Hot & Muggy & Buggy

 GPS Track ~ Works Now and Then

The Usual Big Box run, minus the Missouri Hot Sun.  Most of the time....
I had to pick up a prescription for today's ride, and against all odds the sky was slightly overcast and slightly cooler.  Greatly appreciated of course.
My diabetic feet were complaining more than usual today but riding and pedaling is easier than standing and walking, and us guys can only sit around and loaf for just so long before guilt drives us into action.
Big Box stores are wonderful, except when they aren't.
I arrived safe and sound at about 12:55 PM and after masking up and showing up at the renowned pharmacy, I found a sizable line a-waiting fruitlessly in front of several windows totally shuttered.  Several of us examined the "Pharmacy Hours" sign and saw the stated 12:00 - 1:00 noon lunch time.  No staggered lunch hour for the several workers, it must be a law that they all have to eat at the same time.
Obviously, customers should just wander the aisles and buy other stuff while waiting.
Of course the stated 1:00 PM lunch time was just a guesstimate.  My feet were complaining, of course, so I sat on an unoccupied cardboard box of something.
At the 20 minute mark, more or less, the windows finally opened and we all lined up again to gain attention. 

Dodging Traffic

Tuesday's GPS Tracked Route

 I don't get away with skipping exercise.....
Yesterday we needed some necessities from the Big Box enterprise on the north end of town.  Jacque had a sewing lesson going and a bushel of green beans awaiting her canning efforts, so it was a good excuse to get off my butt and take the Catrike for a ride.
We're undergoing a heat wave, with a few violent showers recently that cooled things down a tad.  Sunday's Shower Photo:

                                When it Rained, it POURED-  and sideways

 However, Tuesday was bright and sunny (!) so I was motivated to ride in the morning instead of late afternoon.
Temperatures weren't too terrible, with a little breeze, and as usual, getting out and working up a sweat pedaling huff-puff improved my mood and helped clear some of the fog out of my skull.  I WAS disappointed to notice that I was a bit slower than usual, and just have to blame it on not riding every day.
Locals have taken to greeting me with "HEY!!  How 'bout a RIDE?" when I pass them on the street.  One of these times I'm going to take them up on the request...
It was close to noonish when I rounded the bend to the intersection of Highway 95 and McDonalds.  I had to wait several minutes for a long line of cars to clear the roadway before I could make my own entry on 95 and cross the overpass leading to Big Box Store.  After several cars went by, a kind motorist slowed and waved me into the intersection, which was totally unexpected but mightily appreciated.
Arrived at Big Box safe and sound.  I didn't have too much trouble finding the items on my list, in spite of their recent habit of moving stuff around every few days - evidently in hopes we lackless shoppers will wander around more and spend a little more money on stuff we weren't looking for.
My sunny attitude was adjusted for the worse when I saddled up and started crossing the lot toward the exit.  A dreaded SUV crossed directly in front of me, forcing an abrupt stop.  The driver either totally ignored me or failed to glance a few feet ahead to see if anyone might be in his path.  "Female Driver", I grumped to myself, but it was just an old duffer just like me.  BAH
Got home safe and sound anyway.  Thank God for brakes.  Even if "I" have to use mine.

Ride Started: 10:27 AM           Ride Ended:  11:44 AM
Beginning Battery Voltage: 13.0   Ending Battery Voltage:  12.9
Lowest Temp: 75 F Highest Temp: 78 F
Beginning Blood Glucose:  169   Ending BG:  97
Stats from the GPS: Total Miles:  5.22
Overall Average Speed      Moving Avg       Max Speed
  4.2 MPH                              6.9 MPH            20.8 MPH
Total Trip(s) Time                Moving Time      Stopped Time
 1 hour 15  minutes               45 minutes          30 minutes

Babe in the Woods

 Today's GPS Travel Tracking

 Well, slow progress continues on the New Sewing Room, which I often use for an excuse for not whizzing slowly around town  more often on my Catrike .

Sundays are a welcome day off, and especially so yesterday since we were both a tad tired out.  We realized again that Jacque had a prescription waiting for her at our local Big Box Store, and I volunteered to use that for an excuse to actually get out on the trike again this morning.
It had cooled off quite a bit from last week's Upper 90's and humidity to match, and my scheme was to take off early this morning before it got too hot.
As usual, I distracted myself and took off much later than "planned".  One distraction was the mild cloud cover - making it even cooler than normal, fooling my brain (what's left of it) into thinking I had plenty of time to take a cooler ride.
Cloud cover DID protect me somewhat all the way to the Big Box, and I didn't even apply sunscreen.  (Yeah, I know, cloudy days are NOT protection from sun cooking the skin)

There was a middle aged fellow there at the Box's bike rack working on his bike, but he ignored me as I spoke a greeting when I walked past him to the Store Door.  When I came out to leave, he was still there, putzing away with something on his bike.  He was struggling with some sort of hardware, so I spoke again to him, saying I had tools on board the Catrike that he could use if needed.
This time he responded in friendly fashion and I dug out some of my wrenches to help him out. 
Turns out he had just now purchased this bike - Big Box Style - and had found it difficult to ride and was trying to install a gel-cushion seat and a cargo bracket on it. 
It also turned out he had almost NO experience riding bikes of any style.
He appeared to be between 50-60 years of age.  He was a homeless dude.  He walked from place to place and saw cyclists and thought to himself "That looks easy, I think I'll buy a bike!"

He had purchased a mountain bike a couple weeks ago and awkwardly ridden it 60 miles and - having never ridden before - decided he needed to trade it in on a "normal" bike.  Here he was, trying to rig up a brand new bike, with no experience riding or maintaining, and no real tools on hand.
I wound up spending almost 45 minutes or so handing him tools and trying to help him install the new seat and cargo bracket, and helping him adjust the seat to a comfortable riding height.  He had ridden 60 miles fitfully on the mountain bike and still had trouble balancing while pedaling, and even asked me if I thought they made training wheels for adult bikes.  I assured him that training wheels were a waste of time and money, based on my limited experience with them 60+ years ago.
We finally got his seat at a comfortable height and angle, and I tried to encourage him to keep up with the learning process and not give up.  I told him the world needed more cyclists and that it would eventually be well worth the effort to keep it up.
Thankful that my Cousin Darel had let me learn to ride HIS bicycle at age 5 when we visited his folks' ranch near Hereford TX about 1952, I rode home without balance issues on my three-wheeler.....

Ride Started: 9:34 AM           Ride Ended:  11:35 AM
Beginning Battery Voltage: 13.0   Ending Battery Voltage:  12.7
Lowest Temp: 71 F Highest Temp: 82 F
Beginning Blood Glucose:  199   Ending BG: 87
Stats from the GPS: Total Miles:  5.18
Overall Average Speed      Moving Avg       Max Speed
  3.3 MPH                              7.5 MPH            19.2 MPH
Total Trip(s) Time                Moving Time      Stopped Time
 1 hour 35  minutes               41 minutes          53 minutes

More Nonsensicals

 Catch-up GPS trike maps/routes

21st Julio Wednesday

24 Julio BigBox Trip

25 July Sunday Today 

I've been "Staying Active"..... Mostly.
Work on the new sewing room is slow going for an old fart trying to get everything "just so" before inviting outside volunteer help to come in and get some REAL work done.

Plus, it of course has been Hot.  A great excuse for resting in the shade under the air conditioner. 
In spite of priorital (Is that a Word?) laziness I have gotten on the trike for leg stretching, aerobic exercise, and mood enhancement.  Occasionally.
Today being a blessed Sunday, when we rarely miss taking the Lord's Day off,
we enjoyed relaxing instead of re-doing many of my mistakes.
Feeling slightly guilty for not riding enough, I decided to take at least a short ride.
Even short rides tend to lower my blood glucose, AND improve my mood no matter what the mood was to start with.
The "online" weather report predicted possible rain showers by 5:00 PM, but no such thing happened.  I guess the Southwest and  Northwest are getting all the rain recently, as well as Germany.  I don't mind missing out on flooding, but it would be nice if the rain kinda spread out to give us all a taste of it without damage.
Today's short ride fulfilled all expectationws, except for waiting for two separate trains to clear the crossing.  Thankfully they were relatively short ones.

Ride Started: 4:16 PM           Ride Ended:  4:44 PM
Beginning Battery Voltage: 13.8   Ending Battery Voltage:  13.0
Lowest Temp: 78 F Highest Temp: 82 F
Beginning Blood Glucose:  154   Ending BG: 146
Stats from the GPS: Total Miles:  2.18
Overall Average Speed      Moving Avg       Max Speed
  6.0 MPH                              7.4 MPH            17.5 MPH
Total Trip(s) Time                Moving Time      Stopped Time
 22  minutes                          18 minutes         4 minutes

Sunday, Sunday

Bonus Video:  Vicious Dogs Attempt to Attack Lazy Rabbit

                                        Our resident Rabbit was snoozing there in the Grass

 An Almost - Usual GPS Route

Today was a Cooler Than Usual Sunday, with threatening clouds overshadowing us as we arrived at Church services this morning.  It wasn't raining, but it looked so dark we pulled a couple of umbrellas to take inside in case it might be raining when we left the building. 
As we  entered the chapel, several raindrops splattered the sidewalk.
As far as we know, that was the only "rain" we got.  Taking  umbrellas changed the equation and since we were "protected" it decided not to rain.
The rest of the day was mostly sunny but still noticeably less stifling than we've enjoyed the last few days.
Thus, around five-ish I awoke from a Sunday almost - nap and realized I had been almost totally sedentary all day, having done not much other than worshiping and eating.
Jacque was in the midst of cooking up one of her wonderful evening meals (supper to us country raised folk, dinner to educated folks like my Wife), so I assumed I wouldn't have time to sneak in even a short trike ride.
When I offhandedly mentioned this to Jacque, she responded that Dinner would be another 45 minutes or so and I should go ahead and go  for a ride.  So I went.
I didn't plan to take a long ride and be late for dinner, but I did take a small detour along Clouse street to see what might be there.  There wasn't a whole lot to see there except for a newly constructed set of apartments with fresh driveways and "No Loitering" and "For Rent" signs.  I shifted down a couple of gears going up a very slight rise in the street and as I did so I heard the telltale swish bicycle tires -- Someone ELSE'S tires.  I was quickly overtaken by a small bicycle pedaled by a grinning young man about 10 or so years of age.  He waved wickedly and I called back "Hi, Speed Demon!" 
Still smarting from his display of superiority, I considered challenging him to see who could achieve the faster speed, but he disappeared into another apartment lot and I was spared the disgrace of having him outrun me again.
Taking the route home via our highly decorated City Square, I arrived home safely and dry.
As  I walked in, Jacque told me the weather service had issued an "Impending Rain Warning in 15 Minutes" just as I rode away.   I was gone around 20 minutes and - since arriving home - It still hasn't rained.  Fine and Dandy with me;  it rained much of yesterday, Saturday.   The only day I didn't ride at least a few blocks last week.

Ride Started: 4:56 PM           Ride Ended:  5:13 PM
Beginning Battery Voltage: 13.4   Ending Battery Voltage:  13.0
Lowest Temp: 77 F Highest Temp: 78 F
Beginning Blood Glucose:  170   Ending BG: 168
Stats from the GPS: Total Miles:  2.39
Overall Average Speed      Moving Avg       Max Speed
  7.7 MPH                              8.0 MPH            18.0 MPH
Total Trip(s) Time                Moving Time      Stopped Time
 19  minutes                          18 minutes         15 segundos

Jim's Sappy Updates

I haven't been keeping up with all my comings and goings recently, though I HAVE been coming and going.  Work on Jacque's new sewing room addition has a large priority on my time, but she still encourages and supports me using all sorts of excuses for getting out on the streets and "stretching my legs".

Thus a few GPS tracks of the last couple week's pedalings:

3 July: Trip Around our Neighborhood
5 July:  Ride to the Airport and Back
6 July: Trip to Ace Hardware & Around
8 July: Across the Tracks to Richards Grocery
9 July: Roundabout Trip to Jewelers and Big Box Nearby
10 July: CHC Hardware Shopping with B.O.B. Trailer

Our Missouri weather has been spotty recently, with spots of storm warnings, actual rain and wind, beautiful hot sunny, often all on the same day.
Several times the weather was so soggy I thought there was no way to risk getting soaked on the trike, and a couple of trips (not included here) were cut short to a few  hundred yards or less as the rain started suddenly while I was cranking furiously, causing quick U-turns and a splattery return home.
Yesterday I was finishing the ceiling in the sewing room's bathroom and cutting a hole for the exhaust fan.  After several foot-rest breaks, I had the exhaust box mounted and realized I didn't have any 3 inch fittings, roof jack, exhaust piping, etc.  By now it was well  after 4 PM on a Saturday and I still wanted to get all that stuff - even if I didn't have time to get it installed when I got back.
Plus, I needed another excuse for at least a short ride, so I dragged out the trike and trailer and hitched everything up.  By THEN it was a wee bit after 5 PM and I knew they'd be closed by 5:30.  Only a few blocks away, so I took off.
There was only one other customer in the store when I walked in and I'd been there only a few minutes when I noticed they were shutting off the lights and obviously hinting to me to get done and gone.
The manager held the door open for me as I left.  I didn't hear the "Click" as they locked up behind me.  Only a little while after I got home, the rains and winds began to do their thing, and we had to wait a while for things to calm down enough to take the dogs outside to do their business.

(Yesterday's) Ride Started: 4:41 PM           Ride Ended:  5:20 PM
Beginning Battery Voltage: 13.8   Ending Battery Voltage:  12.9
Lowest Temp: 75 F Highest Temp: 82 F
Beginning Blood Glucose:  190   Ending BG: 108
Stats from the GPS: Total Miles:   1.30
Overall Average Speed      Moving Avg       Max Speed
  2.5 MPH                              6.7 MPH            14.9 MPH
Total Trip(s) Time                Moving Time      Stopped Time
 32  minutes                          12 minutes         20 minutes

Hauling Gas

 Roundabout Route with Propane on Board 

Our BBQ was out of propane.  Jacque thought she should go get a refilled tank, but sensing the opportunity for at least a short ride, I volunteered to take a ride in the Catrike for the trip.
Of course, hauling a bottle of propane, empty or full, is not quite feasible just with the trike alone.  So I hitched up the venerable B.O.B. trailer and set out to go.
Clouds were gathering and Jacque warned that it was supposed to start raining "in 5 minutes".  It wasn't raining YET, so I took off anyway.
The neighbors laughed and waved as I went by, for some reason...

Not that I look silly or anything.

I got clear down the block and halfway to the next when it DID begin to rain.
I momentarily considered continuing the trip but turned around in spite of myself.
As I pedaled madly back to the house, the same neighbors hoo-rawed me again with shouts of  "HAH!  You're gonna get WET !!"  Which I cheerfully shouted back as I zoomed into the yard and unhooked enough stuff to get the trike under shelter.  When I stepped back in the house, the rain had dropped off to almost nothing.
Jacque and I had a good laugh.  I thought I might jump back out and try the ride again, but sure 'nuff the rain came back hard and fast.
About an hour later the sun had come out again so I finally got going and was successful in getting another tank.
We have at least a couple local vendors with easy tank exchanges, so it wasn't much of a trip.  The uphill to the Dollar Store was with the empty tank, and that downhill wasn't much of a challenge on the way back with the full tank.

Ride Started: 1:13 PM           Ride Ended:  3:09 PM
Beginning Battery Voltage: 13.4   Ending Battery Voltage:  12.9
Lowest Temp: 75 F Highest Temp: 84 F
Beginning Blood Glucose:  200   Ending BG: 105
Stats from the GPS: Total Miles:   2.65
Overall Average Speed      Moving Avg       Max Speed
  3.2 MPH                              5.8 MPH            16.3 MPH
Total Trip(s) Time                Moving Time      Stopped Time
 50  minutes                          27 minutes         23 minutes