diddlee

The disability income thing isn't a problem. I will make an appointment with my doctor Monday. David has his birthday Monday. He will be 2 years old. I dearly love that little guy. Sara and I are supposed to go hiking Saturday and Sunday. Maybe it will come together. Hope so.

Wednesday, we rode the back way to Childersburg. With darkness coming so soon, there was no time for a rest. I lagged behind a lot. I don't have the strength I had back at the begin of summer. I will soon have to get my heart checked out. I have to check on my disability income before I start that.

Mother has come through her operation with little problem. She is doing so well, I may go ride this evening. I am hoping to find a ride for November or October that I can do.

I rode the bike club ride Saturday morning. 49.6 miles. I really wasn't able to generate a lot of go power. I was really dragging over Bull Gap. Then I made fair time as I traveled over highway 7 to Hollins and then on to Stewartville. But the ride from there to Sylacauga by the Coaling road was really difficult.

Mother is recovering from her procedure quickly. Being back at home has made more difference than anything else. I rode to Fayetteville this morning. I made slow time. I fought a headwind all the way back. My average speed down was 17.8 but on the way back it droped to a 15.8. Strong wind and some hills. Tomorrow the club will be riding from Vicious Cycle at 8am. I plan on trying to make that trip. Here's a photo of the Grandson.

I made a few photos of Butterflies that were sipping juice from some discarded watermelons behind the house. This one is a Monarch. We rode to Sycamore today. A good ride but it was so HOT! I will try to get in a ride on Wednesday and Thursday or Friday.

Last night, I awoke in a virtual stupor. I was aware of a loud noise. Almost a vibratory noise. I could not completely wake. The noise was like a ringing or buzzing in my ears. I felt as if I were dying. I have no idea what was going on. Strange. The BRAT should be under way by now. That would have been really great. It just wasn't meant to be.

We always thought Kemosabe meant trusted friend. The actual term came from a summer camp up in Michigan. Thus it means whatever you want. Phonetically, Kemosabe can be written "qui no sabe" which means clueless. A good partnership for someone who's name in Spanish translates "FOOL".

Today would have been the first day of the BRAT. I suppose some nice folks are getting ready to ride today. It is unfortunate that life events make changes like that necessary. I don't know if I would have been able to enjoy it had Mike not been there. His having to cancel at the last minute would have meant I'd have been on my own. I am considering the Charleston Cycle Fest as an alternative. Mother will have surgery on the 5th of October so I doubt the BRAG bike fest will be an option.

Well, I waited too long and the 3 Gap 50 is closed. Filled up. Imagine that! I guess biking it becoming more popular. I'll have to find somewhere else to ride next weekend. Maybe! Mike called last night and told me he wouldn't be able to attent the BRAT. I guess it all worked out anyhow. Maybe I can get together with him for another ride somewhere. I got my bike adjusted. So it is ready to go on Monday. Another riding day. My heart is skipping beats like mad tonight. I have to get my disability insurance straight before I see Dr. Aldaher. If that were to go the way of a cardiology consult, I might have trouble with getting the coverage I need.

We left Vicious Cycle early yesterday to get out to Bull's Gap and back before dark. The days are shorter now. And they get shorter by about a minute a day. It won't be long till there isn't enough time to do a ride of that length. I didn't push as hard as I had up to Sycamore. Everyone seemed content to ride slower. I experimented with standing in the pedals to climb and found it to work better. I get some benefit from my mass that way.

I did another time trial yesterday. I made the 11.5 miles to Sycamore in 38 minutes. That is over 18 mph average speed. I pushed hard to get that speed. At times I was running 25 mph on flat ground and pushing over 30 on downhills while pedaling. That is the kind of speed that I'd need to run with Mike or the fast group here. I guess I have improved some since January. I am told it takes 3 years to get your cycling strength. Imagine if I lose 30 or more lbs and improve my strength. I'll be as strong a cyclist as I will ever need be.

I went out to the 3 mile marker and went down Trammell Road. I parked and went looking for the connector to Big John Road. I intended to ride a circle from there back to 148, up to Black Road, and around Wiregrass to where I started. I figured it could be 15 miles or so. As I rode down Trammell, I was surprised by the number of houses that have been added since I last was in there. I quit and came back to the truck and went up to Black road and the rode over to the watersheds. The ride down to the second watershed was a killer. The bike started some crazy shifting problems but it seemed to get better back on the main road. No snake today! Bye the way, my mountain bike weighs a ton! After riding that light road bike for several months, it is a shock to lift that honker into the back of the truck. It is like lead. The dusty roads really take a toll on the gearing of a mountain bike.

I got back from Cullman and took a ride while David napped with Grammy. I got from the 3 mile mark to Rocky Mount Church and back. It was supposed to be 14 miles but I only registered 12.2. On the way back, I found another Rattler in the road. This one wasn't as long as the other but with the narrower woods road, I didn't have much room to ride around it. Finding these snakes has become a habit with me. I guess I need to start carrying a camera to document these. It sure was dry yesterday. The last rain we had was with Katrina. And we didn't get that much rain then.

This afternoon I went riding out to Sycamore. From the house here it is a 22 mile round trip. Out past Lake Howard road, there was a six foot timber rattler laying across the right lane. It was really beautifully colored. I rode around it and kept on going. It is a reminder that riding out in mountain bike regions carries a small risk. Janice came to visit Mother before her surgery. I really appreciated her making the effort. I got Bev out on her bike today. She was worn out after only a couple of laps around the block here. She needs to get some miles in climbing hills.

Yesterday I got a flashing red light for late riding. I have the old Trek set up for riding to work. I was going to ride it today but was sleepy and waited to late to start. It is pretty dark out there also. I don't know if it is such a good idea to ride to work in the darkness. If gas gets short, it may be necessary.

Tom has his surgery on Friday next week. Mother has her appointment in Birmingham on Thursday. Gas may be in short supply in the meanwhile. Looks like there will be some challenges ahead. I am lucky. I could walk or ride a bike to work. Unlike a lot of others. But I think a lot of the gloom is exaggerated. I may have to build in a little time to get some work done up in Cullman over the next few weeks.

Last night I rode a time trial out to Sycamore. I had the worst time of anyone on the ride. 40:04 for the 11.5 mile ride. That is over 17mph average speed. The average for the group was around 19 miles per hour. I imagine I could have gone a little faster but a crampy left calf didn't want to cooperate in the last mile or two. I should go for another ride this afternoon. Friday I will have little David and won't be able to go anywhere. I might take him for a ride on the mountain bike. The gas shortage has hit Sylacauga. I was gouged for 2.9999 a gallon gas last night. If this price stays high, maybe the traffic will decrease to the point where biking will be safer.