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Kicking Up

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Outdoors /

Kicking Up 🏈 Things are kicking up; and I don’t mean football. (Or, as my father used to call it, “feetsball”). Our weather is as crazy as ever; it reached 80 degrees today. The wind is kicking up, too. It’s become stronger than it was this morning; and stiffer breezes are on the way. Tomorrow, wind gusts could be as strong as 40 mph; a good reason to take a day off from cycling. Today my legs felt rather stiff and tired; but with the forecast in mind, I decided to go for a ride this morning. It’s supposed to get cooler, too; down to about 50 degrees tonight; and into the upper 30s tomorrow night. It won’t be fun walking to physical therapy Tuesday morning! The wind will still be going strong. There’s even a Special Weather Statement about enhanced fire risk. We’ve got a combination of high winds and low humidity levels; and there hasn’t been much rain lately. Going Strong 💪 The wind will be going strong; but I’m not, yet. I don’t quite dare to push myself hard for the time being. If riding 10+ miles yesterday made my legs feel stiff today, trying to force myself through 20 miles is not a wise move. But I hope it won’t be long before I’m going strong. I really need to get back into shape; and lose the weight I’ve gained during my time off the bike! 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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Hello Old Friend

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Outdoors /

Hello Old Friend 👋 Today I could say, Hello, old friend. For the first time since the accident, I went up on top of the levee to ride. It was good to see the river and the bike path again! The ride went well; and I think I’ll try a ride to the salvage store tomorrow. The round trip is only a little over 11 miles; and in the past week, I’ve done 10+ miles with no trouble. It didn’t feel like late December, though. Seventy-seven degrees! The sky looks more like June; and the wind feels summery. It’s become quite cloudy, too; but at least the overcast helps keep the temperature down.  I’m riding the hybrid for now; I’m not sure my arm is ready for a road bike quite yet. But things are looking up! It’s great to get on the levee and say, hello old friend. June? ☀️ If it feels like June today, what will it be like six months from now? Are we going to get any real Winter? We do have some cold weather on the way; but now long will it stick around? Tonight it will be foggy again; and it’s getting tiresome. I’m glad I don’t need to head for the salvage store at 6:00 am! But even though it will be foggy, rain isn’t expected before Sunday night. Speaking of June, I hope I’m back in shape by then; less because I have any plans for bicycle touring than because I’m not enjoying being out of condition!     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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Gearing Up

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Outdoors, Training /

Gearing Up ⛭  Now it’s really time to be gearing up for Christmas; and it’s an especially good time for chocolate! I admit, though, that the weather doesn’t feel at all seasonal. I hope Rudolph is around; Santa will need him tonight! Yesterday I skipped riding, because I had oral surgery. Today I rode over to the park and did four laps. I really need the exercise. I want to ride tomorrow; but I’ll have to be prepared for a lot of kids-on-new-bikes traffic. It can be quite busy in that respect at 6:00 am on Christmas. I’m gearing up to ride more; but I’m afraid RAGBRAI may be out of reach this time. I’m dreadfully out of shape! Out of Shape 😒 I’m out of shape; and, like Queen Victoria, I’m not amused. I’m happy that I can ride again; but do I ever feel the lack of riding over the last few months! It’s not just my legs that have gone flabby; my core has lost a lot of conditioning, too. I can manage a crank-plank position on my right arm; but my left arm isn’t ready for it yet. But I can do curls; bridge; and leg raiser exercises. I also need to get back to doing flexibility exercises. I’ve gotten stiff; that’s what being out of shape does to you! 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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Up and Down

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Outdoors /

Up and Down 📉 Up and down goes the temperature. It’s still acting like Spring rather than Winter; but come Sunday night, the low temperature is predicted to be 48 degrees. Maybe it’s this unseasonal warmth that prompted me to watch a YouTube about Hurricane Camille. One of my memories of the storm is, we went outside for a few minutes, after dark. My father pointed out the way the treetops were tossing around in an almost circular motion. The next morning, there was a piece of a sycamore treetop on our front lawn. Maybe these up and down temperature swings explain all the fog we’re getting lately. And could it be why my nose is runny? I hope I can ride tomorrow. Today I had to skip it because of the oral surgery; it’s not sensible to ride a bicycle when a wave of sedative-hangover might suddenly overtake you! Sedative Hangover 😴 A sedative hangover can be a major nuisance. Mine didn’t seem to be a big deal; maybe  because the sedation used didn’t put me completely to sleep. I’m surprised that taking a dose of the pain medication prescribed for me, didn’t make me drowsy! What bothered me most was the post-surgical numbness at the left corner of my mouth. It didn’t start to wear off until a good eight hours after the procedure! For today, I needed to avoid chewing; and it showed me how much I take for granted being able to chew! I couldn’t absentmindedly grab a handful of nuts and start munching; and raw carrots were  out of the question. Tomorrow morning, maybe I’ll mix rolled oats with yogurt and frozen blueberries — or maybe I’ll fix a hard-boiled egg. I want some protein for a ride; and I hope the fog won’t be too bad! And I’m glad I won’t have an up and down route. 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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Where’s Rudolph?

1 Comment / BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Outdoors /

Where’s Rudolph? 🦌 Where’s Rudolph? It looks like Santa will need him in these parts. Our forecast predicts fog! Right now it’s overcast; but I don’t know whether it will rain or not. It doesn’t look like “mostly sunny” to me. So shall I go for a ride, or not? If I do, maybe I can be on the lookout for that reindeer. Then, when it gets foggy, we won’t be asking, Where’s Rudolph? I’m still in physical therapy; and I don’t know how much longer it will continue. It’s something of a drag; I get rather tired of hiking a mile to each session. But it’s helped a lot! After today’s session, I had errands to run; and when I got home, it was lunchtime. I haven’t been out on the bike yet; and for a fact I’m rather tired. Shall I skip it today? Skip It? 😩 I can’t quite decide whether to ride; or to skip it. Yes, I’m a little tired; and I won’t be able to ride tomorrow; but do I ever need the exercise! Another reason for me to stay home is, I already got too much sun exposure today. I forgot to take my sunblock with me when I went to physical therapy; and running errands had me outdoors quite a long time. So maybe I’ll skip it. 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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Oh Really?

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Outdoors /

Oh Really? ❄️ Oh, really? Winter begins today? As often happens, it doesn’t feel at all like Winter. Today the temperature climbed to 80 degrees! It’s nice to not be freezing; 🥶 but this simply does not feel like Christmas coming! Another thing that makes me say, “Oh, really? It’s Winter?” is the fog we’ve had for the last day or two. It was still foggy when I went out this morning; and more fog is predicted overnight. Fog seems like a Spring/Fall occurrence to me. Maybe I can conjure up a bit of the present season somehow. Today I did a shorter ride. My legs are feeling the effort; and pushing too hard, too soon isn’t wise. I need to ride tomorrow, because I have oral surgery scheduled for the next day; and I won’t want to ride after that!  Conjure Up 🪄 Maybe Tchaikovsky’s First Symphony will conjure up the mood of Winter, if nothing else. I don’t know how long this warm weather might persist; but when it does turn cold again, it’s likely to happen suddenly. I’m sure a lot of kids would love to conjure up snow ⛄️ like last January’s; a White Christmas is exceedingly rare for us. But I wouldn’t dare try to ride in it; I don’t have the right kind of bicycle tires! 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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Deep Freeze?

BACK ISSUES, Food, Outdoors /

Deep Freeze? 🥶 The deep freeze wasn’t quite what I expected. It did get cold enough to freeze; but it didn’t stay that cold for more than a few hours. The wind was strong, though; and the covers I put on the outdoor plants got blown off. I found ways to keep busy indoors: I finished the Tardy Turtle; and I did some cleaning. My left arm is still rather ornery, though; and I have to be careful not to over-strain it. My activities need to be done in start-stop mode. It’s a good thing I don’t have a deep freeze indoors; because I might not be able to keep active enough to stay warm. Stay Warm 🌤️ To be honest, it’s really quite easy for me to stay warm. I’m not living in a claim shanty on the frontier in the Dakotas; and the climate I’ve always known doesn’t even get down to freezing very often. It’s rare for it to stay so cold for more than a day or two. Snow is an even greater rarity; and I’d expect a visit from a UFO before I’d expect a blizzard. But YouTubes about the 1880/1881 Winter in DeSmet, Dakota Territory, are food for thought. How would I fare if we had a power outage that lasted seven months? And I couldn’t go out to get more food? How would I find a way to cook rice, and dried beans? Do I have enough canned food to last more than two weeks? And even with all that, likely I can stay warm, barring a freak change in climate. Come to think of it, one thing is sure: I don’t really know what a deep freeze is! 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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Coming along in Stages

BACK ISSUES, Food, Outdoors /

Coming along in Stages 🧩  My current cooking project is  coming along in stages. That’s how I usually manage any Hoppin’ John variation; and currently I’m working on Tardy Turtle. Last night I sorted and rinsed the dry black beans; then put them to soak overnight. This morning I drained the beans; and put them in the freezer until tomorrow. This afternoon I cooked the brown rice; and put it the fridge until assembly time tomorrow. I still have to chop the celery; but I think I’ll do that tomorrow. I don’t plan to go anywhere! It’s going to be cold; and I won’t want to go out. I won’t like to stay indoors all day; but if I don’t have to go anywhere, I might as well stay where I can keep warm. It makes me think, what if I lived in a claim shanty and had to keep a fire going? What If? 🔥 And what if I had to burn hay (~19:23)? Not merely to  to keep warm, but to keep from freezing to death? Would I have survived that long Winter? I don’t think I want to find out! I’m sure spoiled by modern indoor heating and hand warmers. So tomorrow I’ll stay close to the heater; and keep the Tardy Turtle coming along in stages. As I said, I need to chop the celery; and I have to get the red bell pepper out of the freezer. It will need to thaw out; just as I would if I went out into the big chill. 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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Last Run

BACK ISSUES, bicycling, Food, Outdoors /

Last Run ⏩ I guess today was my last run to the salvage store before Christmas. If only I could ride, I’d probably go again next Saturday; but when I  have to beg for transportation, it’s different. I don’t want to ask for too much; so today is the last run for a while. Today I finally found medium cheddar cheese; and amazingly, ice cream was still on sale for 99¢ per carton. So I got two pints of Halo Top®. One is a half-chocolate, half-vanilla mix; and it’s wonderful with maple syrup on it! Cold Weather Plans ❄️ I must come up with my cold weather plans; and they begin tonight. The list includes cooking and cleaning. Tonight won’t be bad: low of 52, and calm wind. But from midday tomorrow, the temperature is going to drop; and tomorrow night, we can see freezing conditions. Windy, too! Ergo I want to get to an exercise bike tomorrow, because Monday I might not be able to tolerate the weather for a one-mile walk. I need some exercise, because today I didn’t get much. Then on Monday, I want to make a batch of Tardy Turtle; and I need to sort, rinse, and soak the black beans tonight. Come Monday, when I’ll probably be indoors most of the day, I really must vacuum. Cold weather plans can get weird; I usually just use a broom! 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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Get Braced

BACK ISSUES, Outdoors, Uncategorized /

Get Braced 😬 We’ve got to get braced: we have freezing weather on the way. Sunday night it’s expected to drop to 33 degrees! As far as I’m concerned, that is cold. I must double-check the wrappings on the pipes under the kitchen sink and the bathroom basin. Maybe I’ll drag in my old 30-gallon rubber trash can; and put some water in it, just in case. I can have some hot chocolate; and I think I’ll sleep in Monday morning! Meanwhile, is this Indian Summer? It doesn’t feel like December. Indian Summer? 🏕️ If this is Indian Summer, I’m not too sure how I feel about it. On the one hand, it’s nice to not be shivering; on the other, it doesn’t feel seasonable. When it does turn cold, though, I’ll be glad that I don’t have to live in a tent! Monday night will be cold, too; and I have to hike a mile to physical therapy the next morning! At least there won’t be much wind. Sunday night/Monday they’re predicting gusts up to 30 mph. That will make it miserably chilly outdoors.  But I hear it’s supposed to be warm again for Christmas. How can we really get braced for the weather when we never know what’s coming, when?   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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