Sunday Driver

 Tuesday 25 Jan GPS Track

Thursday 27 Jan GPS Track

Saturday 29 Jan GPS Track

Sunday 30 Jan GPS Track

Spotty Weather makes for intermittent exercise.  At least that's my current excuse.
Today, Sunday morning dawned cold but milder than usual.  We stayed home from Church because we feared we had picked up at least a mild "bug" from somewhere and - in today's weird world - even though we didn't feel REALLY sick, we didn't want to chance anyone else getting whatever it is/was from us.
It's great, though.... In this "Modern" upside down weird world, we have the technology and ability to watch and listen to such meetings at home via Zoom.  So even though we weren't there, we got to enjoy the Spirit anyway.
I was not suffering any "symptoms" of anything, and as the day wore on and warmed up, I decided to drag out the Catrike and go for a ride.
I carefully randomly selected the route (Clouse Road) out to our local Mountain Grove International Airport.  It's been a while since I rode this road....
The weather was sunny and still cool enough that the snowbanks along the road had not completely disappeared.  

Should I feel guilty because the current arctic front terrorizing the East Coast is missing us for the time being?  I don't think so.

It was just cool enough to keep me from getting overheated;  that is, mostly.  On the way home I had to unzip my jacket to cool down a bit.  The slight breeze had been in my face on the way out and nearly non noticeable on the way back, thus allowing me to warm up a bit too much.

Sunday Ride Started:  2:27 PM           Ride Ended:   3.30 PM
Beginning Battery Voltage: 13.9   Ending Battery Voltage:  12.9
Lowest Temp: 39 F Highest Temp: 64 F
Beginning Blood Glucose:  140   Ending BG: 60
Stats from the GPS: Total Miles:  5.14
Overall Average Speed      Moving Avg          Max Speed
  7.9 MPH                              8.7 MPH             19.0  MPH
Total Trip(s) Time              Moving Time        Stopped Time
 39 minutes                          35 minutes             4  minutes

Outa Shape

My Ham GPS tracker was not working today, even after "repairing" it.  BAH

 After several days with bitterly cold weather, it was definitely time to get out and around on the Catrike.

I wanted to get going earlier than I usually do, but with various distractions it was 3:00 -ish PM by the time I saddled up.
It's been only a few days without riding, but I sure noticed a difference getting going.  I seemed to run out of steam earlier than I'm used to, and I'm no speed monkey at my advanced age in the first place.
So what, I just gear down earlier and longer and huff and puff, etc.
Of course my objective for an "excuse to ride" was our local Big Box Store for a few minor items.
I was looking for some 4 inch black stove pipe for our little garage wood burner.  Supposedly such a size of stovepipe is made and sold SOMEWHERE but evidently not in Mountain Grove.  First I tried the Hardware Store just north of the Big Box Store, since they usually have more of such stuff I often look for - even if a little higher in price.
After several fruitless minutes wandering around the store and asking sales help, I gave up and tode back the few hundred yards to the Big Box.
Why do the Big Box Stores have to move stuff around and rearrange - do customers buy more if they have to wander around??  I suppose I prove the point since I found NOTHING I was looking for, finally giving up to leave but buying a couple of nickle/dime items on the way out.  Had I been able to find anything actually on my list, I think they would have made more money from me.  I might have to swear off Big Boxes and just pay the higher prices at other places where I can actually find what I'm looking for.
When I staggered out of Big Box, I was feeling a bit punk and checked my blood sugar - it was crashing low at 47.  I've learned not to ignore such things nowadays, so I ate a couple of my emergency cookies.
I waited for a while before pedaling away, and Jacque called me - worried at the linked alerts she'd been getting on her smart devices.  I finally rode south across the Route 60 overpass and turned left at the Mickey D's exit.  Again feeling punk-ish, I pulled over in a wide spot in the pavement and checked my blood sugar again and it was again crashing, now at 40 with the pump bleeping and screaming at me.
I actually carry a little vial of white sugar for such "incidents", and consumed that as well, washing it down with my bottle water.  I sat there, impatiently waiting to see if / when my blood sugar would rise out of the danger zone.  Twenty or more minutes later, I finally was brave enough to again head for home.  The sun was still shining brightly, but by then it was starting to get cool again.  Motivating me to move along.
I stopped  again at our CHC Home Center, who also had no 4 inch black stovepipe in stock, so I went the remaining few blocks home.
Ending blood sugar was a bit low but acceptable.
When I got home I couldn't find our favorite Papillion doggy Tinkerbell.  She usually sleeps all day in her fluffy bed, but was nowhere to be found.
I finally spotted her:  Under the dining room table feverishly ripping through my Ziplock baggie of Jacques' Emergency Cookies.  Only a few crumbs left, rats.  I then realized I had stepped in a strange puddle of "unidentified water: on the floor.  Obviously I had arrived home too late to "walk the dogs".
SIGH.  Life in the Slow Lane

Ride Started:  3:15 PM           Ride Ended:   5:04 PM
Beginning Blood Glucose:  150   Ending BG: 102

Stats from the GPS: Total Miles:  5.95
Overall Average Speed      Moving Avg          Max Speed
  5.9 MPH                              7.2 MPH             18.2  MPH
Total Trip(s) Time              Moving Time        Stopped Time
 21 minutes                          17 minutes             4  minutes

Around a Few Blocks

 Today's GPS Roundabouts

After spending most of the day on the road to West Plains and back, I was determined to get at least a short ride going.
Of course it was past 4 PM when I got going.  I had thought to do my usual 5+ mile ride but thought I shouldn't get so close to dark-thirty before getting home.  So I just rode a few blocks past a couple nearby friends' houses and made it home before dark.
I was surprised at the mildness of today's Mid January weather.  Just cool enough to wear a medium jacket.
While putting the trike back inside the garage, I noticed our emergency generators (again) that haven't been needed in months.  Nor have they even been started and tested.
SO.  I dragged THEM outside.  One 5 KW and one 500 Watt -- both Heart Attack Yank-the-Cord starter types.  The bigger machine took several yanks and several minutes, since it has both an electric run switch and a fuel shutoff valve, which I usually forget to open until I've done several fruitless pulls on the starter rope.  Finally it coughed to life, and after massaging the choke for a few minutes while it warmed up, I plugged in a power saw and it seemed to run just fine.
The little guy, which usually won't power much more than a soldering iron or a very light motor, was a different story.  Not only was it out of oil/gas fuel, but it was covered with dust from being ignored so long.
Even after putting in the  fuel, which also works in the chainsaw, it took many yanks to get it going.  Then it took an unusual amount of choking to get it warmed up, but finally it too performed as it should.

Ride Started:  4:18 PM           Ride Ended:   4.36 PM
Beginning Battery Voltage: 13.0   Ending Battery Voltage:  12.9
Lowest Temp: 53 F Highest Temp: 53 F
Beginning Blood Glucose:  160   Ending BG: 150
Stats from the GPS: Total Miles:  2.03
Overall Average Speed      Moving Avg          Max Speed
  5.9 MPH                              7.2 MPH             18.2  MPH
Total Trip(s) Time              Moving Time        Stopped Time
 21 minutes                          17 minutes             4  minutes

Playing Catch-up

4 Jan GPS Tracking  

5 Jan GPS Track   

8 Jan GPS Track 

 10 Jan GPS Track  

 12 Jan GPS Track

 13 Jan GPS Track

14 Jan Yesterday GPS Tracking 

I struggled to get all these "rides" listed without errors, for those few who have nothing better to do than watch an Old Fart's limited travels.
As seen, often the "ride" is rather short, sometimes even less than a mile.  Obviously such short trips SHOULD be done either on foot (ouch) or by trike/bike instead of burning gasoline at today's prices.
Our balmy Spring-like weather during the midst of winter have helped a lot.
As I type this morning we are receiving fairly heavy snowfall, though at 34 degrees air-temp and warm ground from the last several days, it mostly melts as it hits the ground.  So I doubt I'll drag the trike out of the garage this day.  BAH

This would be what I wore if I rode today         

 I had a slightly unusual treat on one of my rides around the perimeter of town.  Riding parallel to US 60 on the frontage road, I heard a  Semi Truck approaching on my left from the rear TOOT his air horn.  Looking over as he passed, I saw him giving me a big wave, which I happily returned.  Dunno if he's one of our local truckers who recognized me or just a passing nice guy, but I gotta take my thrills as they happen Ha Ha.
I admit again that I am not always "In the Mood" to drag the trike out and pedal it around, but I remain motivated by at least a couple things:

- I usually feel energized and better after a ride, short or long, even if I'm "tired" as well.
- My doctors comment on such stunts as "good for me", keeping up circulation etc.
- My diabetic blood glucose is always MUCH better and lower on days that I ride

I find that many of my relatives, friends, and compatriots are also riders and walker/runners, whether outside like my cousin Luwana Whitten or others on treadmills or stationary exercise machines.
We actually have devices to mount our trike(s) on a stationary set of rollers so we can exercise without going out in the weather.  I normally like to think I'm doing something useful like going to the store, visiting neighbors or friends, etc.
BUT weather like today's may motivate me to set up the stationary widgets... which will NOT motivate me to post any GPS tracks of it.  Whatever.

Yesterday's Typical 'statistics:

Ride Started: 1:39 PM           Ride Ended:  3:12 PM
Beginning Battery Voltage: 13.5   Ending Battery Voltage:  12.9
Lowest Temp: 46 F Highest Temp: 50 F
Beginning Blood Glucose:  160   Ending BG: 99
Stats from the GPS: Total Miles:  6.47
Overall Average Speed      Moving Avg          Max Speed
  4.4 MPH                              6.7 MPH            22.6  MPH
Total Trip(s) Time              Moving Time        Stopped Time
 1 hour 28 minutes              58 minutes             30  minutes
 

Sadly Triking All Alone

Today's Almost 8-mile GPS / Ham Radio Tracking

The Enthusiastic Grandson left for his New Mexico home early Monday and it likely will be a while before he gets another ride with Grandpa.  Snif...
The day after Christmas, Sunday 26 Dec turned out to be another spring-like almost balmy End-of-December day. 
On Monday, Possible weather forecasts had called for ugly, but it also was rather nice.  We had a serving dish left behind by one of our Christmas Dinner guests so I used that for an excuse to take a ride.  She only lives a few blocks away, but it's uphill to that house, thus a "breathtaking" ride even if that's the  only destination.
But I was still feeling energized after that short delivery, so I roamed around again.
While the ride was enjoyable, as usual, I noticed again that my rear derailleur control lever was sagging in spots,  It rarely would shift into the highest gear without messing around with it.  Usually I could fiddle and wiggle the lever and back-crank the pedals a bit and get it to lunge into high gear, but I made a note to myself to look it over, hopefully only needing adjustment or lube or both, after I got home.
I went to my usual northern destination, the local Big Box Store, and found most of the list I had on my dumb/smartphone.  I needed another item they didn't have. so after that I rode up another 1/8 mile or so to the local Ace Hardware (Non Big Box, so I list its actual name) and sure enough, after some wandering around, I found the necessary $4.00 item.
The homeward bound trip was a shorter route  than I usually take, but it was getting late and I'd been gone longer than usual, plus the icky shifter situation.
Jump forward to Today Tuesday and it was raining when we got up and started to pour rather serious and then cleared up and the sun  came out.  So I wanted to ride again, but decided I'd better follow up on my "good intention" of getting the consarned shifter to work more better.
Of course THAT turned into a major project involving vise, Vise-GRIPS, and busted knuckles.
The shifter cable itself turned out to be worn and frayed, and taking it apart for replacement was a MESS.  I promptly ran out of daylight, patience, and parts.  More later

Ride Started: 1:32 PM           Ride Ended:  3:37 PM
Beginning Battery Voltage: 13.6   Ending Battery Voltage:  12.9
Lowest Temp: 57 F Highest Temp: 57 F (!!)
Beginning Blood Glucose:  188   Ending BG: 98
Stats from the GPS: Total Miles:  7.9
Overall Average Speed      Moving Avg          Max Speed
  3.8 MPH                              6.9 MPH            26.3  MPH
Total Trip(s) Time              Moving Time        Stopped Time
 2 hours 3 minutes             1 hour 8  mins        55  minutes 

Grand Triking with GRANDSON

 Christmas Eve GPS Trike Tracking

We have LOTS of grandchildren, some old enough to start making us into Greats.  Our YOUNGest grandson came to visit us for this Christmas Holiday, and brought his parents as well.
Only 6 years of age, he was a perfect holiday brightener, smiling, telling jokes, helping read scripture Christmas verses in the evenings, and almost continually humming Christmas Carols.  What a guy.
AND, in spite of the odds, he JUMPED at the chance to take a ride with Grandpa in the B.O.B. trike trailer.  Squealed with delight as we zoomed around, commenting at all the bumpy spots and potholes in the pavement, he did.  What a guy.
On Christmas Eve, our so called Winter Weather had us at sunny skies and record breaking balmy temperatures reaching a tad over 70.  Wonderful weather for zooming around on the trike.
Before their arrival I had worried that he might not fit the trailer "safety seat" without modification, which I was more than willing to do if necessary.  But his skinny butt fit perfectly.  No Problem.

We first took a short round - the - block to see how he liked the trailer ride, and his enthusiasm led to a few more miles.  Grandma and his parents had driven to our local Big Box Store on the north end of town.  A common destination for many of my trike trips as well.  So we took the long way around to get there too, avoiding the worst of the last minute Holiday traffic.  We arrived at the front of the store just as the fam was leaving.  We enjoyed a short reunion and instead of entering the crowded Big Box, we returned to our cruising.  We had to stop at least a couple of times for Grandpa to juice up his blood sugar.  I was a bit more bushed than usual the rest of the day but it was WELL worth the effort.
We later took a couple extra short rides for this & that.reasons....
He bragged to his parents that "We went on THREE trike rides today!!"
That was Christmas Eve.  Christmas Day we spent oohing and ahh-ing over various presents, goodies, and Grandma's Christmas Feast.  No Triking, though of course it would have helped Grandpa's blood sugar.
Today, the day after Christmas, was a bit cloudy and cooler but still good enough weather for another ride after Church - before they leave early in the morning trying to beat forecasts of incoming rainy weather.
No heroic riding this time, but still smiley and helping Grandparents enjoy life.
Now he can brag about FOUR rides with Goofy Grandpa. 

Christmas Eve:
Ride Started: 9:06 AM           Ride Ended:  5:02 PM
Beginning Battery Voltage: 13.0   Ending Battery Voltage:  12.9
Lowest Temp: 57 F Highest Temp: 67 F
Beginning Blood Glucose:  218   Ending BG: 88
Stats from the GPS: Total Miles:  7.46
Overall Average Speed      Moving Avg          Max Speed
  2.8 MPH                              5.3 MPH            22.3  MPH
Total Trip(s) Time              Moving Time        Stopped Time
 2 hours 38 minutes           1 hour 24  mins     1 hour 14  mins 

Warm Triking in December ??

Windy Wednesday Wandering GPS Track 

My sore feet had an appointment with Wally at our local California Nail Salon this morning.
Of course I wanted to use it for an excuse to ride the Catrike, but the weather was looking a tad ugly, with high wind warnings for the entire day supposedly.
AND, in spite of it being Middle December, temperatures are almost spring-like.  Warm air meeting Cold Air can produce those nasty things called Shelf Clouds and Tornadoes.  BAH.  Nothing yet, thankfully.
When I walked the doggies this morning, it was sopping wet outside even though it was NOT raining, and in spite of heavy cloud cover.  I waited another half hour before leaving, but still no rain appeared, so I took off on the trike.
Wally is of Vietnamese extraction, and is a master manipulator of feet and toes.  As I think I have mentioned before, he has transformed my warped and discolored feet and toenails into presentable condition, and has radically transformed my rotting toenails.  Jacque had to hound me into trying out this "nail salon", and in spite of my redneck attitudes about "Such Things", I am no a Believer.  His foot treatments have far better results than my Podiatrist, who is a certified Medical Doctor.  Truth.  Believe it.
While being worked on by this talented young fellow, a little red headed girl who was not-so-patiently accompanying her Auntie who was getting her fingernails primped across the room started making noises that impatient youngsters often exhibit.  Her Auntie tried to shush her, but she wasn't really bothering the rest of us.  She started peeking around from her chair and turned out to be a super-cutie 3-year old redhead.  I couldn't resist making funny faces at her.  It wasn't long  before she started calling me "Paw Paw" every time she turned around to look at me.  That of course is REALLY hard to take, being called "Paw Paw" by cute kiddos.  Made my day.
Speaking of which, the clouds never seemed to go away, but continued to look threatening without producing raindrops.   Thankfully.  But the forecast wind fulfilled predictions and was at times unpleasant to deal with, especially when hitting it head-on.
My homemade extended visor on my bike helmet is fabricated from wonderful material:  Plastic Yellow Oil Can.  Which normally works fine but is a bit too flexible in high winds. and when it flops Down in my face in high gusts it partially blocks my vision.  So I need to exercise my engineering skills and find some better junk material to fashion it from.
About halfway home, a fellow passed me in his pickup and, stopping at the intersection in front of us, got out and started telling me about his Dad or Grand-Dad  who is also a recumbent cyclist who is actually one of those around-the-world travelers.  His name is Bird or Byrd, but so far I haven't been able to find him  in so-called Social Media.
More Good Folks.....

Ride Started: 9:05 AM           Ride Ended:  11:04 AM
Beginning Battery Voltage: 13.0   Ending Battery Voltage:  12.8
Lowest Temp: 60 F Highest Temp: 67 F
Beginning Blood Glucose:  118   Ending BG: 138
Stats from the GPS: Total Miles:  5.27
Overall Average Speed      Moving Avg       Max Speed
  2.7 MPH                              7.0 MPH            22.9  MPH
Total Trip(s) Time                Moving Time      Stopped Time
 1 hour 58 minutes                 45  minutes         1 hour 12  mins