SpokEasy

April 2020

Morning Lark

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I\’ve always been a morning lark. At any rate, I seem to be one. But at times I question that. Last Friday, while I was still on vacation, I intended to go out around 6 am on the road bike; then ride the hybrid to the grocery store around 8:00. I shut off the alarm clock and fell asleep again. I wasn\’t awake enough to get up until 8:10! When I go to sleep again like that, it\’s when I seem to get my deepest sleep. How ironic that is!  It\’s also when I have dreams; some of which are really weird. Past eight o\’clock seems like too late to go for a ride, and it took a bit of prodding to get myself out there. What a difference it is to ride in the daylight! I startled a bird that was near the edge of the back path. It was blue, but not a blue jay. As I was riding about 16 mph, I couldn\’t see much detail. I\’m not quite sure, but I thought I saw a red breast, which would mean a bluebird. I\’ve never seen a bluebird around here, although we\’re within the range of the eastern bluebird. Getting back to the ride, I would have been better off if I had gotten out a couple of hours earlier. The wind then was 3-4 mph. By the time I began my ride, it was blowing at 7-8 mph. My plan for that day was to practice riding 15 mph or more for five minutes at a time. With that wind behind me, it wasn\’t very difficult. Coming back home, it was. My legs were throwing in the towel after 20 seconds! Now I\’m back to early-morning rides; like a morning lark.

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Variation Number X

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I made variation number X on chicken tikka masala last week. It makes me wonder what I\’ll come up with next. And what would the authors of The Feed Zone Cookbook think? I\’ve used hot dogs for tikka masala many a time. I\’ve used black beans, and I\’ve tried it with garbanzos. The cauliflower curry I made is actually another variation on the tikka masala recipe. If you\’re keen on trying it, here\’s how I made it. For the marinade, I mixed 1 cup plain, low-fat yogurt; 1 cup tomato sauce; 1 tablespoon curry powder; and 1/2 teaspoon salt. I had half a cauliflower that needed to be used. I cut it into small pieces; about 2 1/2 cups. I also had part of a red onion. It made about 1 cup chopped. I minced a clove of garlic, and a small (about 6\” long) carrot, sliced very thinly. I stirred all the veggies into the marinade, and let it sit in the fridge one hour. Then I put the pot over medium heat and let the mixture get bubbly, stirring now and then. I turned the heat down to a simmer, and let the stuff cook until the cauliflower was crisp-tender, about 8-10 minutes. Voila! A cupful of cauliflower curry over brown rice made a good supper. I bet it would be good with a little cheese on top, too. I froze what I didn\’t eat that evening, and already my brain was mulling over Variation Number X + 1. Potatoes?  

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Something Smells Fishy

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Of course, something smells fishy. I just opened a can of tuna! I took it into my head to make potato-tuna salad; another new venture into \”gourmet\” cooking. Yeah, I know. \”Gourmand\” cooking is more like it! This idea came about because I bought a 5-pound bag of potatoes yesterday. One potato was significantly larger than the rest. I didn\’t think to weigh it, but I\’d guess it was 6-8 ounces. So I boiled it this evening. I went into my stash of canned goods, and got out a can of tuna. While I waited for the potato to get cool enough to handle without scorching myself, I drained and flaked the tuna. Next I peeled and diced the potato, and tossed it with the tuna fish. This can of tuna was oil pack, so I didn\’t add any oil or mayonnaise. I used a quarter-cup of plain yogurt instead; and added a squirt of yellow mustard. For seasoning I turned to freshly-ground black pepper and garlic salt. This salad turned out to be more potato-y than fish-y. Not that there\’s anything wrong with that; tuna in a mixture so often overpowers everything else. It made enough for me to keep half for tomorrow. While I\’ve got fish on my  mind, tomorrow morning might see me wishing I had gills. The weather outlook isn\’t too good. Scattered T-storms at 5:00 am, then T-storms from 6:00 or so. The temperature is forecast to be in the low 70s, so rain alone wouldn\’t be too bad to ride in. Lightning, however, is something else again. Now I\’d better go put out the trash, and get that tuna can out of here. Otherwise I\’ll be thinking that something smells fishy around here.    

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Out to Pasture?

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Out to Pasture? Out to Pasture? This blog/page may contain affiliate links. “We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.” Where do pro cyclists go when they retire from racing? I’m not so sure they’d want to go out to pasture. After so many years of vigorous physical activity, I doubt that they’d want to merely sit around. Maybe to Switzerland? A climbing specialist would probably feel right at home in the Alps. There are also routes suited to beginners and families; so KOM ability isn’t necessary! How about the Bodensee? The path around this lake is well-marked and flat. It’s 166+ miles around; but you don’t have to do the whole thing. You’ll find playgrounds and cafés along the way. The Lakes Route leads from Lake Geneva to Lake Constance; and passes a total of 10 lakes. This route does include some stiff climbing. Use alternate transportation if you legs aren’t up to it (I’ll bet mine aren’t!) Tremola Pass is for the advanced rider. With an elevation gain of almost 7300 feet, it includes cobbles and switchbacks. Want some mountain biking in Switzerland? Head for Zermatt! I, for one, would love to see the Matterhorn “in the rock”, instead of always in pictures. Be sure to take enough layers, as it’s likely to be chilly. Would I like to go out to pasture in Switzerland? I’m not sure. I hear it’s expensive to live there; and it would take quite a while for my lungs to adjust to high altitude. But the country has its share of great cycling routes.    ABOUT ME I began this website primarily as a way to present the story of how I accomplished a century ride on an adult tricycle. Other riders of adult trikes might want to know whether it’s possible. It sure is! You can read all about it in My Story. I live in New Orleans; and  retired in January 2023. More time for cycling! Website designed by Cecile Levert © This website is the property of its author. DISCLAIMER I am not a cycling coach; nor a health professional. This site is based on my own experiences, opinions, etc. If you need help, please consult the appropriate professional.   FRESH FROM MY JOURNAL Real Saturday January 6, 2024 Roadie Again! January 5, 2024 Pomp and Circumstance January 4, 2024 I Bee’d Lucky January 3, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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Far West

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Far West This blog/page may contain affiliate links. “We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.” Far West is what you might say that Guam is. This island territory is as far west as the U.S. gets. Guam has many cycling routes. Hilly or flat, long or short; despite its small size, Guam offers a wide variety. Try the Tour of Guam if you like climbing. Choose your route: 42 km or 105 km (26 and 65.25 miles, respectively). The “figure 8” course takes you through the central and southern parts of the island. Guam also has something for the MTB fan. There’s the Black Jack Loop; although rated as “intermediate”, it looks to me like it’s better avoided when the weather is wet.  How would it be to live on Guam? Like anywhere else, it has its good and bad. It’s quiet there? I would LOVE that! Quiet is hard to find around here. The temperature is warm enough year-round that I might not need a heater. On the downside, Guam is an expensive place to live. It might be more humid than I’m used to; how long will it take a pair of cycling shorts to dry? I might want to keep a poncho handy at all times. Employment can be hard to find. You’ll need plenty of sunblock. And the island is in Typhoon Alley.  It sounds to me like Guam would be a great place to visit: enjoy the cycling trails and the tropical breezes. Enjoy water sports too, if you like. But while I was there in the far west, I’d stay on land! ABOUT ME I began this website primarily as a way to present the story of how I accomplished a century ride on an adult tricycle. Other riders of adult trikes might want to know whether it’s possible. It sure is! You can read all about it in My Story. I live in New Orleans; and  retired in January 2023. More time for cycling! Website designed by Cecile Levert © This website is the property of its author. DISCLAIMER I am not a cycling coach; nor a health professional. This site is based on my own experiences, opinions, etc. If you need help, please consult the appropriate professional.   FRESH FROM MY JOURNAL Holiday Food December 16, 2023 Glad I’m Home December 15, 2023 Getting Wild December 14, 2023 Sooner or Later December 13, 2023 Load More TRANSLATOR

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Junk Food?

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Junk Food Junk food has a dubious reputation, to say the least of it. Now and then I put a different twist on junk food by making a soup from the “junk” that’s crowding my freezer. Earlier this week, I put two cups of dried pinto beans to soak overnight. The next morning, I drained them and divided them between two containers, which I froze. Today I took out one container of the pintos, and put them in a big pot with some water. In went chopped onion and minced garlic. Sliced carrot and diced potato went in next. Now for the really junky part. I had used part of a can of peas for something, and frozen the rest. Ditto a can of green beans. When I made cauliflower tikka masala, I had almost half a can of tomato sauce left over. I poured the tomato sauce into the container with the green beans to save space. By yesterday I had almost run out of room in the freezer, and it was time to do something about it. Hence the “junk soup”. Since my diagnosis of pre-diabetes two months ago, I’ve been making a real effort to curb the non-nutritious food: chips; candy bars; ice cream; and such. Yes, I still eat them, but work to minimize them. How about ride food, though? Clif Bars, Quest Bars, and similar foods? They aren’t meant to be eaten as casual snacks. During rides that are long enough for you to need to eat, their density is more sustaining than, say, potato chips could ever be. Sometimes I use Combos® as ride food; but they lack “oomph”. So would many snacks on the store shelves. I think I’ll leave the junk food on those shelves. Even though I still like them, I want FOOD for my rides.  

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BBB

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BBB 🚲 📙 BBB? The Three B’s make me think of Bach, Beethoven, and Brahms. How about my own personal BBB? Bicycling, Books, and … hmm. What’s that third one? Beethoven would be just fine. There’s the first movement of his Seventh Symphony, with those glorious French horns! King Stephen Overture! After a slow introduction, the beginning of the quick section has always made me think of  “Shortnin’ Bread”. What else could B-3 be? Bars? As in Clif Bars? There are many flavors to chose from; Sierra Trail Mix is my favorite. There are Luna Bars,  too. I like the Chocolate Peppermint flavor. Bangladesh, as in take a bicycle tour there? In general, Bangladesh is a safe country, and it’s mostly flat. Touring cyclists are accorded near-celebrity states there, which I’m not sure I would enjoy. I prefer to be anonymous. I hope the third B of cycling isn’t bedlam! That’s what a pile-up in Tour de France can look like. It’s a miracle that more of those riders don’t suffer horrific injuries. Road rash looks bad enough! Any more B’s? Belgium? In that country, you can choose flat or hilly routes. How about the Baltic? You can enjoy cycling routes in Poland or Lithuania. This blog/page may contain affiliate links. “We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.” ABOUT ME I began this website primarily as a way to present the story of how I accomplished a century ride on an adult tricycle. Other riders of adult trikes might want to know whether it’s possible. It sure is! You can read all about it in My Story. I live in New Orleans; and  retired in January 2023. More time for cycling! Website designed by Cecile Levert © This website is the property of its author. DISCLAIMER I am not a cycling coach; nor a health professional. This site is based on my own experiences, opinions, etc. If you need help, please consult the appropriate professional.   FRESH FROM MY JOURNAL Lost My Touch August 19, 2024 Results? August 18, 2024 Shut off the Furnace! August 17, 2024 Peak Season August 16, 2024 Load More TRANSLATOR

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Quest Bars

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Introducing Quest Bars! I just added a new product to my Shop:. the Quest Double Chocolate Chunk Bar! A friend mentioned Quest Bars to me just yesterday. When I went to pick up some refills at Walgreen\’s, I looked for them. There they were, along with protein powders and other such items. Chocoholic that I am, I chose the chocolate-y one. There were other flavors, and I think I\’ll return to the store soon to get a few. I\’m always on the lookout for new ride foods!

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Old Faithful?

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Old Faithful? This blog/page may contain affiliate links. “We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.” Old Faithful is a “must see” if you visit Yellowstone.  You can bring your own “old faithful” if you want to bicycle through the park. Road biking season starts once the snow has been cleared from the roads. For a short time in Spring, only non-motorized traffic is allowed on the roads. Repeat in the Fall. Doesn’t that sound marvelous? Enjoy wildlife sightings: coyotes, bison, elk, eagles. Just be sure to give these denizens of the park their space. Maybe wear jingle bells🎶 on your shoes if you want to avoid startling a grizzly bear. Springtime weather in Yellowstone can be fickle, as it can in many places. Wear or carry warm clothing, such as leg warmers. Even after the park’s roads are open to motor traffic, the road cycling can still be pretty good; at least where there are shoulders. You still have to be on guard, of course. (So what else is new?) For a more exciting cycling experience in Yellowstone, try out some mountain biking. Available trails range from easy to intermediate. The Mount Washburn one sounds interesting. Many years ago, we visited Yellowstone. One of the things we did was to take a ranger-guided walk up Mount Washburn to the fire watch tower. We followed a dirt road; I guess what’s called a fire trail. On the way, I kept smelling skunk. Yes, on those road trips of ours we occasionally passed a flattened “stink animal”, as German aptly calls it. I know what skunk smells like. I mentioned several times that I kept smelling skunk. It turned out to be what the ranger told us was skunk flower. I remember it as resembling violets in appearance; but it smelled like skunk! So if you want to see Yellowstone “close up and personal”, dust off your Old Faithful, and bicycle through the park. ABOUT ME I began this website primarily as a way to present the story of how I accomplished a century ride on an adult tricycle. Other riders of adult trikes might want to know whether it’s possible. It sure is! You can read all about it in My Story. I live in New Orleans; and  retired in January 2023. More time for cycling! Website designed by Cecile Levert © This website is the property of its author. DISCLAIMER I am not a cycling coach; nor a health professional. This site is based on my own experiences, opinions, etc. If you need help, please consult the appropriate professional.   FRESH FROM MY JOURNAL Quantum Leap December 12, 2023 Afternoon Ride? December 11, 2023 Think Ten Times! December 9, 2023 Going Farther Afield December 8, 2023 Load More TRANSLATOR

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It Feels Like Saturday

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It feels like Saturday today! A change in routine confuses my brain. This morning I finally got to the salvage store, a trip I normally make on Saturdays. I had been busy going to other stores, where I would be more certain of finding exactly what I wanted. By the time I got home from those excursions, motor traffic would be building up. Going to the salvage store means I must ride alongside three lanes of traffic for couple of blocks; so I want to go there early. Besides that, I suspect that the good stuff goes early. It was quite a change to ride to the salvage store on Wednesday. Unsurprisingly, there was more traffic than there would be on Saturday morning. But I got to the store and back in one piece, which is what matters. Today I looked for Taco Complete; none was there. Guess I’ll have to order some online. There weren’t any refried black beans, so I got refried pinto beans. I really prefer the black beans, but pintos are OK. In fact, I got a 5-lb bag of dried pinto beans! Of course I rooted through the make-your-own-grab-bag bins. Two small bags, or $6.00, got me 37 snacks; including seven Kind bars! In fact, that grab-bag business is my favorite thing about the salvage store. Getting back home was rather a problem. When I started out at about 8 am, the wind was only around 8 mph. Before I got back home, it had risen to 16 mph; and (you guessed it!) it was a headwind. Even though it feels like Saturday, I’m glad it’s not. If it were, tomorrow would be long-ride day; and  the weather is shaping up to turn nasty yet again!

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