My Most Recent Ride 2014 (Part VII in a series)

6.5 miles in murky gray weather at about 31 F. It was raining on the way to the garage with little white bits of ice bouncing here and there. Thankfully, by the time I'd wrestled on the cycle shoes, shoe covers and settled the foot warmer batteries, it had quit raining. All Loke and I had to contend with was wet pavement and wind.

Given that it's been 6 days since my last ride, I felt surprisingly strong. It was my fastest average in a while, certainly since my first hospital visit. 6.4 mph average instead of 4.7 or the like. Still had discomfort around the hip area, but it took longer and didn't come on so strong. It might have been because I was wearing my newer, sleeker (and warmer) bulletproof thermals.

Now, hubby and I are off to see the last Hobbit movie and have dinner at my favourite restaurant to celebrate 1 month of surviving my brain haemorrhage.

Oh, I'm 10 LBS lighter which is good for my hypertension!

Terii

 

My Wife is having shots in Her left knee....easier for Her to ride Bicycles than hike Trails now. She hasn't ridden Her Motorcycle in a while either, due to afraid She couldn't catch Herself to the left side if She started to drop it in a parking lot. We live in a really hilly, mountainous part of Tennessee also (Estill Springs at the base of Monteagle Mountain). It looks like Recumbent Trikes will be Our "Sport of Choice" from here on out....

 

Lived on Monteagle Mountain with copper heads and Mt rattlers as a boy. That's another story. Anyway my knee pain is controlled by diet and reduced weight bearing and pedal pressure. Yes diet. Animal fat no good for Jewish heart no good for Buddy heart. I've found it no good for joints. Buddy love pizza. Pizza loaded with animal fat no love Buddy knee. Pedal assist Recumbent takes pressure off knee that is modified by Army Surgeon 1965, Okinawa. No meniscus rt knee, worn out, bone on bone. In 2006 rode 3100 miles with Dave and boys. Knee gave off excruciating pain. Dr say change knee, Buddy say no. Here 2014, 2200 miles, same old worn out knee and no pain. Knee no like beer and pizza....Dambb. Worn out knee go to grave with Buddy soon.
BTW, 15 miles with electric assist Goldrush yesterday. Life is good, grave bad.

 

Rode in Sewanee on Monteagle Mountain early this morning.....Lota' fun riding there with the 20 mph "strictly enforced" speed limit......

 

God's country

That is an area I would like to revisit and ride my assisted bike and/or trike.
If you would like some recumbent riders, I'd think you could get a group together. Good food, nice camping and motels.

Lived on Monteagle 1945-1947 at the old Post Office area. One local crank phone down the 2 mile dirt road, no gravel. Two ruts and a mule drawn wagon. Long walk to get the mail that rarely showed up. No indoor plumbing and water from a well bucket on a rope. No electricity. I went back in the late 1970's and developed a certificate of need for a long term health care facility, nursing home. Absolutely gorgeous place...University of the south.

 

Yep, Great Place......

 

My most recent recumbent ride will be today when I go to Power On Cycling to pick up my two Bacchettas. My Strada had a flip it handle bar mount I liked better than my fixed mount on the Corsa. So Mark is converting the Corsa and tuning them up. I get to "ride" to his bike shop in Newport (45 minute drive) to pick them up today. Very excited!!!

 

I recently ordered some 16" and 20" Schwalbe Tires and Tubes shipped on Fed Ex from Power On Cycling in Newport....Great Service, and a Phone Call from Them also.....

 

Forgive me Father for I have not been riding my bent.

I FINALLY got out on the Strada. Last time I rode was 11/10/14. Since then I have had eye surgery, travel and bad weather. But I can't believe it has been 6 weeks since I rode.

In fact I can tell I haven't ridden. Only did 13.4 miles and my muscles and lungs told me I was a slacker!!!! Anyway, this is my last ride of the year since Christmas is here and I take off the day after Christmas to go on vacation to Washington DC.

Merry Christmas ALL!!!

 

I bet you are not 10 lbs lighter with all that Winter gear on

- Congrats on the improved speed, but please take it easy
You people are inspiring riding out in that Freezing Weather.

 

I have been Racking the body to achieve my 1000 km for this month.
Think I overdid it yesterday, my bit over ambitious 75 km ride on the Hot afternoon of which I only completed 58 km , really had me feeling Terrible.
Finally completed it today with a 24 km easy ride. [ our last day of the Year ]
When I looked on BikeJournal I saw that I was 9499 km for the year...
So now I have to get the Trike out again to do one more km so I can finish on 9500 km...... Ha ha

I saw the other day a Group of Kangaroos, so I thought I would get pic today.
They are a bit shy [ thats how they stay alive ], but think I got some image to prove they were there.
Its the closest to civilisation I have ever seen any Kangaroos.
I live in the suburbs of Sydney. Fairly far out suburbs - but suburbs. These Roos are 4 km from my house. They found a Bushland tract that runs along next to a creek. [ Bush is our term for light Forest/ woodlands ] Some lush foliage keeps them coming back to this spot. I'll post some pics, hope they turn out.
P.S. Happy New Year... its New Years Eve - Down Under.

 

Looking forward to Your Pics, and HAPPY NEW YEAR.....!!!!!...

 

Firstly ; the cycleway 4km from Home [ yes its hairy legs again ]


Today , last day of 2014 - pic from old Mobile phone


and the zoomed in version is .....

So that is the common Grey Kangaroo, by the looks of it, that may be a Pregnant Female...as opposed to a Pregnant Male or even fat male. LOL...

 

So this is Early morning, you see the long shadows. SUN risen from the Right of picture - Im facing North. Its a nice warm summer here right now, sorry you people are having Horrible weather over there.

Another pic 10 m along pathway


and the zoomed in edit


This second Roo is just getting up and beginning to hop away.

3 Days ago I came past here and there were approx 6 Roos, 2 were doing the adolescent fighting caper but the others were lying around munching .
Looked like a nice little family Group.
Contrary to urban legend, seeing kangaroos any where near houses is Very Very Rare. Of course us cyclist get to see all the Good Stuff.!!
As thousands of noisey motorists race by seeing NOTHING.

 

a month and a half ago, saw these Cute little Chicks.
Sorry couldnt get closer as they are quite Protective.
These are Plovers. A Ground Nesting bird, common in Australia but they used to Migrate to Siberia.
Was Riding along my Busway cycleway and had to get pic of these.

I will get internet pic to show you how cute these Chicks are, They look like Emu babies [ or ostrich to you ]

https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/...JaINwz7qChmdUK1lZI-ZOrOTZs4IBnMC_9YZX8MUhZkyw

Then if you want to see how aggressive they can be ;

Happy New Year.