Twas the Freezing DAY before Christmas

 Very Short GPS Tracking

Well - It turns out that my sniffles from last week actually WERE the dreaded COVID killer disease.
Of course Jacque caught the sore throat from me and has a slightly worse case.  She went to the Doc and was diagnosed officially with the Plague....
Thanks to Mr. Lets Go Brandon and Mr. Fauci, we had already received all available vaccines and boosters to prevent us from catching it.  Oh, that's right - if we DO catch it, it will be mild instead of deadly.  I guess so far we qualify for the mild category.  Not too much fun being isolated for 2 weeks including this week of Christmas.  We had planned to have a couple of neighbors over for a Jacque Christmas Feast but not this time.  Our isolation period expires before New Years so we'll see what kind of trouble we can get into after that.

                                                           Trike Tracks in the Snow ?

Our record breaking cold spell has pretty much kept us indoors and without trike rides.  Zero and below temperatures, with wind chills into the minus THIRTIES.  I did NOT sign up for this.
Yesterday the SUN actually came out and lit up the sky quite nicely, though it didn't seem to do much for the air temperature.  Jacque had finished a library book and needed to return it.  Yesterday, Christmas Eve.
So nothing was open, not even the Library.  But that facility does have a book return slot on the outside of the door, so I decided I could return the book via a very short Trike Ride (6 blocks or so).
It only took me a half hour or so to layer up, unlock the trike, pull it out into the snowy sunshine, velcro my insulated pants legs into my boot tops, try a couple of snow mittens back and forth to find the warmest ones, etc.  I had super thick Arctic socks inside my boots, etc, etc.
So finally I was able to get my multi layered carcass into the trike seat and take off.  
I wondered if I would get stuck in the mild snow patches I had to cross getting out of the yard but didn't have any problem.
The streets were another story.  About half the roadway had packed snow from vehicle traffic.
I quickly noticed the Catrike was not too predictable on the slicker spots so I had to tread lightly and pay attention when traversing them.
Thankfully there was almost NO traffic to deal with - and when I saw any cars at all, I simply waited until they were all past.  I made it to the drop box and deposited the expired book and then got back slowly and safely.  
Trouble was, I thought I was going to FREEZE.  In spite of all my layers I was NOT comfy at all,
and my fingers were freezing in spite of the bulky mittens and I frantically kept rubbing them together inside the mittens - hoping to get home before frostbite set in.
Made it home finally with all digits intact, but with slightly bruised ego.
Unhappy that there are SOME conditions I don't want to repeat....

Ride Started: 2:19 PM           Ride Ended:  2:39 PM 
Beginning Battery Voltage: 12.5  Ending Battery Voltage:  12.4
Lowest Temp: 22 F Highest Temp: 30 F
Beginning Blood Glucose:  170   Ending BG: 125
Stats from the GPS: Total Miles:  1.32
Overall Average Speed      Moving Avg       Max Speed
 3.8 MPH                             5.2 MPH            9.6 MPH
Total Trip(s) Time             Moving Time      Stopped Time
  21 minutes                     15  minutes         5 minutes

Twas the Week Before Christmas

Sunday Coolness GPS Track 

Is it even legal to ride on Sunday??  Non-accusatory comments welcome...
I hadn't ridden for a few days due to a drizzly-nose cold, flu, RSV, COVID, who knows.
No fever nor weird problems so it must not be drastical.  Still woke up this morning, after all.
Today was another of those wonderful bright sunny days where the temperature took a long time to get above freezing.  Our local weather beacon claims it made it to 42 degrees today but that may have been in a sheltered area with the sun shining on it....
We loafed around the house, napping to build up our strength, don'tcha know.
I had a handwritten letter to mail, and hoping to get it to its destination before Christmas, I decided I wanted it to go out first thing tomorrow (Monday) morning.  That means it should be in the post office first thing....  A very short distance away but a qualified reason to take a short trike ride if there ever was one.
Still suffering from minor drizzlies, I layered up for the big venture.  Grizzly "Warm Sox", boots, puffy vest, insulated coverhauls, skull cap. mittens..... Almost forgot to take the letter with me.
I first tucked the coverall legs into the tops of my leather boots but after only a block or so they had popped out, letting that dreaded frigid air in, so I pulled over and applied my handy velcro strips to hold them tight.  No problem after that.
I did NOT get  overheated for some reason.
I was happy to find the Post Office lobby open and found it easy to drop the letter in the box and proceed onward.  I was feeling so "comfy" I thought about taking a few miles the long way home but the niggling sore throat convinced me otherwise.
On the way back I heard some chatter in a yard as I rode by.  I didn't look to see who or how many, but was rewarded with a young voice calling "HEY!!" - obviously having spotted me.  I waved wildly backwards, again without looking.  I was close to home and was motivated to get there.

Ride Started: 3:03 PM           Ride Ended:  3:18 PM 
Beginning Battery Voltage: 12.5  Ending Battery Voltage:  12.5
Lowest Temp: 42 F Highest Temp: 50 F
Beginning Blood Glucose:  175   Ending BG: 105
Stats from the GPS: Total Miles:  1.34
Overall Average Speed      Moving Avg       Max Speed
 4.5 MPH                             7.0 MPH           14.5  MPH
Total Trip(s) Time             Moving Time      Stopped Time
  18 minutes                     12  minutes         6  minutes

Almost Too Cold

 5 Dec GPS Track

7 Dec Wednesday Track

Partial GPS / Ham Radio Tracking

Weather here is a constant subject of discussion and wonder.  We would normally call December midwinter, but the weather has been warmish (no freezing lately) and humid.  Lots of fog...
Even at temps  above 40 degrees, the breeze can feel rather chilly and slowly chill to the bone.
As most of us know.  High humidity makes both heat AND cold feel worse.
As usuual, I try to ride anyway.  I, as usual, tend to get into blue funks when I miss decent exercise for more than a day or two.  I "rest" from work on Sundays, mostly, and the other  6 days of the week are most always occupied with hammering, drilling, squatting to put  things down and up, etc, which seems to NOT provide good circulation.  Or something.
I again did my  duty yesterday riding to our local Big Box Store to pick up some needed items.
I mis -guessed the comfort level of the 45-ish temperature reading on our outside, and wore only one thin layer over my shirt (yellow/black lightweight windbreaker) and normal socks and shoes.
I had some stuff to deliver to our Love Center and a package to take to UPS, so I towed the B.O.B. trailer behind.  I detoured slightly to make the first dropoff, then rode the mile or so up to the UPS store.  Unfortunately, they turned me away since I didn't have a proper label on it.

On the way TO my desired destinations it was COLD and soaked into my feet and torso.
On the way back. the wind wasn't in my face AND the sun peeked out a little, warming me to the point I had to unzip my windbreaker.  My cold feet didn't thaw out too much but weren't hurting quite so bad.  Rounding the corner at Hovis, I was stopped for several minutes waiting for a HUGE string of school buses rounding the same corner, most with several students still inside.  This burg is a fairly small one, with less than 5K population.
I couldn't fathom why we have so many school buses, especially since more than half the town is within walking distance of everything else, including schools.  Just proving I'm an Old Man, I suppose.  When I was a grade schooler in Bluewater yo so many years ago, most of us walked a half mile or so to school and back.  But then again we didn't have paved streets either....

Ride Started: 2:07 PM           Ride Ended:  3:40 PM 
Beginning Battery Voltage: 12.8  Ending Battery Voltage:  12.7
Lowest Temp: 53 F Highest Temp: 57 F
Beginning Blood Glucose:  185   Ending BG: 105
Stats from the GPS: Total Miies:  6.0
Overall Average Speed      Moving Avg       Max Speed
 4.7 MPH                             6.5 MPH           18.9  MPH
Total Trip(s) Time             Moving Time      Stopped Time
  1 hour 17 minutes           55  minutes         22  minutes

Winter Wandering

22 Nov GPS Track

3 Dec Saturday GPS Tracking

Missouri weather has been UP and DOWN with Bitter cold one and Balmy the next.
I learned long ago that if I wait for acceptable weather I would seldom get any outdoor exercise.
So I've ridden with both types of temperatures and conditions this week.
Yesterday was a bitter cold one.  I thought I'd take a short ride in the cold to deliver a letter to the Post Office.
So I saddled up.  Extra layers, open/closed grip mittens, arctic socks, head quilted skull cover (courtesy of Jacque many moons ago) - and off I went.
When I got up off the trike at the P.O., a fellow approached me asking about the trike.  I noticed this guy had a stump on one arm instead of a hand.  He explained that he had earlier been a bicycle rider, but had lost his hand in an accident and thus was curious about the trike, how it was steered, was it comfortable to ride, etc.  He wants to get one for himself, and hopefully he will.
While undertaking this very short jaunt, I decided it wasn't too cold for a longer trip, so I detoured around our Christmasy  Town Square and pedaled around to my usual boring loop around to the North side of town where I normally trudge over Highway 60 to our local Big Box Store to pick up some 9 volt batteries, something of course in dire need at home.

When I got near to that crossing of Route 60, I decided the traffic was a bit heavy for my taste,, so I stopped instead at the store immediately near me and pay a slightly higher price for the desired chemical energy sources.
This ingenious decision allowed me to take the return route with less cars  and trucks to dodge.
I normally encounter mostly friendly faces as I pedal my admittedly unusual contraption, but recently  I've taken to trying to smile widely to all oncoming faces, whether behind a windshield or not, and waving to everyone whether they wave  back or not.  Unsurprisingly, most smile and wave back.
For some odd reason this adds to the enjoyment of the ride.

Ride Started: 12: PM           Ride Ended:  1:36 PM 
Beginning Battery Voltage: 13.7  Ending Battery Voltage:  12.9
Lowest Temp: 35 F Highest Temp: 50 F
Beginning Blood Glucose:  175   Ending BG: 125
Stats from the GPS: Total Miies:  4.66
Overall Average Speed      Moving Avg       Max Speed
 5.2 MPH                             7.8 MPH           22.1  MPH
Total Trip(s) Time             Moving Time      Stopped Time
  54 minutes                      35  minutes         8  minutes

Invigoration

 7 November GPS Track

9 November Tracking 

10 November GPS boring track 

12 November Very Brief Track

14 Nov Monday

As usual, we've gone back and forth between lovely balmy Indian Summer days and frigid sunny days and.... You get the picture.
Short rides, mildly longer rides, but no mediocre rides.... it's fun and refreshing just to get out and spin the pedals a few hundred times, even when it's bitter cold.
On Thursday, 10 Nov, I did a slightly unusual run:
I hitched up the B.O.B. trailer, strapped my balky chainsaw in, and took it to the repair shop.
It lately developed the nasty habit of starting nicely but then ROARING full throttle, out of control, and being impossible to stop without burying the blade into a large log and binding it into a stall.
I have multiple logs, branches, and what-not that need to be cut into firewood lengths.  BAH.
I got the chainsaw back for less than $50 in repair.  Life is Good.

Lovely COLD Weather

 Travel Loop Tracking

I goofed off almost too late yesterday, but decided to stretch the old legs just before sundown.
It was a good thing, as usual.  This time I didn't get exhausted for some reason, just mood enhancement.
The weather had started out cloudy in the morning but cleared off to a lovely Indian Summer day the rest of the time.
I thought initially I would ride clear out to the Mountain Grove International Memorial Airport but the sun was getting so low that it would have been right in my eyes going that direction so I turned around early.
I have ridden to and around this airport many times and have never seen an airplane in operation, and only one or two crop sprayers tied up outside.  Big Time.
Vehicular traffic was scarce, which was nice also.

Back at the Ranch, as they say, the destructo bathroom remodel is still making slow progress.
I've got a couple "before" photos but no "afters" yet, so I'll wait to post that sort of stuff.
The weather's getting colder, of course, meaning I'll soon be wearing layers for all rides, not just occasionally.

Yesterday's Ride Started: 5:03  PM           Ride Ended:  5:34 PM 
Beginning Battery Voltage: 13.6  Ending Battery Voltage:  12.7
Lowest Temp: 53 F Highest Temp: 57 F
Beginning Blood Glucose:  180   Ending BG: 117
Stats from the GPS: Total Miles:  3.66
Overall Average Speed      Moving Avg       Max Speed
7.7 MPH                             8.8 MPH           16.6 MPH
Total Trip(s) Time             Moving Time      Stopped Time
28 minutes                        25  minutes         3  minutes 

Time's Running Out

 

Lacking Tracking from my Trike GPS/Radio System,  hete is a screen shot of the GPS itself....

I am shocked, SHOCKED that I have slacked off from blogging about misadventures for a MONTH.
Sad.  Sad indeed.
My uplifting life-extending trike pedaling has, again, tended to fall on the lower priority list, which is
Sad, Indeed.
The last couple of days, however, I got out and rode, mainly to (1) lower my Blood Glucose. and (2) to improve my sagging spirits.  The results were predictable.
Even though, however, I got a little wet.
Saturday started with clouds and rainy looking weather, but the doom and gloom faded in and out all day.  By the late afternoon, it was still cloudy, but not threatening to rain at all.... at least I hoped so.
After intermittently slaving on the guest bathroom reconstruction all day, I decided I was going to get out and go unless it started POURING.  
Of course, by the time I dragged out the trike, changed shoes, plugged in the electronics, etc, it was another 20 minutes later and cloudier.
It still wasn't raining.  So I decided to pedal around maybe until it started to rain, then turn around if it did.
Actually the ride went quite well.  I got brave and rode clear out to  our local Mountain Grove International Memorial Airport and back.  Cloudy and threatening; yet just warm enough that I had to remove my thin windbreaker to cool off a bit.
The runways and approaches at our tiny airport provide some actual SMOOTH pavement, a thrill that is rare in our area. So I enjoyed that eighth-mile delight and turned back for home.
As I was slogging along Wheeler Arch Road, a black pickup truck came up from behind and slowed to pass me, and slowed even more as it came next to me.  The window was rolled down and I could see the Galbraiths -- Great friends saying hello.  FUN
A few hundred more feet and I noticed a single drop of rain hit me in the face.  No problemo, I thought.
Another few dozen feet later another single drop struck me. No Problemo.
By the time I hit the city limits, it was sprinkling steadily.  But Lightly.  No Problemo.
I was a bit wet by the time I got home.  No Problemo.  Mood still greatly improved

Riding and Rambling

4 Sept Saturday  

8 sept Thursday

9 sept Friday 

12 Sept Monday

14 Sept Wednesday

Thursday 15 Sept

I sure am getting lazy about updating the blog.   BAH.
I also haven't done any lengthy rides recently....  Remodeling and "construction" take me unbelievable lengths of time.  I get involved, thinking I'm going to get something done in "a few days", and often weeks later I'm shocked how slow I am.  Tired and sore feet somehow seem to slow me down, requiring frequent rest breaks that often take more time that I actually spent doing something productive.  Old Age....
Hang On.

Currently I'm in the middle of rebuilding out "guest bathroom", which has taken all too long.  Thankfully 
Jacque isn't cracking the whip on me, though she certainly is entitled to.  Riding the trike for some of the pickup chores for tools etc. helps give me excuses to do the cardio exercise thing.  
Slaving on "projects" gets me wonderfully hot and sweaty but doesn't do much for "cardio" needs.
Occasionally I've wound up taking TWO showers in one day to slosh off the sweat and grime, even without a bike ride under the belt, so to speak.  September is bringing slightly cooler temperatures --
Which is a WONDERFUL thing, even if by only a few degrees.
I've had several queries about the trike recently, some with real intent to be interested in such a contraption.  One truck driver fellow outside our local Big Box Store was really interested until he realized it didn't have a motor of some kind.  SIGH
Hoping to take a longer more enjoyable ride - say up at the famed Katy Trail - sometime before cold weather sets in.  We'll see.  
Meanwhile, pedaling around town is still enjoyable....

Today's Ride Started: 10:57  AM           Ride Ended:  11:27 AM 
Beginning Battery Voltage: 12.8  Ending Battery Voltage:  12.7
Lowest Temp: 72 F Highest Temp: 80 F
Beginning Blood Glucose:  200   Ending BG: 127
Stats from the GPS: Total Miles:  3.647

Overall Average Speed      Moving Avg       Max Speed
 7.1 MPH                             7.8 MPH           15.0  MPH
Total Trip(s) Time             Moving Time      Stopped Time
31 minutes                        28  minutes         3  minutes 

Huff & Puff

 Sept 1st GPS Trike Tracking 

Busy, busy, busy...
To avoid boredom I will neglect to try listing the projects I'm trying to finish.
Which are tiring enough, but not in a cardio - helpful way.
So I still try to pedal a few miles a few times a week.
What's "funny" about this effort is that I actually had MORE time to ride around with such
enjoyable exercise when I was NOT retired and was working fu  ll time.  Mostly because I pedaled back and forth to work:  A great excuse for daily riding.
I remark again how retirement has felt to me and many others:  It means MORE working for FREE than we used to do for PAY.  Oh Well....
Yesterday, for instance, I rode the trike across town to our local Big Box Store and noticed a Tree Trimmer busy whacking big limbs from  the customer's tree.  I stopped and asked them if they could find time to take a look at OUR yard full of too-tall trees.
The nice man said he'd try to drop by sometime and give us an estimate.
Lo and behold, as I was getting ready later in the day to get busy, the tree man rang the doorbell  vigorously and was ready to look at our jungle of wood.  As hard as it is to find service nowadays, I couldn't ask  him to "come back later", so he and I walked around the house as he gulped at the size and number of our trees.  I expected him to tell me a price guesstimate and leave, but he gave me the estimate - I told him it was acceptable - and he said he could start NOW.  Mercy.   Good Stuff.  So I put on grubbier clothes and helped his helper a bit as they whacked the tops and sides off a few house - threatening trees.
Of course that ate up most of the afternoon.
So thankfully I'd already done my "cardio" for the day before I got distracted.
But not getting any pre - planned work done.
Gotta sign off for now, the rain has slowed down a bit ;-)

Yesterday's Ride Started: 9:51 AM           Ride Ended:  10:52 AM 
Beginning Battery Voltage: 13.0  Ending Battery Voltage:  12.7
Lowest Temp: 72 F Highest Temp: 78 F
Beginning Blood Glucose:  170   Ending BG: 65
Stats from the GPS: Total Miles:  5.37
Overall Average Speed      Moving Avg       Max Speed
 5.7 MPH                             7.8 MPH           24.1  MPH
Total Trip(s) Time             Moving Time      Stopped Time
  1 hour 1 minute                  45  minutes         16  minutes

Still At it

27 July Tracking via GPS
28 July
29 July
30 July Saturday
1 August Monday
2 August Tuesday
3 august Wednesday
4 August Thursday
5 August Friday
6 August Saturday
8 August Monday  (Today)

I suppose I must make this a short update since it still gets hot and muggy outside and I need to crank up the riding mower and spend an hour or so reducing the height of the grass and weeds.  
I haven't mowed since some time in early May due to the drought which stopped or drastically slowed the growth of almost everything except the most noxious weeds.
We've recently received almost an inch or so, still much less moisture than we're used to, but the landscape has jumped dramatically since the rains occurred.

Take these surprise lilies, for instance.  A week ago this area was brown and dry.  A good soaking of rain and these things sprang out of nowhere, growing several inches a day and then bursting into bloom overnight.
Anyway, life is good, even if hot and humid.  Riding the trike seems to keep me going, even if it exhausts me for a couple hours afterwards.
Now, on to the luxury of cutting weeds/grass....

Today's Ride Started: 8:02 AM           Ride Ended:  8:42 AM 
Beginning Battery Voltage: 13.5  Ending Battery Voltage:  12.7
Lowest Temp: 75 F Highest Temp: 82 F
Beginning Blood Glucose:  200   Ending BG: 105
Stats from the GPS: Total Miles:  4.95
Overall Average Speed      Moving Avg       Max Speed
 7.2 MPH                             7.6 MPH           17.1  MPH
Total Trip(s) Time             Moving Time      Stopped Time
  42 minutes                      39  minutes         2  minutes

Finally Some Shade

 18 July Monday 

19 July Tuesday 

20 July Wednesday 

21 July Thursday 

23 July Saturday 

25 July Monday 

26 July Today Tuesday 

We are still in the midst of a severe drought here in Missouri, with daily high temperature warnings.
Which has motivated me to ride as early as possible in the mornings.  Even then the air is WARM and often uncomfortably Hot, but nowhere nearly as bad as it gets later on in the day.
I enjoy sleeping as late as possible, but when I awake any time after 6-ish AM I tend to wake myself up worrying about waiting too much later for it to warm up outside.  Even when I roust myself out "early" I rarely get going before 8 AM which is NOT early to my enfeebled mind.  BUT it's much better than it would be any later in the day.
I came upon a Youtube video via Fakebook yesterday others might also find interesting, called "David Rides a Trike".  It's maintained by this old duffer who records his trike trips -- at 80 something years old and diagnosed with terminal cancer after multiple organ transplants, etc, etc.  He defies the prognoses and the odds by huffing and puffing around on  his recumbent trike.   I'm in awe of the guy, for sure.  Some odd few think I'm doing something unusual with my feeble rides, but this guy takes the cake.  Look him up if you don't believe....
Anyway, I'm falling behind in my record keeping - as usual.  I HAVE recently taken up my handwritten journal keeping again, for the first time in many years.  It's quite difficult since my shaky hands are more un-coordinated than ever and it's difficult to write with a legible scribble, but some of my descendants might someday be able to decipher the scribbling and find some interest in it.
Back to Today.  I awoke about 6:30 AM and loafed - trying to get another hour of sleep - until about 7:16 and finally  kicked myself awake, did my stretches, fed the dog, pottied, washed my face, etc, etc, and was in the trike saddle and rolling shortly after 8.
It was just a bit cooler this morning, with a very slight breeze.which always helps in the hot hot summertime.  I had only ridden a few blocks when I encountered a cyclist going the opposite direction.
We exchanged greetings and continued away from each other.  I looped around town neighborhoods and wound up going through our illustrious Industrial Park.  As I topped the last little hill approaching
Wheeler Arch Road, I decided to turn right and ride out to our little local airport.  As I pulled up to the stop sign, who should I encounter but the same guy on his bicycle, having done an opposite route that had us meeting again several miles later.  He was headed to the airport too, so I fell in behind him and followed.  I jokingly told him I was taking advantage of his "draft", similar to what race drivers like Chris Schaafsma do at slightly higher speeds  (Say 80-100+ MPH instead of +- 10 MPH ??)
We arrived at said airport, with only 2 planes in sight, safely tied down and parked.  He led me to a couple of moldy wooden park benches in the shade that I hadn't noticed before in my several previous stops there.  We alighted from our sweaty saddles and sat down to swap names and a few spotty stories.
His name was Gary, and as we chatted we found we were only a few days apart in age, with various similar ailments and complaints, AND fellow Viet Nam veterans.   Both Christians as well, though of different church attendance.  Both divorced and with second Wives.  Hmmm....
We loafed a while through more idle chit-chat and then went on our ways, this time not meeting again.
It was a nice encounter and visit and again emphasized the fact that it is indeed a Small World.

Ride Started: 8:05 AM           Ride Ended:  9:16 AM 
Beginning Battery Voltage: 12.9  Ending Battery Voltage:  12.7
Lowest Temp: 75 F Highest Temp: 78 F
Beginning Blood Glucose:  250   Ending BG: 125
Stats from the GPS: Total Miles:  6.08
Overall Average Speed      Moving Avg       Max Speed
 5.4 MPH                             8.4 MPH           16.9  MPH
Total Trip(s) Time             Moving Time      Stopped Time
  1 hour 7 minutes                 43  minutes         23  minutes

I actually passed a MOTOR vehicle..

 12 July Trike Track

13 July Trike Track 

15 July Friday TrikeTrack 

Wowzerz.  As old and slow as I am, I surprised myself by passing a putt-putt motor vehicle, AND two days in a row.
Admittedly, it was a riding mower - type tractor, towing a junk trailer.  But STILL.
Today, as I passed him the second time, he actually  had a nice looking lady riding in the trailer behind him.  They may have been on their way to our local Big Box Store.  Like Me.
We get quite a few of those around these parts.

Good thing I've been riding "first thing" in the mornings.  Not only is it the coolest part of the day;
but if I put it off any later I'd be too tired and unmotivated after a few hours of busting our bathroom apart in readiness for the Big Remodel.

Ride Started: 8:10 AM           Ride Ended:  9:29 AM 
Beginning Battery Voltage: 13.0  Ending Battery Voltage:  12.9
Lowest Temp: 72 F Highest Temp: 82F
Beginning Blood Glucose:  199   Ending BG: 92
Stats from the GPS: Total Miles:  5.48
Overall Average Speed      Moving Avg       Max Speed
 4.9 MPH                             7.1 MPH           21.5  MPH
Total Trip(s) Time             Moving Time      Stopped Time
  1 hour 6 minutes                 46  minutes         21  minutes

Keeping On Keeping Up

 Thursday July 7th Tracking 

July 9 Tracking via GPS and Ham Radio 

11 July Monday Tracking 

Wow, our oppressive heat calmed down a bit over the weekend.  Noticeably cooler and less suffering.
Yesterday, Sunday, our Humidity dropped to 25% (!!) which made the air feel really cool even though the temperature got into the low 90's.  Of course it can't last forever, being July and Missouri.
Trikeing in the earlier morning hours certainly pays off with less heat exhaustion and general feelings of doom after a jaunt around town.....

Now to get back to the bathroom rejuvenation project...

Ride Started: 8:37 AM           Ride Ended:  9:35 AM 
Beginning Battery Voltage: 12.7   Ending Battery Voltage:  12.7
Lowest Temp: 72 F Highest Temp: 82  F
Beginning Blood Glucose:  157   Ending BG:101
Stats from the GPS: Total Miles:  5.89
Overall Average Speed      Moving Avg       Max Speed
 5.8 MPH                             7.5 MPH           22.4 MPH
Total Trip(s) Time             Moving Time      Stopped Time
  1 hour 1minute                 41  minutes         14  minutes

Hot Stuff

 2 July Shorty Ride 

6 July Longer Morning Ride Track

Mercy.  Here in Missouri, of all places, we are having a genuine drought.  Our grass is dry and brown.
Instead of slushing and squishing when we walk around, it now crunches under our feet.  Somehow most
of the weeds still maintain green and growth, of course, but our potted veggies and other desirable plants...
are begging for rain.  SIGH
Of course this all corresponds to record high summer temperatures.  I have skipped my lovely exercise rides for several days due to the fact that these temperatures leave me exhausted for hours afterwards, and
there is no stopping the continual required maintenance on the house, garage, radio tower, trees, etc.. etc...
I awoke earlier than desired this morning, but I tried to put it to good use.... I determined to do an "early"
morning ride - hopefully before it got too hot.  It wasn't bad.  Even though it was still a bit warmer than
desired.

Ride Started: 7:33 AM           Ride Ended:  8:19 AM 
Beginning Battery Voltage: 12.9   Ending Battery Voltage:  12.8
Lowest Temp: 75 F Highest Temp: 82  F
Beginning Blood Glucose:  148   Ending BG:157
Stats from the GPS: Total Miles:  6.26
Overall Average Speed      Moving Avg       Max Speed
 7.9 MPH                             8.2 MPH           23.5 MPH
Total Trip(s) Time             Moving Time      Stopped Time
  47 minutes                       46  minutes         2  minutes

What's Happening Lately

 21 June Tues Tracking

22 June Wednesday Wandering 

24 June Friday Tracking 

25 June Saturday 

27 June Monday Meandering

29 June Wednesday  

30 June GPS Tracking 

Weather - and Old Age - have not been ideal for pedaling the trike around recently. 
But, of course, I ride anyway.  When weather is more beneficial, short or long rides "soup me up", elevate my mood, reduce my Blood Glucose, etc.
When the conditions are HOT, the only thing that improves is lowered blood sugar.
Otherwise it results in too-long periods of cooling off and loafing inside the house under the air conditioner.  OH WELL

 

Jack - My most Frequent Passenger

 

Longest Ride on Coolest (?) Day Stats:
27 June 2020
Ride Started: 10:51 AM           Ride Ended:  12:09 PM 
Beginning Battery Voltage: 13.2   Ending Battery Voltage:  12.9
Lowest Temp: 75 F Highest Temp: 80  F
Beginning Blood Glucose:  172   Ending BG: 80
Stats from the GPS: Total Miles:  7.80
Overall Average Speed      Moving Avg       Max Speed
 5.5 MPH                             7.5 MPH           23.4 MPH
Total Trip(s) Time             Moving Time      Stopped Time
  1 hour 24 minutes          1 hour 2 mins         22 minutes

Too HOT to Ride

 6 June Ride to Post Office and Back 

7 June Big Box Store Trip 

10 June Friday Around-the-Square 

11 June Saturday TWO trips 

13 June Monday Tracking 

14 June Tues Tracking 

15 June Jimmy & Susie's Birthday Memorial Track 

16 June TOO HOT TRACKING 

17 June STILL Too Hot to Ride 

18 June MUCH Better Temps Track 

More riding than writing lately, for sure. 
The summer months are surely warming up around here, and the last 3 rides have been pretty hard on me, with hours of exhaustion following what used to be fairly normal mileage.  Nothing to do with getting older, mind you.
On the 16th of June I took off when I shouldn't have.  It was blisteringly hot and humid, and I found myself riding on the wrong side of the street (facing oncoming traffic) because that was where the trees shaded the pavement at least partially.
Even with the aid of the shade, I had to stop every hundred feet or so to rest, catch my breath, and slug more warm water down my parched throat.
And Yes, I *would* appreciate a little cheese with this whine....
I made it to the Box Store to pick up a prescription for the wife;  my usual excuse for riding more than just around the block or nearby town square.
I sat inside the store in the cooler air on one of the Old Fart benches for a short time and then went back out into the furnace for the ride home.  As one can easily see from the GPS track-map, I tried to shorten the ride by going back almost the same way I came.  Uphill much of the way but mercifully shorter, and again with many shade / water breaks.
The next day the same ride was repeated, with SLIGHTLY lesser temperatures.
I determined that - as long as  this stultifying heat continues - I need to arise early in the morning and ride EARLY if I'm going to ride at all.
On the next day I *tried* to get going earlier but with my habit of "doing other things" until the last minute, it was tennish and again getting warm before I took off.  It was still much more survivable than the previous 2 days.
TODAY, Sunday, for some reason it felt MUCH cooler.  The humidity was shockingly lower than usual: 18-20%  rather than the usual 60% + readings.
Howsomever, since it was Sunday, I took the day off and enjoyed the cooler sensations with only a couple of doggie - walks for exercise.

Yesterday's spotty data --

Ride Started: 9:37 AM           Ride Ended:  10:29 PM 
Beginning Battery Voltage: 13.0   Ending Battery Voltage:  13.0
Lowest Temp: 75 F Highest Temp: 82  F
Beginning Blood Glucose:  202   Ending BG: 180
Stats from the GPS: Total Miles:  5.89
Overall Average Speed      Moving Avg       Max Speed
 5.6 MPH                             7.3 MPH           22.9 MPH
Total Trip(s) Time             Moving Time      Stopped Time
  1 hour 3 minutes              48 minutes         15 minutes

Wow, What a Week

 22 May Sunday Short Track

23 May Monday Ride 

25 May Wednesday 

27 May Friday 

29 May Sunday Short Ride 

June First First Ride Sorta 

 3 June Friday GPS Route

 4 June GPS Saturday Routing 

Mercy. I DO get behind in my scribblings.
First of all, I MUST report that Jacque completely pulled the wool over my eyes --
Having planned a "family reunion" for May 28, a week past my birthday.  She got grumpy ole me to show up for a church pick-a-nick at which I was totally STUNNED to meet many of my family and good friends all around, embarrassing me with good wishes for being such an old fart.  My tear ducts got very leaky the next few days, especially when even MORE family showed up:  My sister and a brother.  We had guests in and our of the house, some sleeping in the RV and even more at local Air B&B's.
What can I say but thanks to all my loved ones, including those who couldn't show up.  My youngest grandson went for delightful rides in the trike trailer with me, and life was and is good.

Some of the rowdies at my birthday bash....
 

Many seemed concerned about my state of health, and I tried to reassure them that I was and am just fine:  One foot on the grave and the other on a banana peel, as the old saying goes.
My trike rides help me, as usual, to keep me convinced I'll last a little bit longer.
As another old saying goes:  I wanna go to Heaven, Lord, but I need to catch up on a few more projects....

 

These Mules made threatening hissing noises as I passed.  No braying......

Today's Ride Started: 4:34 PM           Ride Ended:  5:55 PM 
Beginning Battery Voltage: 13.6  Ending Battery Voltage:  13.0
Lowest Temp: 72 F Highest Temp: 78  F
Beginning Blood Glucose:  190   Ending BG: 60
Stats from the GPS: Total Miles:  6.58
Overall Average Speed      Moving Avg       Max Speed
 4.8 MPH                              8.6 MPH           21 MPH
Total Trip(s) Time             Moving Time      Stopped Time
  1 hour 22  minutes          46 minutes          36 minutes

Birthday Bash

12 May route

Sunday 15 May route

Monday 16 May Route

Wednesday 18 May Route - Longest?

19 May Shortie Route 

Very Short Birthday Ride to P.O.

I've been Riding without Writing too much lately.  Well, actually  not enough Riding either, but way too little keeping up the memos with writing.
At my age, suddenly attaining 75 today, my hands are so unsteady I rarely can manually write anything that is legible, even to me.  I can still find the keys on the laptop (thank goodness for high school typing class!) so this is my ignoble method of "keeping a journal" so to speak.
Pedaling the Trike around is still my favorite method of displaying what energy I have left.  Walking is problematical with my diabetic feet but it's interesting (at least to ME) that I can  do miles of pedaling the trike up hill and down dale with marvelously fewer breaks.
We had hoped to travel up to the Katy Trail (decomissioned MKT train trail) and let me trike at least a few dozen miles for my birthday, but the forecast called for temperatures up there in the low THIRTIES (In late MAY?) so we tossed other options about, such as riding Route 60 over to Cabool - about 10 miles one-way,
thence a short ride over to the Cabool Park with its very nice paved foot / bike path around the pond.
But the weather got in the way.  The thunder-boomers started about 2:00 AM this
morning, with rain early in the waking hours.  THEN it cleared, with a bright
sunny day, no clouds in the sky, and I rode the trike over to the local P.O. taking
some mail for Jacque to the outbound box.  Only had to splash through a few
puddles.  My hopes for more sunshine and riding were dashed when the clouds suddenly conglomerated again and we spent most of the day watching it rain.
The power blinked once or twice but stayed on and nothing had to be reset so far as we could ascertain.
Jacque cooked some of Jim's favorite dishes and life is good.  For some unknown reason God has allowed me to make it another year.   Now all I have to do is make good use of it.

Ride Started: 9:14 AM           Ride Ended:  11:21 AM 
Beginning Battery Voltage: 13.0  Ending Battery Voltage:  12.7
Lowest Temp: 64 F Highest Temp: 78 F
Beginning Blood Glucose:  150   Ending BG: 110
Stats from the GPS: Total Miles:   7.54
Overall Average Speed      Moving Avg       Max Speed
 3.5 MPH                            8.5 MPH              23.2 MPH
Total Trip(s) Time            Moving Time      Stopped Time
 2 hours 8 minutes             53 Minutes        1 hour 15 minutes

Wow, Way Behind Here

 21 April Route
22 April Route
24 April Sunday
25 April
26 April Route
27 April
28 April
29 April
5 May 2022  
6 May 
7 May Shortie

As Bored Readers can easily see, I have been quite lax in keeping up with "daily" recordings of my meager trike travels and adventures. 
As one can see, I ride a lot, if not far, and I repeat again my conviction that even short forays pumping my skinny legs and sore feet on the pedals helps both with reducing Blood Glucose levels and improving my mood and state of mind for this aged diabetic.

                                      A Reminder I've recently had my Head Examined

 Not too many comments on any of these "trips" except for one.
On the 6 May ride I encountered something I'd not before experienced:  As I approached an intersection in the middle of town, a car pulled out right in FRONT of me, as I was about to turn in front of HIM to turn left.  I was wearing my silly yellow bright "eye-catching" cycling jacket, had my left arm extended to indicate  my impending turn, and all that.   Obviously the driver didn't see or notice me.  BUT I have both brakes, steering, and sufficient alertness that I was able to apply brakes, turn sharply to the other side of the street to avoid slamming into him, and all was well.  The offending driver didn't stop to apologize and I didn't care to engage in conversation with him.  My only conversation was a fervent THANKS to Heavenly Father for saving my feeble hide... Again.
The rest of that trip was comparatively fine and dandy.
The May 7 "shortie" ride was with the BOB trailer and an empty 5 gallon gas can over a couple blocks to refill the container with expensive fuel for our Craftsman riding lawn mower.
As I was refilling the container, a dude on the other side of the  pump snarkily asked me "What kind of  Mileage do you get out of that thimg?"  Of course I answered "Terrible!!  I can only make it a few miles before I run out of Gas!!"  I told him the truth, of course.
Now that we suddenly have hot weather - from one day to the next over the last weekend - I am again wearing shorts instead of long pants and jackets to stay warm.  I plan to take another ride to our local Big Box Store to pick up some necessities.  I'd better get going before it heats up too much.

Ride Started: 4:46 PM           Ride Ended:  4:56 PM 
Beginning Battery Voltage: 13.7  Ending Battery Voltage:  13.0
Lowest Temp: 67 F Highest Temp: 82 F
Beginning Blood Glucose:  150   Ending BG: 110
Stats from the GPS: Total Miles:   .48 (!!)
Overall Average Speed      Moving Avg       Max Speed
 2.7 MPH                           5.6 MPH              12.7 MPH
Total Trip(s) Time            Moving Time      Stopped Time
 10  mins  40 seconds           5 minutes          5 Minutos

Gone With....the Wind?

                                                        Took Lilly for a ride Saturday...

Friday 15 April Tax Day Tracking 

Saturday 16 April Tracks

 Monday's Multiple Short Loops

 Tuesday (Boring) Short Ride

Wacky Windy Wednesday Tracking 

I guess I've AGAIN been kinda lazy about logging all my  trike pedaling recently.  At least I HAVE been riding, even if I've been slack about blogging it.
I have noticed recently that my blood glucose drops markedly even after or during my "short" rides around the neighborhood, so I try, weather permitting, to get in a few hundred yards or so at least every day.
I often ride even when the weather is not sunny and warm, since when it's cold I can layer up and put on my mittens, face mask, and such.  Plus after a few hundred yards I tend to get warmed up and often have to unzip or even remove a "layer" to stay cool enough to be comfortable.
So most of the listed "tracks" above are such squeeze - ins.
Yesterday we spent most of the day traveling to and from the Temple in St. Louis, but we got home with a couple hours or so of daylight left, so I was able to stretch my legs after that almost 7 hours sitting in a petroleum powered car by taking a short trike ride.  The long trip was well worth it, but what a relief to stretch my legs by pedaling around a bit.
This morning, Wednesday, I had a pedicure appointment with Wally at out local California Nails salon.
The weather forecast was for nasty, cold and windy.  When we awoke it was pouring rain and not looking good.  Jacque was all set to drive me there and back, but like most of the world, we too have  goofy weather.  About an hour before my appointment, the rain stopped and the clouds started thinning.
The current professional weather guess was for high winds, but who cares about that?  As long as I didn't get soaked I figured I could deal with wind.  At my back, it helps me along.  Hitting me face - on
would make more work pedaling, but exercise is part of the appeal, right?  Right.  Maybe.
I made it there with a few minutes to spare for my appointment, and the clouds were actually starting to part with nice sunshine peeking through, but the wind was whipping up and the clouds overhead were making curious paths in the sky, making me wonder it they were going to start circling, which makes the weather guessers (And US) worry about "severe storms" including tornadoes.
Well, nothing serious happened.
As I walked across the parking area, a nice lady who was leaving in her car yelled at me "Is that your ride?"  Of course I nodded yes, and wanted to get a closer look to see if it was someone we knew, but I was running too close to being late for my time slot and had to scoot on into the facility.  I suspect it was the Mom of one of our Church Primary class kids.  Whatever.
While Wally was doing his magic on my crummy feet, the wind was obviously getting stronger outside.
By the time I left, the wind was positively howling.  And, of course, it was whipping back and forth, but stronger and longer in the opposite direction I needed to get home.
I don't remember if I've ever had to use such lower gears riding on normally straight and level streets.
I didn't actually have to use "Granny Gear" but I was only a couple of gears above that for about half the ride home.  Extra huffing and puffing for sure.
I'm unsure if I've previously mentioned I'm now on anti-seizure pills.  An undesirable side effect (at least during the day) is that they make me unusually sleepy.  Yawning and trying to stay awake most of the day, except of course while pedaling the trike.
An unbeknownst benefit is that my foot pain is dramatically reduced, and especially at night while in bed.  Prior to these expensive pills, I had to sleep with burning diabetic foot pain, often  waking up to rub them or get up and walk around a bit to lessen the pain.  Now they  just basically don't hurt at night, though they still get tired easily and early when standing or walking.  A great side effect that isn't mentioned in the "literature".

Ride Started: 9:12 AM           Ride Ended:  10:51 AM 
Beginning Battery Voltage: 13.0   Ending Battery Voltage:  12.8
Lowest Temp: 50 F Highest Temp: 53 F
Beginning Blood Glucose:  150   Ending BG: 110
Stats from the GPS: Total Miles:   4.42
Overall Average Speed      Moving Avg       Max Speed
 2.62 MPH                         6.5 MPH            24.2 MPH
Total Trip(s) Time             Moving Time      Stopped Time
 1 hour 40  mins               41 minutes         1 hour