The Wheels on the Trike go Round and Round

 Saturday GPS Tracks via APRS and Ham Radio

Another Day with Sunshine in the Neighborhood.  Much of the day was occupied with
LDS General Conference so I had a great excuse for being too lazy to get out in the lovely weather earlier.
I started out with the idea of doing another typical Big Box shopping trip - but after looking at the clock again I decided the vehicular traffic might be too heavy and pedaled off in another direction.  I had not previously ridden to the very west end of First Street so that was to be another adventure. 
I noticed rather early on there was a DEEP drop off going this direction.  Not knowing the length of this route, I stopped and took a closer look at my GPS.  Decided to keep going.
Of course, after overcoming THAT deep drop and steep climb, a few hundred yards later there appeared another deep one, even deeper.  It turned out to go right by the local Golf Course where several golfers were jumping into their motor - carts to drive to the next holes.  The road appeared to dead-end at S&S Recycling, but a sharp right turn got me out of their yard and on the Highway 60 frontage road.
A few hundred yards farther and I was on Bell Crossing Road, destination Airport.  Once there I took a short break and turned east on Wheeler Arch road for the last leg home.
As I passed a yard with several teens playing in their yard, I received a friendly wave from them.
As I rode further I thought surely I heard a "Hi, Brother Devenport!" from one of them.  Must have been some of the youngsters I've interacted with at Church.
Arrived home safe and sound.  Again.  As usual.

Ride Started: 5:25 PM           Ride Ended:  6:22 PM 
Beginning Battery Voltage: 13.8   Ending Battery Voltage:  13.0
Lowest Temp: 57 F Highest Temp: 78  F
Beginning Blood Glucose:  202   Ending BG: 180
Stats from the GPS: Total Miles:  5.68
Overall Average Speed      Moving Avg       Max Speed
 6.8 MPH                          8.1 MPH           23.2 MPH
Total Trip(s) Time             Moving Time      Stopped Time
   50 minutes                     42 minutes       8 minutes

What a Difference a Day Makes

Today's Short but Sunny GPS Tracking 

Thursday 31 March was one of the "Went out like a Lion" days with bitter wind and obscured sun.  Nasty with spotty rain of an inch or so.
Yesterday, Friday, was one of those blessed days when the sun shone brightly and did its best to warm up the world. 
So as usual I dithered about most of the day, trying to configure and program radios etc.
I kept thinking I should get out and ride and take advantage of the lovely day.
I finally dragged the Trike out from under its new shelter and got going at the optimal hour of almost SIX PM.  Thank goodness for longer days.  The sun hadn't set yet when I later looked out the window at 7:30.
It was, however, colder than I'd reckoned for.  I was wearing one of my fave heavy long sleeved shirts Jacque made me and got just a little chilly but somehow survived without injury.  I pedaled up hill and down dale and around a few blocks and came home.   Huffing and puffing but hardly overworked.

Ride Started: 5:43 PM           Ride Ended:  6:01 PM 
Beginning Battery Voltage: 13.0   Ending Battery Voltage:  13.0
Lowest Temp: 57 F Highest Temp: 78  F
Beginning Blood Glucose:  160   Ending BG: 160
Stats from the GPS: Total Miles:  2.20
Overall Average Speed      Moving Avg       Max Speed
 3.8 MPH                          6.9 MPH          17.6 MPH
Total Trip(s) Time             Moving Time      Stopped Time
   34  minutes                     19 minutes       15 minutes

Mail Run Thursday

Sunday Tracking 

 Tuesday Track

 Thursday Very Short GPS Tracks

HEAVY Rain Downpour yesterday.  Not a chance of getting any outdoor activity in, except for sloshing the dogs.  Normally it's Walking but yesterday it was Sloshing.  Water, Water, Everywhere. 
Then close to sundown
Today dawned 38 degrees or so, when Yesterday it was 70 (!!) when dawn occurred.
Howsomever, it wasn't raining or otherwise precip-ing.  As long as I can stay dry, I shouldn't wimp out, and I had a good excuse ('Reason") to go for at least a short ride:  A letter needed delivering.  In Timely Fashion.
Here it is the last day of March, and it was almost freezing.  I put on my heavy coat, winter woolly socks, boots to keep the breeze out from around my feets, fleece skull cap, etc.
Thus I didn't freeze in spite of the cold.  I did the nearby Post Office visit, rode around the square, and then a few more blocks just so I could say to myself that I'd "Exercised".
Just after I got home it was SNOWING.  Very lightly with no accumulation - but SNOW.  BAH

Ride Started: 10:47 AM           Ride Ended:  11:04 AM 
Beginning Battery Voltage: 12.9   Ending Battery Voltage:  12.8
Lowest Temp: 39 F Highest Temp: 42 F
Beginning Blood Glucose:  204   Ending BG: 170
Stats from the GPS: Total Miles:  1.39
Overall Average Speed      Moving Avg       Max Speed
 5.2 MPH                              7.37 MPH            14.9 MPH
Total Trip(s) Time             Moving Time      Stopped Time
   16  minutes                     12 minutes         4 minutes

Lost and Found ?

 Lost Cause GPS Tracking

Friday dawned clear and sunny.  And Cold.
I had a small package to mail, and the P.O. is only a few blocks away, so I of course dragged out the Catrike to use for the short trip in spite of the cold.
As I crossed a few streets, I recalled that I had mislocated my favorite blood test meter the day prior.
We had searched the house high and low without finding it and finally decided it must have fallen out somewhere along the route of that day's trike ride and was hopelessly lost.  Since I was already out in the cold, and it wasn't as cold as I'd feared, I decided to re-trace my route.  My blood sugar had skyrocketed after breakfast and I needed some exercise to help burn it off.  Perhaps I could find the test kit with a little extra effort.  I could live without it, since I have several other testers - but this one was my favorite.
Of course, riding around offers various distractions, and several times I realized I had covered some ground without paying close attention to the roadway where the missing item might have been visible.
Odd were that even if I DID find it, it might be crushed from passing traffic, or it could have been spotted and picked up by someone other than yours truly.
No luck:  I made the circuit without spotting my prize and got home only slightly disappointed.
The trip had worked wonders on my blood glucose, as it was now almost normal.
I dug out one of my spare testers and put it in my pocket for future use.  SIGH
Jacque and I often laugh about our ability to misplace or lose things, with the ONLY way to find the original being to spend money on a replacement.
This time things worked differently since I had decided NOT to spend money on replacing the tester.
About bedtime, Jacque moved the bench at the foot of the bed and MY TESTER fell off on the floor.
Who knows how it got there, but its "loss" had led me to some early morning exercise.

Ride Started: 10:23 AM           Ride Ended:  11:29 AM 
Beginning Battery Voltage: 13.1   Ending Battery Voltage:  12.9
Lowest Temp: 46 F Highest Temp: 67 F
Beginning Blood Glucose:  324   Ending BG: 110
Stats from the GPS: Total Miles:  5.39
Overall Average Speed      Moving Avg       Max Speed
 5.1 MPH                          6.8 MPH            22.3 MPH
Total Trip(s) Time             Moving Time      Stopped Time
 1 hour 3 mins                   47 minutes         16 minutes

MOTIVATED

Monday GPS Track

Tuesday Tracking SHORT

Thursday Intemperate GPS Tracking 

The last several days have not been too fun.  Almost April and it's been barely above freezing for who knows how long...  Even when the sun peeks out it's been COLD and BREEZY.
Today was not much of an improvement.  41 degrees when we got up and it went down through the most of the day with cold clouds keeping sunlight to a minimum.  It misted, cold and damp, several times.
It certainly didn't promise to be a decent day for pedaling around the neighborhood.
My sweet wifey had a prescription waiting at the local Big Box, so I had the excuse if not the motivation.
The misty  moisture stopped for over an hour late in the afternoon and I niggled at the idea of bundling up and taking the ride.  As usual I was feeling punk from lack of aerobic activity (Exercise in Everyday English).
I have ridden in much colder weather from time to time in times past so.... I dragged out the Catrike and told Sweet Wife that I was going to ride and if the weather got too ugly I'd turn around.
I started out with a nice jacket. thinking I would get warmed up as I rode.  Then I wimped out and traded it for my winter coat. donning skull cap and heavy mittens.  I was not disappointed in my choice of dress.

Passing the second Bank on this route

 After getting my "shopping" done, it had turned somewhat colder and I was inspired by the need to get home.  The wind whipped up a few times, and when directly in my face it slows me down for some reason.  Which only helped me put some steam in my legs to get home more faster.  As I slogged closer to home I actually DID get a tad overheated and wound up unzipping the front of my coat almost all the way.
I was a happy puppy when I got back.  For being able to get inside, take off the shoes, and loaf a little.
Also for the improvement in mood and general outlook.

Ride Started: 4:04 PM           Ride Ended:  5:05 PM 
Beginning Battery Voltage: 13.6   Ending Battery Voltage:  12.9
Lowest Temp: 42 F Highest Temp: 46 F
Beginning Blood Glucose:  132   Ending BG: 110
Stats from the GPS: Total Miles:  5.24
Overall Average Speed      Moving Avg       Max Speed
 4.8 MPH                         7.4 MPH            23.7 MPH
Total Trip(s) Time             Moving Time      Stopped Time
 1 hour 5  mins                 42 minutes         24 minutes

Strange Sights

Saturday Very Short GPS Tracking 

Nice Day today - except for being a bit too cold for comfort.  No complaints, though.  Really.
I guess I'm taking a bit of a break between "projects" at the moment since I didn't get anything done to brag (or complain) about.  Which for some reason left me feeling a bit at loose ends.
Late in the afternoon, as usual, I decided I'd get some blood circulation going and take at least a short trike ride out and about. 
I dribbled around and finally got going and rode around a few select local blocks.  I was wearing a Brand New Shirt Jacque just made for me.

Nice.  Jacque keeps me in good threads.   I first thought it would be warm enough, but the breeze outside was a bit nippy so I donned my cycling windbreaker - and didn't regret it.
I slogged around a few familiar blocks and went round the Square and then south just as the Train came roaring through the crossing ahead.  I spotted a rail car carrying US Military Tanks, and was a bit stunned to count 30 or so as the train screamed through.  I fumbled around to get my GoPro camera started, and succeeded..... just as the last tank car passed out of sight.  I haven't seen so many tanks since I was in the Army in 1969.  Even then I'm not sure I've EVER seen so many tanks.  Makes me wonder if they're destined for somewhere other than our good ole USA.  Just mentioning for  a friend.

Ride Started: 5:11 PM           Ride Ended:  5:40 PM 
Beginning Battery Voltage: 14.0   Ending Battery Voltage:  13.0
Lowest Temp: 57 F Highest Temp: 64 F
Beginning Blood Glucose:  202   Ending BG: 170
Stats from the GPS: Total Miles:  1.81
Overall Average Speed      Moving Avg       Max Speed
 6.0 MPH                         8.2 MPH            16.2 MPH
Total Trip(s) Time             Moving Time      Stopped Time
 18 minutes                      13 minutes         5 minutes

Soaking WET

 Today's Short and Soggy GPS/Radio Track

We awoke to middling rainfall this morning, after a couple weeks with little or none.
It was soggy enough that I doubted any possibility of pedaling around, but after less than an hour it had stopped.  Still Cloudy, but not raining.
I had just received notice that my driver's license was up for renewal, and I thought I'd be a smarty pants and ride the trike the few blocks over to the local Motor Vehicle office.

No Problem.  Short ride.  As I was parking the trike I noticed dark clouds were again gathering, so I pulled one of my ubiquitous used plastic shopping bags over the trike electronics and went inside.
It being a "government facility", there was one guy waiting in line ahead of me, so I sat myself down and waited.  Mostly patiently.  Within 10 minutes or less I was called to one of the windows and proceeded with the modestly short process.  Another few moments and we heard some rumbling, followed with sheets of noisy rainfall pounding down.  I hoped it would falter but it did not.  I realized within a few minutes that I would get wet on the way home.
Everyone in the facility had a laugh when I was asked to stand in front of the camera for my ID photo.
The nice young lady asked me to bend my knees slightly so my face would center in the photo.
It brought even more laughter when she again asked me to squat a bit, since I was
"Too Tall" for the frame.
Gathered my papers and stuffed them inside my shirt to hopefully keep them dry.  I could have just cooled my heels for a while hoping for the rain to stop but I worried about the trike's electronics being any longer out in the rainfall.
Which turned into a REAL worry when I found the trike outside, soaked, with the "protective" plastic bag GONE, obviously blown away with the sudden storm resurgence.
Of course, with everything sopping wet, it took a bit longer than normal to saddle up and get going again, but in my tiny mind I had no choice but to get under way, pedal fast, and get home as soon as possible.  It wasn't a fun ride but I DID have motivation.
Needless to say, I was SOAKED within a few minutes and even more so when I got home.
Thankfully the temperature was not objectionable;  I was wet and cold but not THAT cold.
It didn't take me long to strip out of all my clothing and replace it with nice dry stuff.
We'll see if it dries up enough to brave another ride before nightfall.....

Ride Started: 11:20 AM           Ride Ended:  11:53 AM 
Beginning Battery Voltage: 13.6   Ending Battery Voltage:  12.5
Lowest Temp: 40 F Highest Temp: 53 F
Beginning Blood Glucose:  163   Ending BG: 85
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 minutes