We Won't Go This Way Again

Today's Over-Done Tracking via GPS and Ham Radio

Yesterday's ride, while tiring, was so motivational that I just had to try again today.
My unusual reasoning was "If I can do 7.7 miles, then surely I can do 10 miles...." You get my drift, dear reader.
I have often eyed the wide shoulder up on the main east-west Route 60 highway, and often thought it would be fun to ride along that route sometime.  Today was the time, methought, and it was a simple idea:  Ride from home out to the west-most exit/on-ramp for Mountain Grove, thence east along 60 to the eastern-most exit for Mountain Grove and back home again on the "Business 60" street / road through town.  Just guessing without calculating, I thought it might come out close to 10 miles.
It turned out to be a tad more than 13 miles, which while unimpressive, was a bit overboard for a gradual increase in mileage goals.  Very Very Tired is Me.
As is my current normality, I stopped multiple times to rest;  to get up and walk around to get different movements to help the agony in the feet, and to take off the shoes and massage my poor pinkies for some temporary relief.  I carried a single 16-ounce water bottle that I almost used completely before I got home.  I also popped a couple more Excedrin along the way, of which I keep a small stash in the pannier.
The most formidable problem was the eastern end of "Business Route 60".  There are 2 other exits for Mountain Grove, and both have decent shoulders.  Not so the eastern exit.  I had known about the lack of shoulder on that end of town, but I thought it might be only a mile or so that could be navigated.  It actually is SEVERAL miles, with long hills to climb along the way.  I slogged along anyway, since it was either that or call for Jacque to come rescue me.  Thankfully thus far I'm able to do the "Guy Thing" and do it myself.... sorta.  Without Jacque's support, of course, I could do little if any of what I'm doing.  Anyway, even though all passing drivers gave me plenty of room, in spite of the sun shining in their faces at this hour, I will henceforth avoid the east stretch of "Business 60".
Each crest of the business 60 eastern hills were met with anticipation that I was near the end of the no-shoulder-torture section.... but as usual, the road appears entirely differently from the seat of a bike than through the windshield of a hundred-horsepower dinosaur-powered vehicle.
I am QUITE tired tonight, while sitting with my feet in the bubbly foot-bath. 
Funny thing is:  Yes, my feet are tired and sore.... but no more - and possibly less - than after loafing around the house all day.
Oh, to be 20 again.... or even 40.... or even 60......  BAH.  I am paying dearly for all the teasing and harassment and unkind thoughts I have entertained in my younger years for the "Old Folks".  Now I AM one.  What goes around comes around......

Ride Started:  3:56 PM    Ride Ended:  6:40 PM

Beginning Battery Voltage:   13.0 Ending Voltage: 12.8 Lowest:  12.8
Beginning Blood Glucose:  160   Ending BG:  118
Lowest Temp  53 F     Highest Temp: 75 F   
Stats from the GPS:    Total Miles: 13.42
Distance Walked: 1+ miles
Overall average speed            Moving Avg               Max Speed  
 4.9 MPH                                   6.1 MPH                    22.7 MPH 

Total Trip time                       Moving Time             Stopped Time 
2 hours 44 mins                      2 hours 11  mins               33  minutes

Gotta Love Daylight Savings Time?

Today's Fine Tracking Plot

Today dawned much nicer than the previous few days:  Several days of Pouring Rain, Cold Temperatures, and Howling Wind.
We are still not used to everything being soggy and wet.  Evidently in the Midwest they think a drought is happening if it hasn't rained for a week.  Thus defined, we surely haven't noticed any 'droughts' around since moving here.
Yesterday was sunny but awful winds howling all day made it miserable.
Today dawned sunny again, after an all-night howling wind storm.  The wind had slowed to a middling breeze today so I thought I would get out and saddle up for a trike ride sometime during the day.  Unfortunately, it was a bad day for my sore feet.  Jacque stirred up some essential oils into a soothing mix that she rubbed into my aching toes several times during the day.  It felt good while she was working my feet over but the relief was short lived each time.
I was determined to get at least another short ride in, since I usually feel better after cooling off from a ride even though the feet don't appreciate the pressure from pedaling the cranks around and around.
Along about late afternoon I thought I had better see about going for  a ride, when I noticed the clock's time of 4:00 PM.  I've taken the trike out so late several times, but since darkness fell shortly afterward, it meant a short ride, often with the last mile or so being in the dark.
This time, however, the sun was still high in the sky, and I realized that we now have the miraculous "Extra Hour" of sunshine due to our ever-hated Daylight Savings Time, so perhaps I could get in a decent trip before it got dark.
So, I backed the Ford Exploder out of our beloved garage, then wheeled out the Catrike and set up the antennas and connected the battery cable for the electronics.
It was still breezing a bit cool, so I wore my polar fleece skull cap under the bike helmet and a thin but warm jacket for a layer under my windbreaker.
I wore full fingered riding gloves (I use mechanics gloves - cheaper than "cycling" ones).
I did NOT get overheated this ride, even though I got in the most miles since we moved to Missouri.
I DID get tired, and my feet, already mildly burning, felt no better as I rode along.  My VA doctor had reminded me on the phone this morning that cycling was a good form of non-weight-bearing exercise for me.  This motivated me to keep going and try to avoid excess pain. 
I found that by pedaling in lower gears meant that I could ride with less pain, though of course more slowly.  Instead of stopping to rest the feet every few miles, this time I stopped probably every mile or less.
Almost halfway around town, I looked up and realized the sun was still quite high in the sky, allowing me more time to poke along.  So I stopped frequently, a couple times to pee in the bushes, and either rested with my sore feet on the ground, or by getting off the trike and walking around a bit,  which also helped ease the burning pains.
I had to cross the busy Highway 95 that runs North to South through town, and at 5-ish it of course meant I had to wait a bit for a decent opening to cross through the traffic.  This only took a few minutes this time, and I took my usual detour around the Cenex parking lot to get to Oakland, which runs parallel to 95 but a couple blocks away.  I took a few detours around previously unexplored streets, and finally back due south to home.
We have encountered no other trikes or trikers in this area and are beginning to believe we may be the only ones in town or the immediate vicinity.  Motorists passing us always give a wide berth and those coming toward us often stop and watch me as I ride by.  A pair of farmers on the SE side of town spotted and watched me for at least a half mile as I rode towards them and the intersection where they stood while I turned back toward the north to continue riding.   Another couple of cars approaching me on North Hovis street stopped in mid-street and watched me pass by.  A couple of teenagers in a neighborhood said aloud:  "Blankety Blank!  What's THAT?  - But one of his buddies said "Cool!" to counteract his friend's ignorance.  When we go to the barber or senior center many folks will mention they've seen us on our trikes and they always watch through the windows when we ride up on the Tandem Terratrike.  Fun Stuff-
By the time I finally got back home to put the trike and SUV back in the garage, my feet and most of the rest of me were POOPED.  I was surprised after stumbling around putting such stuff away that my feet had started feeling warm and rather pleasant.  Maybe going into shock? 
Whatever.  I treated the feet to a cool soaking.  We'll see if I can get some sleep tonight with the added fatigue.

Ride Started:  4:20 PM    Ride Ended:  6:10 PM

Beginning Battery Voltage:   13.1 Ending Voltage: 12.9 Lowest:  12.8
Beginning Blood Glucose:  191   Ending BG:  96
Lowest Temp  46 F     Highest Temp: 54 F   
Stats from the GPS:    Total Miles: 7.22
Distance Walked: .3 mile
Overall average speed            Moving Avg               Max Speed  
 3.9 MPH                                   5.0 MPH                    22.7 MPH 

Total Trip time                       Moving Time             Stopped Time 
1 hour 50 mins                       1 hour 26  mins               24  minutes

The Sun Came Out, So I Did Too

Sunny Days are not as common here in Missouri as they are in New Mexico.  Thus, when one occurs with a temperature above freezing, I try my best to take advantage of it.  Thus another ride today.  Not to go to the Post Office.  Not to shop at WalMart.  No visit to the Hardware Stores.  Just a ride to huff and puff a few miles.
I first pedaled down to Business Route 60, the main street going east and west through this burg, then rode east out toward the east end of town where the town bypass meets back up to the main divided highway of Route 60.
I keep taking this route with the same thought of going clear to the eastern edge of Mountain Grove, but as soon as I start climbing the low hill leading out of town I realize the nice wide shoulder disappears entirely.  The divided highway of Route 60, with all its high speed traffic, has nice wide shoulders, but the easternmost few miles of the business route have no shoulder.  I have yet to encounter an aggressive or inattentive driver, but folks tend to push 'er up to 60+ MPH on the edges of town and with no shoulder I just plain don't want to take the risk.
So I again turned around, turned north on Hovis, and rode up to the frontage road paralleling
the Big Highway and rode west across 95 to Oakland, around some previously unexplored side streets and back around, making a bit over 5 miles this time.
I'm certainly not "back up to speed" yet, as my legs were about to collapse with even this few miles logged on them.  I discovered a previously unknown park (Ina Crandall) and Mountain Grove (outdoor) swimming pool.  The pool is of course closed for the winter, but it's nice to know it's there.
As aforementioned, my legs were getting a bit rubbery for the last couple miles of the loop around the neighborhood, and I started having trouble keeping my feet on the pedals.  I've not experienced this before, but when I checked my blood glucose (BG) when I got home I realized my blood sugar was so low (46) as to contribute to my  dopiness.  This even after consuming 29 carbs of a breakfast bar out of my pannier about halfway through the ride.

Ride Started:  3:20 PM    Ride Ended:  4.42 PM

Beginning Battery Voltage:   13.0 Ending Voltage: 12.8  Lowest:  12.8
Beginning Blood Glucose:  72     Ending BG:  46
Lowest Temp  44 F     Highest Temp: 46 F   
Stats from the GPS:    Total Miles:  5.53
Distance Walked: .3 mile
Overall average speed            Moving Avg               Max Speed  
4.02 MPH                                   5.8 MPH                    18.7 MPH 

Total Trip time                       Moving Time             Stopped Time 
1 hour 22 mins                       57  minutes               24  minutes

Another Typical Trip for Stuff

Today's Around-the-Village Tracking

This day dawned rather sunny and - with 50-60-ish temperatures, I had to saddle up for a ride, even if disgustingly short.
Just around the corner from the house, the railway was blocked by track maintenance vehicles.
I only had to cool my already-sore heels for a few minutes before the clanging arms arose and allowed the long line of vehicles to clear the crossing, after which I also rode through unmolested.
I visited two of my favorite establishments:  Mountain Grove Builders' Supply and Miller's Electrical and Plumbing Supply.  Miller's conduit was too long for me to safely haul on the trike, so I'll return there later with the dinosaur-burning Exploder.  The Builder's Supply had exactly what I needed, and it fit into my rear pannier, so I chugged home with it.
The  short run was not very hilly nor difficult but my always-sore feet were absolutely screaming about halfway home and got only worse as I rode in spite of varying my gears, foot positions, etc.
In spite of the fatigue and burning foot pain, I usually feel better after I cool off after even such a short ride as this one.
Aching feet are soaking in the foot-water-massage bubble machine as I close this epistle...

Ride Started:  3:14 PM    Ride Ended:  3:52 PM

Beginning Battery Voltage:   12.9 Ending Voltage: 12.8  Lowest:  12.7
Beginning Blood Glucose:  181     Ending BG:  70
Lowest Temp  57 F     Highest Temp: 71 F   
Stats from the GPS:    Total Miles:  1.91
Distance Walked: .1 mile
Overall average speed            Moving Avg               Max Speed  
3.0 MPH                                   5.8 MPH                    21.1 MPH 

Total Trip time                       Moving Time             Stopped Time 
38 minutes                             19 minutes               18  minutes

Parts Runaround

Today's Halfway Tracking

After a few days of sub-optimal weather the sun actually came out today.  It came and went behind haze and clouds, but I had an excuse for a short ride.
Our emergency generator broke a carriage wheel during our recent move.  With the local electric service going blink-blink occasionally during storms, and even dropped out several hours about a week ago, we need that backup generator.  Our household furnace is gas fired but has to have electricity to run the fan to force the heat through the ducts.  Our water heater is electric, as is our cooking range.  We could run a long extension cord from our RV if ever needed, but having standby full 240 VAC is nice, even if it is a heart-attack rope-pull start.
My 60 gallon Craftsman air compressor is hooked up and running but it needs lubrication.  I hadn't injected any compressor lube in it for months prior nor since being stored for a year and the long move across country to Missouri.  So, I had 2 items I needed to pick up at a local hardware store.
The closest most favorite hardware joint is less than half a mile away, north across the tracks and a block to the left.  I made it there on the Catrike in only a few minutes, but after a total tour of the store and finding they had none of either, I had to move elsewhere.  I was advised to try Hawkins Home & Garden - another mile or so north - so away I went.  I made the mistake of riding the main road (Highway 95) all the way through the town center instead of taking a slightly longer route via side streets.
I didn't have any real problems.  However, traffic backed up behind me several times.  Many drivers are either too timid or polite:  Even with plenty of lane room, they'd refuse to pass me even after several blocks, backing up traffic behind them.  I resorted to turning into side streets ever so often so the line of autos could zoom onward.  I admit this is better than trying to crowd me to the curb at high speed, as some drivers like, but in the future I'll do my best to take side streets when possible.
And, on the return leg homeward, that's just what I did.  My tracking radio stopped bleeping positions for some reason, so that leg of the ride doesn't show up on the map.
Several hundred yards of slight uphill grade coming back kinda wore me out, but not overly so.
Feet soaking in the water bubbler massage bath...... Life is Good.

Ride Started:  12:50 PM    Ride Ended:  2.18 PM

Beginning Battery Voltage:   13.0 Ending Voltage: 12.8  Lowest:  12.8
Beginning Blood Glucose:  218     Ending BG:  50
Lowest Temp  44 F     Highest Temp: 50 F   
Stats from the GPS:    Total Miles:  3.41
Distance Walked: .3 mile
Overall average speed            Moving Avg               Max Speed  
2.52 MPH                                   5.8 MPH                    21.8 MPH 

Total Trip time                       Moving Time             Stopped Time 
1 hour 25 mins                        35  minutes               49  minutes

To Market, To Market

Today's Town Square Tracking

Jacque found a refrigerator she liked in the classifieds today.  We needed a few hundred cash to make the purchase, so I rode my trike the huge quarter-mile distance to the Post Office to ship out a package, thence around the corner to the nearest bank to withdraw some money.
It was a sunny but very windy ride.  My torso got so overheated I had to remove my warmest layer, and my feet got so cold I was in agony standing in the post office and bank waiting on the tellers to handle my business.
As usual recently, I had hoped to ride a few miles before turning toward home, but my tender feet convinced me to give up early. 
Which was just as well.  Jacque was back from her errand to Ava and ready to roll to get the fridge.
This turned into an agonizing trip since my feet were still complaining all the way out  and back.
But we picked up a very nice stainless steel fridge and got back before dark.
Then we struggled to unload it from the trailer and muscle it into the house.  It was too large to get through our largest door, of course, so we had to remove hardware from the storm door and the main entry door entirely to scrunch it inside.
We huffed and puffed and finally got the monster safely inside, and the front  doors have been reinstalled and we're again sealed safely from the elements.
My feet are bubbling nicely in the coolness of the water foot massager, so life is good.

Ride Started:  1203 PM    Ride Ended:  12.34 PM

Beginning Battery Voltage:   13.0 Ending Voltage: 12.8  Lowest:  12.8
Beginning Blood Glucose:  185     Ending BG: 106
Lowest Temp  50 F     Highest Temp: 57 F   
Stats from the GPS:    Total Miles:  1.05
Distance Walked: .5 mile
Overall average speed            Moving Avg               Max Speed  
2.02 MPH                                   5.0 MPH                    13.2 MPH 

Total Trip time                       Moving Time             Stopped Time 
32 minutes                             12  minutes               18  minutes

40 Degrees is Still Cold

Today's Two-Mile Tracking

Between the wintry weather and my ailing feet, I haven't done a lot of cruising under feet-power lately.  Even though my trike rides generally end in much less distance than hoped-for, I'm hoping that forcing myself to go ahead and ride when possible will help me build up my strength again in legs and feet.  I turn 72 in a couple more months and would like to replicate my mile-per-year-of-age stunt again.  If I don't make more rehabilitation progress, I'll either have to wimp out on the mondo
birthday ride or take 3 days to accomplish it.
Today was again a cold Missouri day BUT the sun came out and burned off the fog and warmed things up a bit.  To diffuse my Stir Crazies, I decided to do the usual (of late) and at least ride a little bit.
I planned to ride about 4 miles to a friend's house on the edge of town, but the chilly temperatures really pained my already tender feet.  Again, as usual, I got started late and was running out of sunshine.  With the cold permeating my feet I turned around and came back, ignoring the squawks of my GPS telling me to "Make a U-Turn!"
Though tiring, my legs and feet feel more energized after getting thawed out at home.  I can't bring myself to ride in slop when moisture is falling, but I'm determined to get off my butt more often.
WAIT - I sit on my butt riding the trike.  WHATEVER.

Ride Started:  4.08 PM    Ride Ended:  4:31 PM

Beginning Battery Voltage:   13.2 Ending Voltage: 12.9  Lowest:  12.9
Beginning Blood Glucose:  185     Ending BG: 106
Lowest Temp  42 F     Highest Temp: 46 F   
Stats from the GPS:    Total Miles:  2.01
Distance Walked: .1 mile
Overall average speed            Moving Avg               Max Speed  
6.7 MPH                                   7.2 MPH                    11.0 MPH 
Total Trip time                       Moving Time             Stopped Time 
22 minutes                              20 minutes               1 minute