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What a Mix!

Leave a Comment / BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Food, Outdoors /

What a Mix! 🍲 What a mix today was; both ride-wise and meal-wise. What a mix it is to start with the hybrid; switch to the road bike; then go back to the hybrid. But that’s how today’s ride played out. I wanted to push for 60 miles; and planned to start by riding five laps around the local park. After yesterday’s rain, I knew the path in the park might be wet; thus I used the hybrid to begin the ride. I also knew that T-storms were possible from early afternoon; and I wanted to push for 60 miles today.  That plan didn’t work out so well. I got to the park; and discovered that a local track club had a Father’s Day Run going. Such events typically post signs reminding participants to stay to the left; that is, in the pedestrian lane. But there are always plenty of people who wander into the bike lane, aka to the right. This makes for hard going; and I certainly regretted not having started an hour earlier! I gave up and left the park after only two laps; and went home for a break. Crazy Menu 🥞 🍧 🌮 What a crazy menu I had today, too! Pre-ride was quite usual: a banana and some peanut butter. As always, I took along cut-up protein bars. Aside from that, I had a crazy menu. Home from the park, I fixed a small sandwich. Sandwiches usually aren’t part of my on-bike menu; when I’m not making stops at home, they can get too hot in this weather. Then I headed out on the road bike; and didn’t start eating again for a good half hour. I didn’t want to get too stuffed while riding! This segment of my ride was 19.7 miles long; and when I got back home I fixed a smoothie from almond milk; chocolate protein powder; and frozen blueberries. This was unusual, too; I usually don’t fix a smoothie until after I’ve completed a ride. Then back to the park on the hybrid; and I cut this short, too. The clouds were piling up; and I thought I heard thunder. As it turned out, I could have kept riding! What a mix of a ride! And well short of the 60 miles I wanted to do. 😓 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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Six Months

Leave a Comment / BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Food, Outdoors /

Six Months 6️⃣ Here it is again: six months of anxiously watching the tropical weather map. If a storm should strike and knock out the power, an Arctic Air Fan would be great — until it runs out of charge! If a hurricane were threatening, I’d have to be sure to charge up my charging blocks. Then I could recharge the fan a time or two. Six months is a long time to be so concerned about weather; so I guess a lot of folks do as I do. I check the NHC site frequently; lay in a supply of non-perishable food and some jugs of water; and look for a way out of town in case an evacuation is called. Then I hope for the best. Hope for the Best 🙏🏻 Hope for the best is all I can do during hurricane season. This is about the only time I wish I had a car; because it’s easier to get out of town on short notice when you’ve got your own vehicle. But cars cost too much for me to own one; so I’ve got six months of hoping I don’t have to flee a storm. Interruptions to my riding is what I dislike most about visits from tropical storms. With RAGBRAI getting nearer and nearer, I don’t need disruptions to my training! I’m pushing for a 50-mile ride once a week; and in fact, it’s time to bump it up to 55 miles. So I hope for the best as far as weather goes. I often wish there were small stores along my usual riding route; but unfortunately there aren’t; unless I ride at least a few blocks out of my way. If there were some stores easy to access, I could vary my usual ride food (bars) with a hot dog or a slice of pizza. I need to know how I do on such food while doing long rides; RAGBRAI is sure to bring such foods! 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 Six Months June 1, 2025 Quiet in the Tropics May 30, 2025 Coming in Waves May 29, 2025 Unsettled Weather May 28, 2025 Load More TRANSLATOR

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On a Full Stomach

Leave a Comment / BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Food /

On a Full Stomach 🥡   Today I got a little practice riding on a full stomach. I got Chinese take-out for lunch; and contrary to my usual practice, I didn’t put half of it away for another meal. I demolished the whole thing! Naturally I felt stuffed afterwards; but in a short while I headed out for a short, easy ride. I need more practice riding in the heat, for one thing. It’s part of my RAGBRAI preparation! Riding on a full stomach is rather uncomfortable; and during RAGBRAI I want to space out my food intake. Especially if I’m climbing! Vigorous effort on a full stomach is even less fun than riding easily on a full stomach! In addition to considering food during RAGBRAI, I’m planning how to get my bicycle there; and one alternative is Bikeflights. Maybe I can even send a supply of gels with the bike! Bikeflights ✈️ Part of RAGBRAI preparation has been, of course, figuring out how to get my bike up to Iowa; and I’m planning on using Bikeflights. I don’t like the idea having to lug a bicycle in a case to luggage check-in at the airport. There’s a service called Bikeflights; and my bike shop uses it all the time. Bikeflights works with RAGBRAI; and other events as well.  So I’ve registered for Bikeflights. I’ve got to review what all I may put in the case with the bicycle; I think they say there’s also room for two pairs of shoes and a helmet. I plan to pack two water bottles and one pair of shoes. If I can fit a full duffle bag in there as well, I can ship one in the bike box. Then I’ll only have one bag to worry about during the trip up to Iowa. At the moment, I’m more concerned about tomorrow’s weather. There’s a chance of T-storms; but they might not crop up until noon. So my ride might be OK; but as I plan to do some force work, I don’t think I’ll ride on a full stomach! 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 On a Full Stomach May 27, 2025 Til Next Year May 26, 2025 Test Aborted May 25, 2025 Snap May 24, 2025 Load More TRANSLATOR

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Test Aborted

Leave a Comment / BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Food, Outdoors, Training /

Test Aborted 🧪 This morning was a case of test aborted; and the test had hardly begun! I finally got around to trying out my cooling vest. I soaked it for several minutes, according to instructions. Then I put in on; and noticed immediately how heavy it felt. Somehow I never thought about the fact that wet things are heavy; and I thought this sodden vest would weigh me down too much. I don’t think I need that extra weight; especially not on a week-long ride. Ergo test aborted! But there are more tests that I can do in coming weeks. More Tests 🥞 “More tests” includes eating more before I set out on a ride. My go-to pre-ride snack has long been a banana and peanut butter; but I think I need to experiment with eating more than that. I won’t be scarfing down stacks of pancakes; I can’t make them because I don’t have flour. But I can have oatmeal and yogurt, with some nuts. Maybe with frozen blueberries, too! If this proves to be too big a load in my stomach, I’ll call it test aborted for that day; and have a smaller meal before the next ride. “More tests” also includes eating a little more during rides than I always have; and if that works, I’ll keep at it. After all, I’m extending my weekly long ride to as much as 50 miles; and soon I want to push for a 60-miler. That means I need fuel. It’s not good to bonk! 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 ✍🏻 Test Aborted May 25, 2025 Snap May 24, 2025 Tent? May 23, 2025 Energizer? May 22, 2025 Load More TRANSLATOR

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In the Clear

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Food, Outdoors /

In the Clear ⎚ It looks like I’m in the clear for tomorrow morning’s ride. I hope the forecast doesn’t go the opposite way overnight! This morning it was overcast, but not raining; and I took off for a trip to the salvage store. I was rather annoyed that the temperature was cool enough for leg warmers; I had hoped that I could put the things away until Fall. This morning it was 67 degrees; and tonight’s low will be 60! So I’m not yet in the clear when it comes to cold-weather gear. I’m glad the forecast doesn’t predict strong wind; that’s a nuisance any day, but especially when I want to add the miles to my current distance! Add the Miles ⏩  It can be very satisfying to add the miles; and see your endurance develop. That’s an important aspect of preparing for a long-distance event; and RAGBRAI isn’t much over two months away. I intend to aim for 40-45 miles tomorrow. Weather-wise, it looks like I’m in the clear for tomorrow morning; and I hope I can ride Monday. I always forget  what “30 percent chance” of showers means; but maybe I’ll be able to ride between the showers. “Add the miles” means taking along more on-bike food; and I like to experiment with different kinds of protein bars. Now that the weather is getting warmer, I have to be careful to avoid bars with chocolate coating; they can make a big mess. Long miles also have me expermienting with meat snacks, so I can get more variety in my on-bike food. The catch is, they make me thirsty! So are they in the clear for my ride menus? 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 Elementor #200113 May 10, 2025 Three More Days May 9, 2025 Dried Up May 8, 2025 Waiting It Out May 7, 2025 Load More TRANSLATOR

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Lapping It Up

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Food /

Lapping It Up ⏱️ Lapping it up would be easy if it were only about gels. Most gels appeal to my palate; and they’re easy to carry along anywhere. I like to take some with me wherever I go, in case I start to get too hungry. Then a gel will tide me over until I can get home.  When lapping it up means putting in the miles, aka laps,  things get harder. This morning the wind reached 20 mph while I was riding; and when it was a headwind, I had to work hard! As happens all too often, I got the headwind on the way back home. I tried to work hard against it, but couldn’t keep it up for long. I feel like such a weakling — even a quitter! When I have to work hard on the bike, it gets harder to eat; and often I wonder just what I really should eat for ride food. I have to keep the prediabetes in mind; and I also have to watch saturated fat and cholesterol! Thus menu planning can be tricky; but I do know that lapping it up can’t mean frequent indulgence in my favorite ice cream.  Menu Planning 🌮 🍲 So, here I am, back at menu planning. I rather let things go for a week or two; and now I’m tightening the screws, as they say. A big issue is, the nutritionist I consulted says to limit saturated fat to 12 grams per day. Twelve grams! It’s nearly impossible to do that and still get enough to eat; especially when I’m supposed to aim for 60 grams of protein per day. I even double-checked to be sure that 12 grams was correct. What am I supposed to do, then? Poultry and ground beef supply the protein; but also cholesterol and saturated fat. Besides, I’m not keen on chopping up a chicken; I’ve never liked the feeling of fat/grease on my hands. Legumes provide protein; but are rather high in carbs. I’m supposed to limit carbs to 200 grams per day. I’m allowed that much because of my activity level; but many protein bars are high in carbs. They can run up my count of “sat fat”, too. This is why I like to keep plant-based protein powders, such as Orgain, on hand. Menu planning can be tricky, then. I need to watch sat fat; cholesterol; and whatever. At least What Do I Eat Now? says somewhere that it’s not really necessary to cut out sweets entirely; and that’s a big relief to me.  And how about the RAGBRAI menu? RAGBRAI Menu 🌽 🥧 🥞 I think I’ve gone into this before: how can I adapt the RAGBRAI menu for my dietary needs? After all, it’s loaded with high-carb foods: corn on the cob. Lots of 𝚷 — er, sorry, that’s pie. Ice cream! Pancakes! I ran that by the nutritionist; and got the suggestion to eat something with protein, when I eat anything high-carb. So my menu planning for RAGBRAI includes meat snacks. I’m experimenting with taking them on my regular rides; and I eat a bit of a meat stick when I take a bite of protein bar. I’m starting to try combining nuts with the protein bars, too. I guess I’ll be able to make the RAGBRAI menu work. Actually, my A1c has edged down below the prediabetes border; so my menu planning probably doesn’t mean being too stringent during the event. I’ll need calories, after all! But when I’m back home afterwards — that’s when getting back on track will be hard for a while! 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 Lapping It Up April 30, 2025 Vested Interest April 29, 2025 Murky Waters April 28, 2025 At Ease! April 27, 2025 Load More TRANSLATOR

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Serenade

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Food, Outdoors /

Serenade 🎶 How about a serenade for Easter? Just don’t look at me; I’ve been very self-conscious about singing since I was a young child; and my unexercised voice has trouble carrying a tune! Would the song about Peter Cottontail suffice as a serenade? Or, if you’re feelilng goofy, there’s the parody I knew as  kid: Little Peter Cottontail, hoppin’ down the Bunny Trail, happened to find some carrots 🥕 on his way. Something told him it was wrong; Farmer Jones🧑‍🌾 might come along, and what an awful price he’d have to pay. But he knew his legs were faster, so he nibbled three or four; and he almost met disaster when he heard that shotgun roar. Oh! That’s how Peter Cottontail, hoppin’ down the Bunny Trail, lost his tail; but still he got away! I have no idea who came up with it; but it was always more fun than the original song. If you’re the singing type, you can sing it on the bike! In between jelly beans and bites of RX Bars, that is. What about the Weather? 🌧️ But what about the weather? I, for one, can’t carry a barometer along on my rides; so I can’t keep track of the meteorological moods any too well. And they can change very quickly! Your serenade can go from sun-drenched to just plain drenched in a minute. It looks like tomorrow will be overcast; with rain sometime during Sunday night. That’s good news for tomorrow’s local egg hunts; and for bicycle rides, too. But what about the weather beyond tomorrow? It looks wet; and that’s a nuisance. My poor road bike gets all mucked up! 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 Serenade April 19, 2025 Pack It In April 18, 2025 Egg Hunt April 17, 2025 Morning Machine? April 16, 2025 Load More TRANSLATOR

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Break from Videos

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Food /

Break from Videos 📽️ By and large, I’ve taken a break from videos for the past two days. I needed to get back to cooking; and yesterday I made Hoppin’ John. Today I made lentil and brown rice soup; and I hauled out my crock pot to cook overnight beans. I think I needed the break from videos; even those about RAGBRAI! I’ve viewed some of those videos many times; and at some point, that starts to feel like a grind. Not to say that I don’t enjoy them; and I’ve learned a lot; but I need to shift mental gears now and then. And now, how about the forecast for tomorrow? It looks wet! It Looks Wet! 💦 The break from videos might sound like more ride time; but this morning the sky looked stormy enough to keep me from riding much. Mid-afternoon, I finally hooked the road bike into the trainer and pedaled for half an hour. I’m not sure how tomorrow will go; it looks wet. There’s a 30% chance of rain in the morning; and maybe I’ll take the chance and push for a 40-miler. It will be cooler tomorrow; so I’ll have to haul out the leg warmers again. Wind 10-15 mph isn’t the most fun thing, either. Or I could wait until afternoon to ride; but I much prefer morning rides, even if it looks wet. I like to be sure I get my ride; then the rest of the day is free for other things. 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 Break from Videos April 6, 2025 It’s Down! April 5, 2025 RAGBRAI Grades April 4, 2025 Wool over My Eyes April 3, 2025 Load More TRANSLATOR

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Getting Easier!

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Food, Training /

Getting Easier! 😌 My weekday rides of approximately 20 miles are getting easier. Today’s ride seemed quite easy even though I was on the much heavier hybrid;  and I think that means it’s time to start working to increase the intensity of those rides. This morning the weather was bad; so I didn’t go out until early afternoon. Just before I got ready to ride, I checked the weather. The temperature was in the upper 60s; so I wore leg warmers. Over the ensuing two hours, the temperature rose by a good 10 degrees; and I was almost too warm by the end. I forgot to take into account that the sun was out full force. But at least the ride is getting easier! But I forgot to pack along a second bar; and had to fill out with GU-Gels. If not for that, I would have stayed out a little longer. So don’t forget to take extra ride food! Extra Ride Food 🍌 🌮 🍳 Extra ride food is a good idea. You never know when some unforeseen occurrence will keep you out longer than you planned; or you simply might be extra hungry that day. Even when your rides are getting easier, you need to have adequate fuel. Don’t risk bonking! According to what I’ve read, The Bonk can come on quite suddenly; one account said the rider felt great; then suddenly developed tunnel vision and was totally exhausted. Having extra ride food that you don’t eat is much better than that! 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 Getting Easier! March 31, 2025 What a Forecast! March 30, 2025 You’re a Brick! March 29, 2025 Storms Love Weekends? March 28, 2025 Load More TRANSLATOR

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Lab Rat

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Food /

Lab Rat ? I’ve got to be a lab rat for a while. After viewing many a video about RAGBRAI, I can see that I might need to change my fueling strategy; and that means starting to experiment now. For years, my long-ride fueling strategy has been to eat a banana and some peanut butter before starting; and then eat a bite of an energy bar every 15 minutes. During RAGBRAI that might not be possible. I might need to eat more, less often, depending on how far apart food sources are. So, how will I do if I fuel that way? I won’t know unless I make myself a lab rat. That includes considering RAGBRAI breakfasts. RAGBRAI Breakfasts ? I’m weighing my options for RAGBRAI breakfasts. Depending on how early in the day I want to begin riding, there might not be a way to buy any food first. I also might not feel secure riding one-handed if there are a lot of other riders near to me; and if so, my usual eat-on-the-bike strategy won’t be practical. But what to eat? I’m afraid that my usual protein bars won’t do. I suspect that the PBV trailer truck is not climate-controlled; and those bars — many of which have chocolate coating — will be an absolute mess! Will a packet of peanut butter and a GU-Gel get me to the breakfast town? Or how about packets of nuts and chocolate (in the form of M&Ms)? I’ll want to try Chris Cakes at least once; and that looks like a big meal! Or can I get a “short stack”, and eat less; so my gut won’t  be too uncomfortable when I resume pedaling? Of course RAGBRAI breakfasts will be only part of the day’s food. There will be ice cream; corn on the cob; home-made pie; and more! Being a lab rat for a while should help my stomach learn to adjust. I just hope I don’t gain 10 pounds in the process! 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 ✍? Lab Rat February 20, 2025 More Winter February 19, 2025 Another Round February 18, 2025 Roll Over February 17, 2025 Load More TRANSLATOR

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