Necessary Travel?

 Wednesday Wandering GPS Track

We received an anxiously awaited Amazon purchase on Wednesday, but were disappointed to find the plastical envelope was quite empty.  On closer examination we found the side of the envelope was open, either cut or improperly sealed before mailing.
So we went through the painful procedure of getting an exchange:  Empty envelope for a properly filled envelope.  Hopefully.

We were instructed to print a return label on the torn envelope and turn it in at the nearest UPS outfit.
Thus I had a reason to ride, so to speak.
It was later in the afternoon by the time I was able to take the trike trip, but it was uneventful.  I was more tired than usual and the ride was not as enthusiastic as usual.

Ride Started: 2:58 PM           Ride Ended:  3:49 PM
Beginning Battery Voltage: 13.0   Ending Battery Voltage:  12.9
Lowest Temp: 71 F Highest Temp: 75 F
Beginning Blood Glucose:  185   Ending BG: 79
Stats from the GPS: Total Miles:  4.43
Overall Average Speed      Moving Avg       Max Speed
  4.9 MPH                              6.5 MPH            20.0 MPH
Total Trip(s) Time                Moving Time      Stopped Time
   54  minutes                        41 minutes         13 minutes

Enjoying Great Weather While it Lasts

 Tracking Link via GPS and Ham Radio

I've been daily waddling around butchering wood, painting, sweeping floor, yada yada.  Every other day or so I ride at least a few blocks on the Catrike to run an errand or two.  Seldom do I get a really good "cardio" ride in, but even short rides stir up my circulation and improve my grumpy moods.  Of course when I get home, it takes a while to cool off and rest my sore feets.  But it's worth it.  Just ask anyone.
I've missed several good days for riding, trying to make better headway on the Sweet Wifey's sewing room addition.  It's not HER fault;  since she continually encourages me to get out and ride.  Might have something to do with the mood lift thing.
On Sunday, two days ago, after Church, we All went for a short ride around the town square (a few blocks away) on the Terratrike Tandem .

Today was an unusually mild, sunny, pleasantly warm but cool, and I committed myself to get some gaps in the new room wall paint touched up, and take a break for a ride.
Of course all this took much longer than I'd imagined.  Very frustrating to take at least 10 times the effort to get even simple tasks done - that used to be far less tiring and difficult.
I got out the trike and trailer since the Boss had accumulated two almost - full bags of surplus stuff to take to our nearby Thrift Store.  That destination was only about 4 blocks away, just across the railroad tracks.  I had no other "excuses" to ride anywhere except for sunshine and oxygen.  Thus most of my pedaling was with an empty B.O.B. trailer behind me.  Not a big deal since it pulls very easily, mostly noticeable when carrying a load.... uphill.
I even wore regular length long pants, and did not get too overheated.
I thought about stopping to shop for a few items at our sole Big Box Store, but it's too close to the end of the month and the bank account is suffering so I passed it by.
I stopped to rest a couple times in the shade along the way, so this was no speed ride.  Hah - it would make HEADLINES if I ever managed a "speedy" ride.
My new Continuous Glucose Monitor (CGM) insulin pump warned me when my blood sugar got too low, so during one break on the way home I snarfed a cookie.  YUM
I need to do such rides, and even longer ones, to build up my strength.  Did I mention even a short ride lowers my blood sugar for most of the remainder of the day and night?
Hopefully I can sleep well tonight.  God is GOOD...

Ride Started: 1:43 PM           Ride Ended:  3:04 PM
Beginning Battery Voltage: 13.0   Ending Battery Voltage:  12.9
Lowest Temp: 67 F Highest Temp: 78 F
Beginning Blood Glucose:  165   Ending BG: 97
Stats from the GPS: Total Miles:  6.36
Overall Average Speed      Moving Avg       Max Speed
  4.7 MPH                              5.9 MPH            23.2 MPH
Total Trip(s) Time                Moving Time      Stopped Time
 1 hour 20  minutes              1 hour 4 mins      16 minutes

OutRun by a BIKE

 Tracking Courtesy of Ham Radio and GPS

 My sweet wife encouraged me to a trike ride this morning, noting that it was overcast but rain was only forecast for later in the day at around 11:00 AM.
I had a couple good "excuses"  to ride a little, such as mailing a small package to one of our 9-year old Church Primary kiddos.  Also we had a trash sack full of odds and ends to take to the closest Thrift store, so I hitched up the Catrike and B.O.B. trailer and set off.
The weather was cloudy and cooler than usual.  As I turned on to North Main and started approaching the railroad crossing, I spotted an unusual sight in my rear view mirror:  Another CYCLIST coming up behind me.  Seeing he wasn't gaining on me all that fast, I did the studly thing and pedaled furiously myself, hoping to stay ahead of him.  Hey, that's what we do when driving cars, too, right?  RIGHT??
He evidently had similar ideas of his own, and approached rapidly in spite of my urgent efforts.  When he got close up behind me, about to pass, I heard a mechanical high pitched whine - and realized he was on an ELECTRIC bike. 
In less than a second or so, he was around and ahead of me, pretending to ignore my supposedly sarcastic attempts to exchange waves.  SIGH -
I spent the hard earned money for the overpriced postage, then set off again to deposit my trailer load of castoffs at the Thrift Store.
It was only about 3 small-town blocks away.  As I prepared to cross the street to enter the thrift store parking lot, it suddenly began to RAIN. 
Now, I'm not opposed to a little sprinkle, but I was getting pretty soggy as I tried to make haste toward the building, hoping to find shelter.
Sure enough, their sidewalk appeared to be dry and safely under the overhang of the building's roof.  Unfortunately, there was no ramp and I had to twist and turn and grimace as I struggled to get the trike/trailer up across the 4" high sidewalk.
I finally got it up with a few hiccups and weird twists and turns.  Hopefully no one caught a video of the awkward performance. 
AND - Of COURSE - The rain immediately STOPPED once I was safely under the overhang.  And it hasn't rained all day SINCE, in spite of the "definite" forecast of rain later onward.
So I dumped my cargo and rode the short trip home.  Short ride, big fun.

Ride Started: 9:58 AM           Ride Ended:  10:20 AM
Beginning Battery Voltage: 13.0   Ending Battery Voltage:  12.9
Lowest Temp: 68 F Highest Temp: 68 F
Beginning Blood Glucose:  220   Ending BG: 98
Stats from the GPS: Total Miles:  1.08
Overall Average Speed      Moving Avg       Max Speed
  1.4 MPH                              5.5 MPH             12.5 MPH
Total Trip(s) Time                Moving Time      Stopped Time
 19 minutes                           12 minutes          7 minutes

COOL - It's FALL (officially)

 Today's GPS tracking

It rained yesterday dampening enthusiasm for pedaling around town.
This morning dawned cool and beautifully sunny, and I had the itch to get in a ride before it got too warmish.  Jacque had a shopping item for me to use for an excuse so I gladly saddled up and toddled away.
I haven't been riding "full circles" around town recently, due to time restraints (and enthusiasm).  A few weeks ago I had looked at our big city map (Pop. ~ 4500) and spotted a few connecting streets that would enclose a larger perimeter to ride.
Today I felt a little friskier than usual and decided to try out the slightly longer route.
The weather was lovely except for a VERY stiff headwind much of the trip.  It was only 51 degrees after we first awoke today and even though the sun was high and bright, it was downright cool.  I had to button up the top buttons on my shirt for the first time since spring, goodness gracious me....
I had not been around these streets, at least for long enough for me to remember.
These local neighborhoods are usually enjoyable to wander through, and these were quite enjoyable.
EXCEPT for a huge dip in the roadway that I had to ride the brakes going downhill, and get clear down into Grandma Gear to make the last quarter mile of uphill grade.
I survived the climb, thankfully.  After all, exercise is good for you, right?  RIGHT?
As I coasted down the other side of the hill, I spotted an enjoyable sight.

                               You don't see many of THESE parked outside

Unless my eyes deceive me, that's a 1955 Mercury.  I think it showed up at our local car show a week or so ago.  I first passed by without stopping to photograph it, then decided I might miss out if I didn't turn around.
Before returning home, I checked my blood sugar and since it was dropping rapidly, I forced myself to eat one of Jacque's emergency cookies she baked for me.
We got in a short after - supper tandem trike ride this evening as well, just across the tracks and around the village square.  Less than a mile, but good huffing and puffing anyway.

Ride Started: 11:13 AM           Ride Ended:  12:43 PM
Beginning Battery Voltage: 13.7   Ending Battery Voltage:  12.8
Lowest Temp: 64 F Highest Temp: 78 F
Beginning Blood Glucose:  233   Ending BG: 108
Stats from the GPS: Total Miles:  7.01
Overall Average Speed      Moving Avg       Max Speed
  4.6 MPH                              6.0 MPH            23.8 MPH
Total Trip(s) Time                Moving Time      Stopped Time
 1 hour 30 mins                    1 hour  10 mins    20 minutes

Hauling Propane or ??

 Thursday Travel GPS Tracking 

On Sept 16 (yesterday) my buddy Jack came over to visit, so I dragged out the Catrike and B.O.B. (Boy On Board) trailer. 
I didn't have much steam on board (bodily energy), so we only pedaled around a neighborhood I hadn't ridden before.  A little over 2 miles.  Big Deal.  Jack is a big fan of stopping to play at playgrounds, and every time we passed an empty lot or empty field lush with grass he yelled "PLAYGROUND!!" but - since we spotted none with playground equipment to romp upon - we kept going.

Jack's scowl from returning so soon from a trike ride with Grandpa Jim - He cheered up with the offer of an Icey Fruity Bar treat

After riding home and resting up a bit, I remembered Jacque had run  out of propane in our gas powered barbecue.  Since I had left the trike and trailer hooked up outside in the shade, I decided to make the short run to the local Dollar Store to get the tank exchanged.

The propane tank fit in the trailer nicely, and unlike Jack, didn't try to wiggle loose from the "seatbelt".  It also wasn't quite as heavy as Jack, until of course I got the full exchange tank loaded.... which DID slow me down a bit, but I made it home OK anyway.

Ride Started: 9:30  AM           Ride Ended:  12:40 PM
Beginning Battery Voltage: 13.0   Ending Battery Voltage:  12.9
Lowest Temp: 67 F Highest Temp: 82 F
Beginning Blood Glucose:  212   Ending BG: 102
Stats from the GPS: Total Miles:   4.33
Overall Average Speed      Moving Avg       Max Speed
  4.3 MPH                              5.6 MPH            14.6 MPH
Total Trip(s) Time                Moving Time      Stopped Time
 1 hour 1  minute                 46 minutes         14 minutes

Wednesday Morning Exercise

 Today's GPS Tracking via APRS Ham Radio

 I had an appointment today at our local California Nail salon to get my nasty toenails trimmed and pampered.  Our guy Wally does a better job on my sore feets than my podiatrist - who also does the best he can.
The appointment was at 9:15 AM so I put on "decent" clothes ( not my normal 'work' clothes that are frayed worn, torn, and stained ).
This establishment is only about a mile from home, so it's a good excuse to drag out the trike for a ride.
This morning dawned cool and breezy, after a night of predicted rain that didn't happen.  I saddled up and huffed and puffed up to the storefront.  I parked in the shade in front and swaggered ( don't mention staggered ) to the door and found it LOCKED.  I noticed the "Hours" sign in the front window said 9:30 AM to 5:30 PM.
So I sat meself back down in the comfy trike seat and proceeded to wait.
About 9:40 or so I began to wonder if something was kaput, so I got up to call Jacque on the phone and - while conversing with her - noticed a paper taped in the door glass stating they were unavoidably closed for today, as both proprietors were suffering colds, headaches, cough, fever, etc, which sounds a lot like our current Politically Charged Pandemic COVID.
Here's hoping they recover soon, like most do.
I rode back home on the outer edges of paved town roads and was glad for the ever - necessary excuse to go for a ride.

Ride Started: 8:54 AM           Ride Ended:  10:13 AM
Beginning Battery Voltage: 13.0   Ending Battery Voltage:  12.5
Lowest Temp: 64 F Highest Temp: 67 F
Beginning Blood Glucose:  190   Ending BG:  119
Stats from the GPS: Total Miles:   4.63
Overall Average Speed      Moving Avg       Max Speed
  3.4 MPH                              6.3 MPH            19.3 MPH
Total Trip(s) Time                Moving Time      Stopped Time
 1 hour 21  minutes               44 minutes          37 minutes

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.