SpokEasy

SpokEasy

Author name: CAL

Cycling enthusiast; classical music lover; experimenter in the kitchen!

Watershed

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Outdoors /

Watershed 💧 I had a watershed moment this morning. I decided to go out and ride a few laps around the local park. About half a mile from home, I got a good view of the sky towards the West; and I didn’t like the looks of it at all! It looked dark and stormy; and I was well aware of the forecast for rain. Those clouds appeared to be moving fast; and I changed my mind about riding. I turned for home. Before I could get there, the wind picked up; and it began to rain. Once back indoors, I checked the weather site again; and discovered that the temperature had dropped from 67 to 49! 🥶 Speaking of watershed, the jacket I was wearing didn’t seem to shed water very well! I watched a very interesting video  about survival techniques of the medieval period. With a deep freeze set to attack, I found the “Grubenhäuser” idea very appealing! Grubenhäuser 🏡 Grubenhäuser means, dug houses, that are half underground. The idea is appealing; but in this climate a half-underground house — like a straw bale house — is, I think, impractical. The climate is too humid. The ground is too wet as well. My mother was from Missouri; and I recall her telling of chatting with a neighbor that she had when she was first down here. This neighbor said, around here, you stamp your foot; and you dig a well! Therefore I don’t think that a Grubenhaus would work very well. Maybe in Missouri; but here in Swampeast Louisiana, no. Besides, can you put windows in a Grubenhaus? It doesn’t look like it; and I need to see some daylight. 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 No Layout Found TRANSLATOR

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Chewing My Fingernails

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Outdoors /

Chewing My Fingernails 💅🏻 I’m chewing my fingernails, so to speak. The weather outlook is enough to make anybody nervous. As well as I’ve been able to learn, we won’t get the snow and freezing rain here; but we will get very cold temperatures. That makes me worry about possible power outages: my stove is electric; and without electricity, I can’t even heat water! At 3:30 pm, it was raining rather hard; twenty minutes later, I began to hear thunder. Further rain is possible tonight and tomorrow morning; and maybe T-storms. For that matter, I heard some very odd-sounding thunder! I’m glad I don’t have to march in a parade; or even have plans to attend one. I’d be chewing my fingernails about how to keep dry! Keep Dry 🌵 I can’t keep dry and go riding, though! Early this afternoon I did a short ride, while I still could. Tomorrow morning I might not want to go out, either on the bike or on foot! The forecast (again!) is for showers and T-storms; and from mid-morning the temperature will fall from the upper 60s to the upper 40s. The prelude, I suppose you could say. During tomorrow night, the temperature will drop like a stone. I hope I do get some exercise; but I’m not counting on it. If I do, I might be very disappointed; but I do want to keep dry. Wet means being colder! 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 No Layout Found TRANSLATOR

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Alerts!

BACK ISSUES, Outdoors /

Alerts! 📢 Alerts are going out far and wide! Even we in New Orleans are under an extreme cold warning; and that’s phenomenal for us. The real cold is about 48 hours away, but alerts need to go out early; people need time to get prepared. I had planned to ride to Walmart tomorrow; but then I saw something in the online news about a Walmart store packed with shoppers trying to stock up. That’s made me change my mind! I don’t need anything from the store that can’t wait; so why try to fight the mobs? I have yet to witness panicking folks fighting each other over scarce items; and I don’t want to see it. Even less do I want to get caught up in it. That’s why I keep a good stock of non-perishable food on hand. If a hurricane or horrific cold snap is on the way, I’m all set. All Set ☺️ I’m trying to get all set when it comes to keeping warm indoors. I don’t have central climate control; and both heat and cooling can be a problem. I can’t put hand warmers against the windowpanes; but I saw something about using bubble wrap to insulate windows. So I’m trying it. In addition, I think I’ll leave the window unit in the living room running Sunday night. Normally I turn it off at night; but I’ll need some warm air in there! I hope we don’t lose power; and maybe we’re all set, because it looks there won’t be sleet or freezing rain. As of now, that is; but forecasts have a way of changing! 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 No Layout Found TRANSLATOR

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Off Schedule

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Outdoors /

Off Schedule 📅 I’m off schedule. It’s been happening for several weeks: the weather outlook isn’t good; I have an appointment to keep, etc. It can make it tricky to remember what day it is! Today I went off schedule again, and rode to the salvage store. Usually I go there on Saturday; but I want to visit Walmart this Saturday.That is, if the weather hasn’t already become too nasty; but it looks like the main chances for rain are after noon that day. So maybe I’ll be OK. Cloudy or Not? ☁️ The sky can’t seem to decide whether to be cloudy, or not.  For hours, the sun has been dodging in and out. It’s in the mid-60s; but the breeze feels cold. And Sunday night, it’s supposed to get REALLY cold! Below freezing! Such weather is more than off schedule for New Orleans; it’s freakish to the nth degree! Especially as we had a major cold snap only last Winter. I suspect I’ll be missing a few days of cycling. If it’s icy, I know won’t go out; especially not on two wheels. Whether it’s cloudy or not, if we’ve had sleet or freezing rain; and if the temperatures stay very cold; it won’t melt. I’ve got to do some prepping for the Arctic blast — get water ready in a (clean) plastic trash can so I can still “flush” if the water goes out; insulate windows, and so on. What a nuisance! 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 No Layout Found TRANSLATOR

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Another Cold Blast!

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Food, Outdoors /

Another Cold Blast! 🥶 We’re expecting another cold blast. To be exact, it’s due Sunday night. Rain is possible before midnight; and with a low temperature of 28 degrees, I suppose snow is possible. Who can say for sure what another cold blast will bring? Some parts of the country could get hit hard, with prolonged power outages possible. That doesn’t sound at all fun. If it were me, I would have to eat cold canned food; and I wouldn’t want to dress for a ride. I’d have to get out of my wraps to do so! Several days with no electricity would be miserable in here. I believe the water heater is gas; but otherwise everything in this place is electric. I couldn’t even heat water to make hot chocolate! Thank goodness I have hand warmers; and some plushy wraps to bundle up in. And even if I can’t heat anything, I do have ample food. Bundle Up 🧥 I didn’t need to bundle up today; the afternoon temperature rose to about 70! The expression “bundle up”, though, makes me think of Pigs in Blankets. Or Mr. Pork Chop. I never got around to trying Mr. Pork Chop; but if I do RAGBRAI again, I hope I can. But that might have to wait until next year. I still don’t have a road bike; but I hope I get one soon. The orthopedic surgeon says my elbow is fully healed; but before getting on a road bike again, I want to do some arm-strengthening! 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 No Layout Found TRANSLATOR

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Still Blue

BACK ISSUES, equipment, Outdoors /

Still Blue 🔵 “Old Muddy” looking blue The Mississippi is still blue — sort of. It didn’t have quite the same bluish-green appearance as yesterday; but it was still blue. I wish I had thought to take a picture of it then. Today I didn’t work on my pace; I simply rode. It’s not wise to do hard work every single day; from what I’ve read, not even pro cyclists do that kind of training. I do need to put my attention on building up, though; even if I skip RAGBRAI this year. Building Up 🛠️ I’m continuing to work at building up. My daily distances are still only 8-11 miles; but at least once a week, I include hard efforts.  I need that to regain my leg strength! I’m starting to think about long Sunday rides again. Would it be too much, too soon if I pushed for an 18-mile ride? I can do 10 miles or so without trouble; so 18 miles should be quite doable. If I ride at a moderate pace, that is! How soon can I get back on a road bike? Today I tried a few knees-on-the-floor push-ups; and they still make my left arm ache a bit around the elbow. So maybe I’m not quite ready for the road bike; but I hope I will be soon. 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 No Layout Found TRANSLATOR

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Danube Wannabe?

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Outdoors, Training /

Danube Wannabe? 🏞️ Today our local river looked rather like a Danube wannabe. Instead of the usual brownish shade, it looked almost bluish green. Who knows what caused that. The angle of the sunlight? Something to do with the wind; and how the river carries sediment? Whatever the explanation, Strauss might have liked it! I didn’t have much time to watch the Danube wannabe. I decided to do the same kind of interval work that I did several days ago: one minute hard; one minute easy; five efforts per set, two sets. On the way out, that is. I did another set on the way home;  but I was a bit tired by then. Starting day after tomorrow, we’ve got the chance of rain. The weather will be warmer; but I still don’t like riding in the rain. Riding in the Rain ☔️ As I think I’ve said before, riding in the rain is actually easier if the skies open when I’m already out. Starting a ride when it’s already pouring is harder. Riding in the rain is good training, though; especially if you plan to do bicycle touring. Precipitation is almost a given during a tour; unless, perhaps, you plan a two-wheeled trek across the Atacama! I think I’ll skip that. I’m used to a humid climate; and the Atacama’s aridity would have me shriveling up in no time. I’m also used to seeing a big river as I ride; and I’d miss that — whether the river is acting wanna be Danube or not! 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 No Layout Found TRANSLATOR

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No Snow!

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Food, Training /

No Snow! ☀️ Despite the forecast, we got no snow. None that I saw, at any rate. I got up at about 5:00 am, and went to look out the back door. There was no sign of the white powder; and I went back to bed. It’s been sunny all day; but cold. For the most part, I stayed indoors. If the trainer I own could take the rear wheel of my hybrid, I would do some some indoor pedaling. I feel sluggish from sitting around so much! Tomorrow it will still be cold; but still no snow. I think I’ll ride later in the day, after it warms up a little. And I’m thinking of more cooking experiments! Cooking Experiments 🥘 I’ve watched several videos about cooking during hard times. It’s given me some ideas — maybe, next time I buy a bundle of celery, I ought to cook a broth from the leaves to save for soup base.  The video presents some “desperation dishes” (as I tend to think of it) that actually sound pretty good; or, at least, they sound interesting. Cold spaghetti sandwiches; peanut butter and onion soup; boiled custard sipped warm. Some of the dishes mentioned remind me of things that my mother used to cook. I tend to do cooking experiments in fits and starts. I can prepare only so much food before I run out of storage space in the freezer; and I have only so many containers. I just did some cooking over the last week; so I’ll have to wait before gearing up for another stint in the kitchen. Meanwhile I need to get out there and do some riding. There’ll be no snow; so I don’t have to worry about slippery roads. 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 No Layout Found TRANSLATOR

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Is Weather a Woman?

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Food, Outdoors /

Is Weather a Woman? 👩 Is weather a woman? It seems like it sometimes; it’s fickle! Yesterday the forecast still showed the possibility of snow showers tonight; this morning, it doesn’t. Is the forecast a woman, too? At any rate, one site does indicate possible rain/snow showers; and one doesn’t! Either way, it’s supposed to get cold. I haven’t decided whether or not I’ll ride tomorrow. Combine a temperature below 40 degrees with wind gusts up to 20 mph, and you’ve got a nasty chill factor. Chill Factor 🥶 If the chill factor keeps me indoors tomorrow, it might be a good time to try some new recipes; except that my freezer is already full!  I went for a short ride this afternoon. It was overcast; there was a drop of rain here and there; and the wind seemed to be getting stronger. It made me think of the chill factor! I rode three laps around the park; and might have done a fourth if not for the appearance of four kids on some kind of power bicycles. Those kids were riding rather wildly; and I decided to get out of the park. In fact, I rather hope park security caught up with them and made them settle down. I think they needed to chill out! 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 No Layout Found TRANSLATOR

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Getting in My Licks

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Outdoors /

Getting in My Licks 👅 I must think about getting in my licks tomorrow; and I don’t meant lapping at ice cream — although I love ice cream at any time! I’ve been keeping an eye 👁️ on the forecast; and tomorrow night it’s expected to get cold. There’s even a chance of snow! ❄️ I might not be able to ride Sunday; if we do have some snow, it might leave the roads slippery. No wonder I’m considering getting in my licks while I can. Tomorrow morning it will be cloudy from late morning; but it looks like it probably won’t rain. I wish I didn’t have a 10:00 am appointment; then I could ride early; but I can go out on the bike when I’m home afterwards. Sunday It looks like Sunday will be clear; but also cold. If we get some snow over Saturday night, it might leave road surfaces slick; even if the sun is out. Slick roads mean I don’t dare ride; I don’t have the right tires. What to do if I’m stuck indoors on Sunday? I just did some cooking; and might not want to do any more so soon. Of course I can binge on YouTubes; but I need to wean myself away from that. Maybe I’ll grab a book and read! 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 No Layout Found TRANSLATOR

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