard "walking" her two little doggies.  They spotted me and decided I was dangerous enough to attack, revealing themselves to be OFF leash.  As they chased me along the street, with their Missus hollering after them, they were no real threat to me.  However, they followed me much farther than they should have, so I had to pour on the coal to outrun them so they would give up and turn around.
Mission accomplished and we all lived through the experience.....


Ride Started:   3:30 PM      Ride Ended:  4:32 PM
Beginning Battery Voltage:  13.8  Ending Battery Voltage:  12.9   Lowest Voltage:  12.9

Beginning Blood Glucose: 207   Ending BG: 117 

Lowest Temp:  57 F    Highest Temp:    64 F

Stats from the GPS:  Total Miles:   6.64

Distance Walked: .3 mile (Dog Potty Trips)
Overall Average Speed       Moving Avg          Max Speed
  6.3 MPH                              7.3 MPH               25.1 MPH 

Total Trip Time                   Moving Time        Stopped  Time
  1 hour 2 mins                         54 minutes           8 minutes

Anniversary Triking

Today's Plotted Route

Well, today was our 21st anniversary of being married to this very tolerant woman.
SO we pulled out all the stops and went out for breakfast, with plans for dinner later this evening.
Jacque wanted to walk to the nearby restaurant but fell for my pitch to ride the Tandem Terratrike instead.
We took the time to return some overdue library books since it was only a little out of the way to our favorite breakfast nook, the LA Cafe on our local City Square.  With the current nonsense of too many things being shut down, the library was not yet open for its 2-hour window of accepting books being returned.  We decided to wait instead of leaving the bag of books on the open trike while inside the restaurant, and while we waited a fellow rode up on his own 2-wheeler, exclaiming in wonder at the unusual contraption he beheld us riding.  Jacque suggested he should try riding behind me in HER seat since we still had several more minutes to wait, and he readily agreed.  We rode around the square, with him exclaiming his delight in such an unusual ride. (So far as we know, we are the only recumbent trike riders in town so far).   Fun Stuff.
Finally the library opened and accepted the returning books on their little wagon, and we went for a delicious breakfast.  It was a large meal for me and it was also a good thing we rode the Trike for a bit of exercise to counteract the massive infusion of carbs.

Ride Started:   9:56 AM      Ride Ended:  10:46 AM

Beginning Battery Voltage:  No Battery for this Trip

Beginning Blood Glucose: 202   Ending BG: 110 

Lowest Temp:  67 F    Highest Temp:    74 F

No Stats from the GPS: 

Cold and WET in MAY ?

Today's Predictable Route

Today we awoke to pouring rain and 40 some-odd degrees.  Disgusting temperatures for the middle of May, for goodness' sake.
Forecasts had called for a solid week of rain, but by noonish the rain had slowed and actually stopped shortly after.  The puddles still stand everywhere but the roads were almost dry enough to take a trike ride, so I did a trike ride.  If I wait for perfect days I'm going to miss way too many enjoyable rides.
In spite of being cloudy and gloomy, it was a fair riding day.  Despite the lack of sunshine.
Rounding a corner getting close to home, a young man on a bicycle smiled and waved and
yelled: "How do you steer that thing?"
So I slowed, and cranked the front wheels right and left for his benefit.  Nice kid.
I navigated a few shallow puddles in the streets but nothing bad enough to get ME wet.  Great stuff.
It's always great to have to stop and eat a snack because my blood glucose usually drops too low during such rides.  Then to get back home and enjoy some fresh baked Banana Bread and see the Blood Glucose stay close to acceptable is great too.
We're joining in the World Wide Fasting and Prayer for protection from Coronavirus and stupidity of government leaders tomorrow.  Perhaps you'd like to participate too, in any fashion you can.
We know the Lord can provide help for the CoronaVirus, but if He still allows free agency the government stupidity will be harder to deal with.

Ride Started:   3:56 PM      Ride Ended:  4:46 PM

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

Beginning Blood Glucose: 209   Ending BG: 102 

Lowest Temp:  60 F    Highest Temp:    64 F

Stats from the GPS:  Total Miles:   5.56

Distance Walked: .3 mile (Dog Potty Trips)
Overall Average Speed       Moving Avg          Max Speed
  5.4 MPH                              7.7 MPH               24.4 MPH 

Total Trip Time                   Moving Time        Stopped  Time
  50 minutes                         45 minutes           5 minutes

Sunday Riders

We enjoyed a typical stay-at-home worship service today.
The local weather has been really weird.  This morning it was 40-something degrees and cold wind.
Later this afternoon the winds slowed a bit and it warmed up to the sixties.
We had been NOwhere all day and were getting a bit stir crazy just watching TV and surfing the Internet, and around 4-5:00 PM we decided we were going to go for at least a short trike ride.
So we saddled up the Tandem Terratrike and loaded up Tink and Lilly and took off.
We left Callie Cat behind.  She has not developed a fondness for triking like the rest of us.
We only rode a bit over 3 miles and really enjoyed stretching our leg muscles.
As usual, it helped lower my blood glucose resulting from Jacque's Sunday Treat she cooked for us:
Peach Cobbler.  YUM

Ride Started:   5:14 PM      Ride Ended:  6:04 PM
Beginning Battery Voltage:  13.0  Ending Battery Voltage:  12.9   Lowest Voltage:  12.9

Beginning Blood Glucose: 209   Ending BG: 102 

Lowest Temp:  57 F    Highest Temp:    67 F

Stats from the GPS:  Total Miles:   3.34

Distance Walked: .3 mile
Overall Average Speed       Moving Avg          Max Speed
  4.0 MPH                              5.3 MPH               14 MPH 

Total Trip Time                   Moving Time        Stopped  Time
  50 minutes                         38 minutes           12 minutes

Unprofitable Shopping Run

Today's Around Town Travels

This morning it was FORTY FIVE degrees here in the low hills of the Ozarks called "Mountain Grove".  We had actually been under a FREEZE warning last night but thankfully that didn't materialize.
What I'd like to know is what happened to Global Warming?  45 degrees and it's almost the Middle of May.  Mercy.
So it was a tad cool for trike/bike riding this morning.
However, by noonish, it had warmed up to the mid fifties and not bad at all walking outside.
Our quasi - continual remodeling resulted in a little progress trimming the master bathroom, but I quickly ran out of the necessary trim.  We have more than 3 so called lumber/hardware stores in Mountain Grove, so I decided to hitch up the trike and trailer and ride around to see if I could find some more matching trim.
Unfortunately, the trim we've been using was purchased at Home Depot in Springfield, and thus far we haven't been able to find any here locally.  BUT one or more of our local stores had said they would try to stock it for us, and I need excuses to ride around town for exercise and fresh air, so I hooked up the trailer and took off.
Of course none of our available stores had the desired trim, so the main intent of the riding around was foiled.  BUT it had turned into a decent day, the clouds had cleared, the sun was bright, and the wind wasn't too bad.  Thus it was a tiring but enjoyable ride.
Most drivers I encounter are friendly and give me a wide berth, and I try to give a big wave to all who pass me in either direction.  Many are responding with big waves, which of course is encouraging since that proves they SEE me.  A big help in avoiding running over or into me, haw.

Ride Started:   3:26 PM      Ride Ended:  4:32 PM
Beginning Battery Voltage:  13.0  Ending Battery Voltage:  12.9   Lowest Voltage:  12.9

Beginning Blood Glucose: 289   Ending BG: 152 

Lowest Temp:  57 F    Highest Temp:    67 F

Stats from the GPS:  Total Miles:   6.69

Distance Walked: .3 mile
Overall Average Speed       Moving Avg          Max Speed
  7.1 MPH                              7.9 MPH               20 MPH 

Total Trip Time                   Moving Time        Stopped  Time
  51 minutes                         50 minutes           1 minute

Weird Weather, Gotta Ride Anyway

Today's predictable Route

I went for several days without riding the trike and my blood sugar has skyrocketed as a result.
So I renew my "Enthusiasm" for hopefully daily rides - so long as it's not raining. 
Unfortunately it rains quite often here in Missouri.  Guess it's one reason everything is so green here.
I got a ride in yesterday, Thursday, after almost a week NOT riding.  I was shocked how my blood sugar dropped so well.  My tracking link didn't work, however, so I didn't post anything in this blog about it.
Today awoke rainy, cold, and windy.  It held little hope for any passable trike riding, but the clouds cleared off close to noon and it warmed up into the 50's, though the wind was still nasty.
I decided to ride anyway.  Glad I am that I did.
Mountain Grove is so small there aren't a lot of different routes that add up to more than a few miles, so I rarely go out of my way to find new routes to ride.  Most of the routes leading away from town have no shoulders whatever, or if there is one it's just narrow, with rocks, gravel, and debris.
So I ride familiar routes most of the time.
Today I first wrapped up in my nylon windbreaker.  It broke the wind and helped keep me warm enough for about the first half of the ride, when I pulled over and put the windbreaker back in the saddlebag.  The wind had not slowed down but I was warmed up enough to do without it.
My blood sugar was STILL too high after today's ride, in spite of pumping extra insulin.
If the next infusion site doesn't do better..... We'll see.

Ride Started:   3:46 PM      Ride Ended:  4:37 PM
Beginning Battery Voltage:  13.0  Ending Battery Voltage:  12.9   Lowest Voltage:  12.9

Beginning Blood Glucose: 289   Ending BG: 152 

Lowest Temp:  57 F    Highest Temp:    67 F

Stats from the GPS:  Total Miles:   6.69

Distance Walked: .3 mile
Overall Average Speed       Moving Avg          Max Speed
  7.1 MPH                              7.9 MPH               20 MPH 

Total Trip Time                   Moving Time        Stopped  Time
  51 minutes                         50 minutes           1 minute

Tandem Riding... Great Huff Puff Exercise

Today's Tandem Trike Route

Jacque had been making noises about wanting to take a trike ride, so instead of riding solo or riding separate machines, I dragged out the monster Tandem Terratrike and we saddled up and went, doggies and all.  Callie the Cat stayed home.
This trike is heavy and a bit awkward, but of course fun to ride.  Even these slight grades around city streets can be exhausting, requiring frequent access to Grandma Gear as we trudge slowly up grades of very slight ascent. 
Thus we settled for a short but enjoyable loop.
For some reason the weather was warm, clear, and beautiful, and we encountered several enthusiastic onlookers of various ages as we passed by.  All good-natured waves and comments.
Of course we need to do this more often so we can have sufficient stamina to ride farther for more exercise and enjoyment.  We both slept nicely that night...

Ride Started:   3:35 PM      Ride Ended:  4:28 PM
Beginning Battery Voltage:  13.0  Ending Battery Voltage:  13.0   Lowest Voltage:  12.7

Beginning Blood Glucose: 165     Ending BG: 212 (obviously didn't pump enough insulin for this trip)

Lowest Temp:  67 F    Highest Temp:    75 F

Stats from the GPS:  Total Miles:   2.84

Distance Walked: .6 mile
Overall Average Speed       Moving Avg          Max Speed
  3.9 MPH                             5.2 MPH               15 MPH 

Total Trip Time                   Moving Time        Stopped  Time
  53 minutes                         50 minutes           3 minutes

And So It Goes...

Yesterday's Tiny Ride Route

I haven't been logging much about my rides recently, mainly since they're so repetitive and unremarkable.
Riding around is still fun and great exercise, but I often doubt any readers finding intrinsic value in them.
Riding ALSO greatly improves my blood glucose management, requiring much less insulin pumping to accomplish reasonable BG levels.  A major motivation for this aging diabetic.
In a town as small as Mountain Grove, biking and triking makes a lot more sense than staring up an automobile to burn gasoline and oil and rubber to pick up shopping items at a store a mile away.
UNLESS, of course, the weather gets mucky, which is often the case here in the Garden of Eden in Missouri.  The abundant greenery exists and thrives because of so much moisture and rain.
A couple nights ago we'd had a rather lovely day followed by sudden clouds and wind and a tornado warning, resulting in our spending almost an hour or so in the wet basement waiting for the sirens all-clear.
So this trike trip involved making a run to take some old clothes to the donation point at the local CHC (Cabool Home Center) lumber store parking lot.
Even a little ride like this is great for lifting my mood and getting a bit of fresh air...
As I turned on to a street, I could see a fellow in a  wheelchair about a hundred yards ahead and he was vigorously waving at me.  Thinking he wanted to stop and talk, I stopped and we talked when I got up to his position.  He was not very old, perhaps a teenager, and his legs were shriveled.  We had a pleasant but short visit, said our goodbyes, and I pedaled along my way.  He seemed impressed with the trike and commented how much faster I could ride than his electric wheelchair would take him.
Another of MANY reasons to count my blessings...  I wish I had caught the guy's name.

Ride Started:   5:45 PM      Ride Ended:  5:55 PM
Beginning Battery Voltage:  13.5  Ending Battery Voltage:  12.9   Lowest Voltage:  12.9

Beginning Blood Glucose: 178     Ending BG: 74

Lowest Temp:  59 F    Highest Temp:    60 F

Stats from the GPS:  Total Miles:   1.42

Distance Walked: .6 mile
Overall Average Speed       Moving Avg          Max Speed
  5.5 MPH                             7.7 MPH               15.5 MPH 

Total Trip Time                   Moving Time        Stopped  Time
 15 minutes                         11 minutes           4 minutes