Jack-Jack came Back

 Thursday Travel Track

My Blond Buddy came to see us again today.  As usual he was mildly interested in "Going for a Trike Ride with Grandpa Jim!"
So I,  getting lethargically up from my chair, repaired with him just outside the garage where his chariot was ready and waiting.  We took off after a suitable delay for installing his helmet and buckling him in.  Jack's normal route request is "PARK‼️"   So we visited a couple of them today:  Cedar Center Park and Ina Crandall Park.   We've visited Ina Crandall a few times already but  Cedar Center was a first for us, though I'm sure My Buddy has been there before, and perhaps to all available parks in our bustling metro of 5300 + or minus.
So long as a PARK has some sort of playground, especially swings or a Jungle Gym, it's a go for Jack.
Our marvelously warm late winter weather was nice, of course, though we're supposed to get some cold and rain by week's end.  BAH
I'm not totally sure why Jack likes riding in the trailer, strapped in with a too-large helmet on his skull.  But   enjoy it he does.    Our routes are always studded with pot - holes and bumps and rough pavement.  When we hit a particular bump/thump, he hollers "Are you OK???"  And I answer "Yeah !!   Are YOU OK ??"  Which begets a big "YEAH!!"
What a good guy.
Whilst we were dinking around at Cedar Center Park, a young mommy with 2 toddlers also approached the equipment and set them up on  the slide pedestal near Jack.  We exchanged greetings, and after a few moments asked Jack his name, which request he for some reason ignored.  She asked me if he had other siblings looking a lot like him and I told her Yes.  She thought she might know Jack's Momma, having seen her and her fam at school functions etc.  
Jack suddenly developed a vocal longing for a COOKIE.  Surely he doesn't remember me giving him one of my Secret Stash of cookies several weeks ago ??  I dug into my stash and found a chocolate/oatmeal bar and showed it to him.  He thought it a good substitute for a COOKIE and snarfed it in short order.  We took off for the next PARK further around the blocks and up the marginal hill.
We enjoyed horsing around at Ina Crandall for maybe 15 minutes when Jack seemed to lose interest and mildly suggested we Go Home.   The last time we were at this park the bathrooms were locked closed.  Perhaps this memory inspired an earlier departure than usual.  He needed another COOKIE so this time I spared him one of my Jacque-made choc chipper cookies, which didn't last him very long.
THEN when we got back to the house, he decided he could tolerate a Blue "Icey Frozen Treat".
I tried to warn his Mom that he might be entering a Sugar High, but she didn't seem too worried.

Maybe Next Time, Jack

Ride Started: 10:20 PM           Ride Ended: 11:32 PM
Beginning Battery Voltage: 12.6   Ending Battery Voltage:  12.5
Lowest Temp: 61 F Highest Temp: 82 F
Beginning Blood Glucose:  220   Ending BG: 160
Stats from the GPS: Total Miles: 3.51 
Overall Average Speed      Moving Avg       Max Speed
 4.3 MPH                              7.1 MPH            11.8 MPH
Total Trip(s) Time                Moving Time      Stopped Time
 1 hour 12  mins                   30 minutes         42 minutes

A SUNBLOCK Day?

 Wednesday GPS Tracking

We wasted most of our day in the big city of Springfield today.  The VA doc looked at my feet and prescribed some "Domeboro Soaks" for  them.  Of course I've never heard of such stuff before but without scary side effects I guess I'll try it for a while.
We afterwards met our Springfield cousins for lunch at Village Inn.  We were having a great time catching  up, but when I stood to take care of the bill, Jacque reached for me abruptly and somehow SPLASHED her tumbler of iced Lemonade all OVER me.  No harm done, of course.  It gives us stories to tell the kids, and if long lived enough, for great grand babies.  I was absolutely soaked from my mid chest to my ankles.  A waitress rushed over to help clean up the mess, and as we were all laughing Jacque (with straight face) told the waitress "I really need to stop DRINKING!!"  The waitress looked at her, shocked, and took it seriously.  We're still giggling about how happy we are that most of our friends and family have a sense of humor:  We can act stupid, tell insult jokes, tease, and come away smiling.  Most of the time....

It was almost 4:00 PM  when we rolled back into Mountain Grove.  Jacque had received notification she had a prescription ready at our favorite and only local Big Box Store.  She had agreed on the way home that I was welcome to use the prescription for another excuse to take a trike ride.  It would have been much simpler to just stop by the Big Box Store  while in the carrito, but that wouldn't have fulfilled my fond wishes for excuses to get fun aerobic effort riding the Catrike.

Of course it took me longer than necessary to get the trike out of the garage and set up with antennas and battery connected for the electronics. 
I almost took off without sunscreen, but it was in the upper 70's and I was wearing only a short sleeve shirt, and while rolling up my pants legs to let in a little more cool AIR I realized with my winter-polished pink skin I needed to apply some sunscreen.  I argued with myself for only  a bit before remembering the many times I've been sunburned and decided I better tend to it.  Of course it took a little effort to find my stash of sunscreen since I haven't ridden with uncovered skin since last Fall.
You might find it funny that I have so many electrical gadgets and electronics on the trike (Ham radio for voice, another Ham radio to transmit my GPS positions to the internet gateway, the GPS, headlight, tail light, etc, etc.  All the while disdaining any electric MOTOR or other alternatives to physical foot-pedaling to get from place to place.  Ya just have to accept or at least realize how Odd I might be.
Pedaling around in this strange contraption often attracts odd looks, at least.  Today several cars approaching me from behind refused to speed up and pass me, in spite of multiple openings and opportunities.  One bold fellow passed me a ROARED his engine as though I might recoil in fright.
BAH, I say.   I still remember being a stupid youngster instead of oldster, loud pipes, peeling rubber without worrying about the cost, etc.  Sometimes that helps....

Ride Started: 4:03 PM           Ride Ended: 5:17 PM
Beginning Battery Voltage: 12.7   Ending Battery Voltage:  12.6
Lowest Temp: 68 F Highest Temp: 79 F
Beginning Blood Glucose:  220   Ending BG: 120
Stats from the GPS: Total Miles: 5.11 
Overall Average Speed      Moving Avg       Max Speed
 4.3 MPH                              7.1 MPH            21.8 MPH
Total Trip(s) Time                Moving Time      Stopped Time
 1 hour 11  mins                   43 minutes         28 minutes

 

Shirt-Sleeve Weather in February ?

 GPS Tracking via APRS and Ham Radio

Well, the Wonderful Weather Strikes Again.  A few days ago we had sub freezing temperatures day and night, and several hours of heavy sleet.  The sleet piled up like snow and stuck together enough to form a concrete like surface that little - if anything - could penetrate.  At first I could walk on the frozen surface with little danger of slipping, since it was a rock hard granular surface.  Within a few hours, howsomever, it partially thawed and re-froze to a VERY slick surface that was dangerous for an Old Fart like me to walk on.  I had to wear only shoes / boots with decent traction.  This lasted a couple days, with only the heaviest items penetrating the frozen surface.   We just stayed home & safe without going anywhere until the roads thawed sufficiently.  Yesterday, Sunday, the blessed SUN shone all day and melted about half of the paved ice.  Today, Monday, the sun again showed its beautiful face all day and eliminated all the remaining ice except in the deepest shadows.
Jacque, naturally, stayed gainfully busy in her Sewing Emporium...

I had not gotten out on my beloved Catrike during all this time, much to my dismay.
I dragged the machine out of the garage with joyful heart, planning to go to our nearest cemetery to try finding a grave to photograph in response to several requests from Findagrave.com .
Jacque got a notice that we again had prescriptions waiting at our local Big Box Store, so I added that to my itinerary.
It was FABULOUS to get out in the fresh air again.  I only wore a light yellow windbreaker but had to remove it after only a few blocks of pedaling around.
What was NOT so fabulous was the chore of slogging around the ancient worn down Old Mountain Grove Cemetery.  Most of the gravestones and markers were either so worn or too covered with mold and moss to be able to read them.  The ground was also soggy and spongy from all the melted moisture, which made for rough walking.  I was not successful in finding the requested gravestone.  I despair over the lack of maintenance for old sites such as this and wonder if we shouldn't try to organize some volunteer crew or club to maintain this and other sites a few times each year.  Maybe there already IS one I could join ??  Asking for a Friend....

I gave up after only searching one-half of the cemetery, hoping to try again soon for the other half.
Getting back on the trike and pedaling was a great relief from the  slogging around in the graveyard on foot.
Did the shopping and pedaled slowly home with noticeable fatigue.
Tired and sore but THRILLED with BALMY WEATHER. 
Promises to Enjoy it While it Lasts....

Ride Started: 12:40 PM           Ride Ended: 2:53 PM
Beginning Battery Voltage: 12.7   Ending Battery Voltage:  12.6
Lowest Temp: 57 F Highest Temp: 72 F
Beginning Blood Glucose:  120   Ending BG: 110
Stats from the GPS: Total Miles: 5.55 
Overall Average Speed      Moving Avg       Max Speed
 3.1 MPH                              5.9 MPH            21.7 MPH
Total Trip(s) Time                Moving Time      Stopped Time
 1 hour 47  mins                   57 minutes         51 minutes

"Time to Go Home"

Today's Buddy Ride GPS Route 

Jacque's Sewing Emporium had a return student today.  Her bouncy little brother came too, for a short visit.  We embraced and laughed and horsed around, and when his Mom announced it was time to go home, My Buddy got a tad grumpy.  He had decided he needed to take another Trike Ride with "Grandpa Jim".
Well, Grandpa Jim had gotten little or no aerobic exertion today, so Buddy Boy and I both politely inquired of Mom to let him stay while Big Sister was sewing.  Mom agreed, so we and my little bud dragged the Catrike and  BOB Trailer out of the garage and took off.  

You might note the slightly oversize helmet on the lively passenger in the trailer.  He liked trying it out, and I feel less guilty riding around with MY helmet when the passenger has none.
 

The premise was a short trip up the hill next to our old Brown Shoe Factory where our Ina Crandall Memorial Park is located with its pool, swings, and slides.
We made the short trip without incident, and enjoyed horsing around for a while.  We had "planned" to stay and play until close to 6 PM. 
We were having a great time, methought, and was somewhat surprised when my Pal announced "GO HOME !!"

Whereupon he abruptly marched himself down toward his throne in the BOB trailer, so I followed his guidance and we cranked up for home.
We'd only pedaled a short distance when  I realized he must have had a Good Idea:  Clouds were darkly gathering. daylight was fading, and the infernal wind was kicking up.
We got back without undue incident.
Even though it was a short ride, I found myself a bit "breathless" afterward.  Even though the wind had been dropping in temperature, I was also overheated and required a bit of cooling off.

FUN FUN FUN !!   Until Next Time --

Ride Started: 4:13 PM           Ride Ended: 5:02 PM
Beginning Battery Voltage: 12.7   Ending Battery Voltage:  12.6
Lowest Temp: 57 F Highest Temp: 64 F
Beginning Blood Glucose:  180   Ending BG: 110
Stats from the GPS: Total Miles: 2.90 
Overall Average Speed      Moving Avg       Max Speed
 3.8 MPH                              5.8 MPH            16.8 MPH
Total Trip(s) Time                Moving Time      Stopped Time
 46  minutes                         30 minutes         16 minutes

Eating Dirt & Outrunning Dogs

 Wednesday Wanderings GPS Track

 Having an appointment with our favorite local pedicurist, I got going on the Trike much earlier than I usually do:  

Left the house a little after 9 AM for my 9:30 appointment.  Such appointments have proven highly worth the time and money incurred, since the Maestro Wally has taken my brittle and crumbling toenails and somehow trimmed them painlessly and caused them to stop falling apart.

Try these guys if you're anywhere in the vicinity:
https://www.facebook.com/people/California-Nails/100027587996908/

Feeling spunky afterward, methought I'd try a different route home.  Regretted it almost immediately.
My GPS map shows a route around the northwest side of Our Town just adjacent to US 60 and looping around the city dump and wastewater ponds.  The pavement disappeared quickly and the further I went the worser the "road" turned out to be.  I finally encountered a chain link fence blocking further progress and retraced my route back to the much more enjoyable paved streets.
I think I broke my previous self speed record at 27+ MPH, of course going down a long hill with a stiff tailwind.  Which turned into a headwind at times, of course going UP hill, which caused me to rejoice in Grandma Gear.
Coming down First Street, within a few blocks of home, a rather large LOOSE dog noticed me and gave chase, running diagonally across the yard and into the street behind me.  I laughed aloud at him initially, since I was cruising along maybe 15 MPH.  I was quickly motivated when I realized he was gaining on me, so I had to put more old man muscle into the pedals to gain more distance.
Escaping that particular hazard unscathed, I threaded my way through the remaining back streets toward home. 
I did mention the gusty wind, right?  As I turned a sharp corner next to out railroad tracks, a sudden blast of wind popped a nasty dose of sand right into my face - and MOUTH.  Spitting like a 'baccy chewer, I slowed down and slurped a couple mouthfuls from my water bottle, rinsed and SPIT again.
Hurray.  Clean mouth again.

 Ride Started:  9:03 AM           Ride Ended:   2:48 PM
Beginning Battery Voltage: 12.7   Ending Battery Voltage:  12.7
Lowest Temp: 53 F Highest Temp: 60 F
Beginning Blood Glucose:  105   Ending BG: 160
Stats from the GPS: Total Miles:  6.18
Overall Average Speed      Moving Avg          Max Speed
  3.1 (?) MPH                    6.3 MPH             27.6  MPH
Total Trip(s) Time              Moving Time        Stopped Time
 2 hours                            59 minutes          1 hour

Monday Valentine

Short Jaunt GPS Tracking 

 Spent much of the day roaming with my Valentine Jacque.  We had a good time.
Challenged her to a tandem recumbent trike ride on our Terratrike only to find out she had one of her cute young Sewing Students coming over in the next few minutos.
So I dragged out my Catrike and wandered around a bit. 
I regretted wearing a coat, even though it was a tad chilly, since I quickly got warmed up and unzipped it all the way to allow some AIR into my armpits.

Ride Started:  4:23 PM           Ride Ended:   4:50 PM
Beginning Battery Voltage: 12.7   Ending Battery Voltage:  12.7
Lowest Temp: 50 F Highest Temp: 57 F
Beginning Blood Glucose:  150   Ending BG: 120
Stats from the GPS: Total Miles:  2.90
Overall Average Speed      Moving Avg          Max Speed
  6.9 MPH                              7.7 MPH             23.5  MPH
Total Trip(s) Time              Moving Time        Stopped Time
 25 minutes                        23 minutes          2 minutes

My Buddy & Me

 Wonderful Wanderings via GPS & Ham Radio

Yesterday, Jacque and Jack's Mom went on an expedition to Licking for an important fabric purchasing spree.  Jack's Mom hadn't planned on leaving Jack here with me for the entire time, but luckily she did, and we had an enjoyable time together.  Again.
Jacque and "Mom" were gone for a few hours, so we first watched a couple of idiotic Disney Woke (?) cartoons.  It polluted MY feeble brain more than it did my young friend.  Then we walked the dogs, much to Jack's delight since he insisted on walking the Wiggliest One.
I needed to go to our nearest high priced Lumber Yard to pick up some sack-crete  for a shelter I've been digging post - holes for, and I supposed Jack would enjoy going with me.
I supposed WRONG, since Jack would not hear anything but TRIKE RIDE.  TRIKE RIDE !!
A young man after my own heart, obviously.
SO I dragged the trike and trailer out of the garage.  I should say more correctly that I dragged out the Catrike while Jack feverishly dragged out the B.O.B. trailer.  He got it hung up on something in the way, so I helped him untangle it and get it hitched up.

      So Sorry for Squinting.  The Sun was in my face-

It was just cool enough for My Buddy to tell me he was cold, but he hadn't brought a jacket and I couldn't find anything that would fit him.  Jack was cold but insisted on a TRIKE ride.  Just before we took off I remembered my yellow and black bike - windbreaker in the trike saddlebag.  It was a few sizes too large, but we got him surrounded with it and buckled in. 
Throughout the short wibble wobble around several blocks, I kept asking him if he was cold. 
He continually denied it;  said he was having fun.  What a Guy.
It was a good thing I didn't wear any jacket.   It quickly got too warm for one.  My Buddy didn't complain at all.

Ride Started:  1:59 PM           Ride Ended:   2:24 PM
Beginning Battery Voltage: 12.8   Ending Battery Voltage:  12.7
Lowest Temp: 57 F Highest Temp: 67 F
Beginning Blood Glucose:  140   Ending BG: 127
Stats from the GPS: Total Miles:  2.46
Overall Average Speed      Moving Avg          Max Speed
  6.0 MPH                              6.5 MPH             24.2  MPH
Total Trip(s) Time              Moving Time        Stopped Time
 25 minutes                        23 minutes          2 minutes