Staying the course...

When the Florida Safari changed the date and our plan to attend went in the tank, so did my resolve to get my weight back down to my optimum. There just wasn't the motivation I needed to get back in that firm frame of mind that is needed to cut out the extra calories to get back to the old low. I am asking myself, when did I let up and allow those 8 lbs to come back? Although I have slowly added more calories back to my daily intake, the most likely cause of the weight gain was a decline in activity. There was a span of several months where the weather combined with schedule restrictions to curtail my riding. Meanwhile, I consumed a riders share of calories. The other factor that has derailed my effort was the addition of braces for my teeth. I can't have nuts now so that excludes the old Balance Bars that I liked but didn't "love" like I do the Peanut Butter ones. It is too easy to overeat with them. So yesterday, I took a stand and kept my calories below the max. Today I am heading into evening with a calorie deficit and no Balance bars to gulp down. My only possible slip up could come when I get home. With a few minutes of will power, I can get to bed and keep up the good work.

So why? The main goal now is to fit into those 34 pants that I bought around Christmas. I was in them comfortably and was looking forward to even those becoming loose fitting. How? Because I still had a band of belly fat that I was looking forward to dropping. So I have firmed up my resolve and have put my goal weight date on my calendar. By the time Bev and I are riding the Horsey Hundred, I expect to have lost all those extra pounds. And by the end of the Katy Trail Ride, I expect to be sub 190. At 180 something, I will maintain.

Backup plan...

Bev suggested that I simply relocate all the existing shelves rather than go in for the elaborate building process. It would save some labor and expense. Although I had made a plan to go ahead and do it the hard way, I think I've reconsidered and will attempt to just relocate all those items. It would leave me having to move the existing work bench and add a 5 foot section to it along with some shelves.

We received confirmation of our registration for the Katy Trail Ride. That will be our big ride for the year. I think Bev is looking forward to it. Sometime between now and then I need to let her try out our sleeping arrangements for the trip. It would be bad to get out there and find out we don't like the tent or mattresses. I don't know if I should take the backpacking tent or the 3 man tent I carried to Florida. I probably should take the big tent. At least enough room to bring the bags inside. Instead of a tandem cover, I might just take some seat covers. That is the crucial part anyway.

This means I should put the date down and get serious about losing that other 8 lbs I've gained back. We should also be doing lots of rides to build up our endurance for that first 65 mile day. That will be a serious ride especially on fat tires.

Clunk

This past week has been one for riding. Bev even rode a 25 mile ride on a single bike. That was a record for her. I finally got into the bottom bracket of the black tandem and found the problem. The unit has worn an oval and can't be tightened enough to stop movement in it. I have new parts ordered and can replace it as early as Tuesday. I put the off-road tires back on it so we can get some traction in those wet places. I'll put the Smooth tires back on when we go to Missouri. Today was one of those typical Monday mornings. Everything is a rush to get things in order and get out for lunch and grocery shopping. Then its off to work for me and the beginning of a new work week.

I've set myself a new goal. I plan to redo the shelves in the garge so I can tidy up all the stuff in there and make it work better. Part of the plan is a tool bench near the front of the garage. I'll move the freezer to the rear and make a place for all the law mowers and tools.

Some disassembly required....

This morning we tried to find the source of the clunk in the black tandem's drive train. I removed the eccentric and reinstalled it. I also replaced the chain since I just added a new cog and had those new chain rings. Didn't fix it. I still have a clunk each time the crank goes around. The next step will be bottom bracket removal and inspection. That means I have to have a bottom bracket tool and wrench. I should have purchased one of those tool sets with a stand. I had the unit in my hand but without a load on it, everything seemed fine. I might replace the front bb and find it is actually the rear. Then I'd have replaced both.

It will be cold tomorrow morning. Just like Easter to have a cold snap. Since I am off, Bev and I can take an afternoon ride instead. The club rides to Sycamore have resumed so that may be our chance to get in a few miles. I should be making a do list for this week. It may be too chilly to do the washing work I had planned. That would leave grass mowing and some cleanup jobs. I have been wanting to use the boat since last year but if it isn't warm...

I also will have to see about my teeth. I don't know whether to see Dr. Currie first or Dr. Roberts. All I know is this pain has to go. We will probably get David tomorrow. If he comes home with us, I'll either take him hiking or take the canoe out on Lake Virginia. Time for another adventure.

So what is happening...

It has been a while since a post. There hasn't been much happening. The weather and responsibilities have conspired to keep Bev and I off the bike. I have been working on a new mountain bike trail but the past week of work has kept me away. The one day I could have done some work, it rained. But with the next week of off time, I'll get back out there. There is so much more I want to get opened up. Jobs around the house have mounted up as well. Lately the septic tank has given problems. I took the plunge and rewired it. That involved digging out the conduit and replacing it up to the access port. Then the drain to the air conditioner had problems. That called for climbing up into the attic. Next we need to redo the bathroom, replace tile, and paint. I have decided to ask Glenn Simmons to renovate the bathroom and get Chris to help me with the bathroom and foyer. For painting I'll have to ask for a reference. As for outside, I have the decks to wash and repaint the doors and porch. Lots of washing on the outside of the house if the weather is warm. And in the midst of this, David and I will attempt another adventure or two. This week we will either go for a canoe ride up on Lake Virginia or take the boat out for a ride. Still a little bit chilly for an overnight hike. We also talked about taking the camper somewhere. Any of these would be fun.

Final Odyssey

Farewell to one of my favorite authors, Arthur C. Clark. Of the many I read, my favorite remains "Rendezvous with Rama". I enjoyed having Frank Poole resurrected in 3001. Thanks for the many hours of entertainment.

Hiking the loop....

They say, "Be careful what you wish for!" That saying should apply to our loop hike from last weekend. The written descriptions said it would be either 18 or 16.8 miles. I'd have to go with 18. And of those, at least 9 of them are the full bodied type. The climb from the Pinhoti up the Stairway to Heaven was grueling. Then the next day the long climb up and out from Lake Chinnabee really taxed my endurance due to my short changing my calories that day. In short, I bonked. But I managed to keep on putting one foot in front of another until I made it. Most folks had foot issues. Paul's feet really took a beating. Everyone got their money's worth. I wanted to challenge my strength and that hike certainly did and much more so than the 18 mile hike across the ridges last February.

I think for the next edition of our hike, we will do something more modest. I propose something like 5 mile days. Something so we can stop and smell the roses. My pack will certainly be lighter next year. I will go for some very lighweight materials instead of just taking everything next time. I know I had lots of things that made the trip without being used. Those extra meals for one thing. Too much water on the first day. I can do without the piece of tarp that I put the tent on. And I don't know if that Thermarest was worth the extra weight. There were lots of extras in that pack that can go next time.

The big surprise for me was Paul's reaction. That day about a half mile below the trailhead, he looked like he was thoroughly disgusted. I bet he would never go again. But later he told me how much he enjoyed the trip and how he was researching tents and boots for the next time.