Just for Fun

Thursday Tracking via GPS / Ham Radio 

Today dawned with light haze quickly turning into pea-soup fog.  Thankfully we didn't have to go anywhere.  The news tonight opens with the headline about a 50 - vehicle crash up in northern Missouri, blamed primarily on dense fog.  Mercy.
Thankfully the "soup" burned off after an hour or more, revealing a wonderfully sunny day.
I was able to help a bit with the laundry, walk the doggies, and arrange the trash.
My buddy Jack came to watch a few cartoons with me.  Jack is a Hoot, as previously noted.
It had been a lovely day - most of the day - but I wasted sufficient time in my slow pursuits that I didn't saddle up for a pedal - party until after 4 PM.  I should have taken Jack for a trike ride earlier but he seemed to have the sniffles so we'd stayed indoors.  But what the heck?  We're under federally regulated Daylight Savings Time, with plenty of daylight left in the evening.  So I had no worries - at least compared to the recent winter when the sun disappeared around 4:30 PM. 
For some reason, I decided to readjust my right fender.  It's been wobbling and squeaking for several days, each time needing to be "bumped" back into semi-alignment, with an internal commitment to actually work on it once home again.  Forgotten - of course - as soon as I got home, until riding again.
I guess I had sufficient time to think - before riding - that it might be nice to go ahead and spend a little time maintaining the machine instead of just wearing it out slowly.
Got it tightened up sufficiently and rolled out, with absolutely NO "excuse" or reason for traveling except enjoying the day.  I took a route around the neighborhood, then out Clouse Road toward the Mountain Grove International Airport.  Not the smoothest of byways, but fairly less traveled once past the portion of Highway 95.
Once arriving at the airport, I took advantage of the shade trees at the entrance and took a break. Checked my Blood Glucose and was shocked, shocked, that it was still higher than it's s'posed to be.  Pumped a bit of insulin bolus and headed back.  Wheeler Arch Road, which becomes Clouse Road within city limits, was even rougher in the eastbound lane than on the outbound side.  A few of the bumps made me fear some of my attached contraptions might break or fall off, but all survived so far as I know.  Took a slight detour to visit a neighbor a few blocks from home.
After resting up for a spell, I was able to get a couple more chores done and trim up the gutter on the new shed roof.  Life is Good

Ride Started: 4:13 PM           Ride Ended:  5:15 PM 
Beginning Battery Voltage: 13.6   Ending Battery Voltage:  12.5
Lowest Temp: 67 F Highest Temp: 80 F
Beginning Blood Glucose:  250   Ending BG: 110
Stats from the GPS: Total Miles:  5.94
Overall Average Speed      Moving Avg       Max Speed
 5.8 MPH                         7.9 MPH            17.8 MPH
Total Trip(s) Time             Moving Time      Stopped Time
 1 hour 1 minute               45 minutes        16 minute

Saving or Producing Gas ?

 Wednesday Wobbling GPS Track

I actually got going Early today.  I had a pedicure appointment with Wally at our local California Nails establishment at 9:30 AM, and it's generally at least a 20 minute ride to get there.  These monthly visits are fabulous treatments for my diabeticly sore feet, so I was motivated to get there on time.
Gotta love this spring-like weather - it was around 50 degrees with clear sunshine.  I thought at first I'd just ride with no jacket at all, but it was just cool enough outside that I donned my flaming yellow bike windbreaker, and it AND I did fine.  I had crowded my departure almost to the last possible minute, so I hustled when I could and blew a couple stop sign intersections along the way.  Forgive Please, nobody was looking --
I arrived at the desired spa about 2 minutes ahead of my appointment time.
It's hard to adequately express how good these treatments are for my scraggly feet.  Before Wally started trimming and massaging them, the toenails were just falling apart.  Within maybe TWO monthly sessions, the nails were forming properly, not sore, and not crumbling and falling apart.  All while getting a vibrant back massage in the mechanical chair.  What's not to like....
I had one single item on my Big Box Store list, and that  lies just over the Route 60 overpass, so that was my subsequent stop.  Weather had warmed sufficiently that I left the windbreaker in the saddlebag.  The subsequent  shopping spree was thankfully short, and since my blood sugar wasn't crashing, I took the longer perimeter route to go home.
Watching the local Gas prices as I pedal past the stations makes me even more thankful I can still get around town with foot - pedaling effort.  Gas has stayed "stable" and "low" for maybe 3 days now at $3.779.  "Stable and low" compared to much of the rest of the world.  SIGH
Thus I may be saving Gasoline by fading muscle power.  I'm not going into detail about the producing gas thing.

After getting home exhausted and loafing for a couple hours, I started modifying/improving our new tin-roof shelter.   Of course I can't just call it good enough and leave it alone.  In our climate, exposed lumber tends to gradually soak up moisture and develop rot.  The facing behind the gutter and on the roof sides were bare wood, and I found some aluminum flashing in the scraps left over from the construction of Jacque's new Sewing Room, so I put them to good use.

Ride Started: 9:09 AM           Ride Ended: 11:09 AM 
Beginning Battery Voltage: 13.0   Ending Battery Voltage:  12.7
Lowest Temp: 53 F Highest Temp: 68 F
Beginning Blood Glucose:  154   Ending BG: 130
Stats from the GPS: Total Miles:   5.98
Overall Average Speed      Moving Avg       Max Speed
 3.0 MPH                         6.7 MPH            23.6 MPH
Total Trip(s) Time             Moving Time      Stopped Time
 2 hours 1 minute              53 minutes       1 hour 8 minutes

Projects Finished Almost

Saturday Short Shot GPS Tracking

 Sunday Short Trike Trip Track

Today Tuesday GPS Tracking 

Busy, Busy, Busy.....  I started building a "Tin Roof Shelter" added to the side of the house almost 3 weeks or so ago.  As mentioned previously.   Sorry to bore...

I THINK I'm now mostly finished, with shiny galvanized corrugated roofing, with gutter for to divert the additional rain drainage.  As usual, such a simple project would have taken me 3 or 4 days...... way back before I got so old and slow.  This one took almost a month, though of course spotty weather played a part in stretching it out time-wise. 
Which, of course, occupied time during decent weather -- providing less opportunity for goofing off on the trike, wearing me out withOUT decent aerobic exercise.  That's the best excuse I can drag up for now.
This morning was another nice temperate morning, with scattered clouds hardly blocking warm sunshine. I was able to trim up the edges of the roof, add a gutter, and rest a spell.
I loafed so long I almost lost another beautiful day for taking a scenic ride on my pedal powered machine.  I loafed a couple few hours and - NOT wanting to miss another ride and the souped-up benefits resulting therefrom, saddled up the Catrike and B.O.B. Trailer and got going.
I took the trailer since we had another bag of surplus but good junk to take to the nearby Thrift Store Donation Dropoff.  That was dropped off early and the rest of the trip to our beloved Big Box Store was  pulling the empty trailer.  Not a big drag, since it's light and easy to pull.
Found a couple of the items I wanted at the Store, though out of stock on a couple normally available.
Not surprising in today's crazy world.  Speaking of gasoline, our local prices for the last couple days have hovered at $3.779.  We sigh each time we drive by and see the latest 10 or 20 cent price jump.
Maybe prices will continue to skyrocket and we'll be stuck with only local trips, meaning most would be by human power.... But I digress.  As Usual.
Enjoyed the often - encountered shouts of encouragement, waves  as I trundled by various areas along the way.  A few "regulars" scream out "HEY!!  I want a ride!!"  Or more often from younger folk "Nice Ride!!"  A nearby neighbor calls me "Hey Young Whippersnapper !" even though he is YOUNGER than I am.  Of course at my age this is true of most of the population....
When I left  Big Box, the blue sky overhead was dotted with several large, dark, and rather threatening clouds.  I wondered if I might get soaked on the way home, but not so.  The sun actually came back out on the way.  More than Once...

Ride Started: 4:28 PM           Ride Ended: 6:09 PM
Beginning Battery Voltage: 13.7   Ending Battery Voltage:  13.0
Lowest Temp: 64 F Highest Temp: 71 F
Beginning Blood Glucose:  242   Ending BG: 140
Stats from the GPS: Total Miles: 4.97
Overall Average Speed      Moving Avg       Max Speed
 3.7 MPH                              7.9 MPH            23.6 MPH
Total Trip(s) Time                Moving Time      Stopped Time
 1 hour 20  mins                   38 minutes        43 minutes

I Want My Global Warming Back Please

 Thursday Tiny Travel Track/GPS

Today is Friday and I report a short report about Yesterday.  Young Jack came over for a bit and we watched a mindless Mickey Mouse video (which I cannot understand how anyone can tolerate "modern" comics) and then went for a short ride, which was much more enjoyable for the both of us.
Jack and I both needed a cookie to get us going.  When we arrived at the favorite park with a Jungle Gym, we both "needed" another cookie.  Time was not plentiful, so we goofed around on the slides for a bit and then trundled back home.

After my Buddy left, I resumed activity on our shelter between the house and garage.

Since we don't have enough room in the garage for all my junk AND a carrito, this is an idea to provide shelter for stuff that can be outside but don't desire to be exposed to direct rain.
As usual for me nowadays, such a project would take a day or two,  but I thinketh I have spent at least a week on this so far, and yesterday I was actually able to get two whole sheets of corrugated metal roofing installed.  Of course, also as usual, I had to return to the Mountain Grove Building Supply Emporium to purchase a few hundred roofin screws with neoprene washers hopefully to block rain leakage.
This morning, of course, the relatively balmy weather disappeared again in favor of sub-freezing temperatures and light snow and biting wind.  I wanted to get some more roofing up, but wimped out.
I spent some time in the garage building a fire in the tiny wood stove and trying to get some electronic repairs done.  Very little done, feet got cold, went back in the casa to "rest" and stay warm.

Ride Started: 10:27 AM           Ride Ended: 1:11 PM
Beginning Battery Voltage: 12.2   Ending Battery Voltage:  10.7
Lowest Temp: 50 F Highest Temp: 64 F
Beginning Blood Glucose:  140   Ending BG: 97
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
 44  minutes                          10 minutes         34 minutes

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