You know, sometimes you just need an extra day off during the week… This week, I was lucky enough to score a Friday!
Before I get into that, the important stuff first. Michelle and I are happy and healthy, and yep still employed! We made sure to get our flu shots last month, and even though we are back in a Covid shutdown for a couple of weeks, we are making the most of it.
We have already decorated for Christmas
And in our backyard, Frosty the snowman is holding auditions for Santa’s Sleigh Team.
We even went out for dinner the day before the shut down began. Tidal Raves in Depoe Bay has done an excellent job keeping people separated and safe, and who would miss a sunset like this?
This is always my least favorite week of the year. The end of Daylight savings means the end of afterwork bike rides for the rest of the year…
But first, as always, the important stuff. Michelle and I are still healthy and happy and employed, we are continuing to survive the global pandemic and avoid people as much as we can!
You know, I think I went the entire month August without a post! Oops. And stuff did happen. I may have to go back and do an August post soon.
However, this is not that post.
First off, as always, the important part. Michelle and I are happy healthy and employed.
Fun fact, when I donated blood a couple weeks ago, the Red Cross did a Covid antibody test to see if I had ever had it. I came back negative. I was curious as both Michelle and I were pretty sick in February. But it turns out it was just a bug.
While Sunday’s bike ride and yesterdays beach walk were met with sun, warmth and blue skies (I might have a bit of a sunburn!) Today has been foggy and blustery! The winds are out of the north and gusting to 20+ mph, which is normal for us.
This is fun pedaling southbound, but when I have to turn around north to go home the fun stops and true work begins! I have done these rides before and will do it again, but really just didn’t wanna today.
First let’s cover the important parts, as I have been doing since the word went sideways in March. Michelle and I are still healthy, happy and gainfully employed. We, like everyone else, are hoping someday things will be more normal; but until then we are being careful. We always have a mask ready when outside.
So last weekend would have been the 2020 STP, the Seattle to Portland bike ride. 200 plus miles from the University of Washington to the Rose District of Portland. Close ro 10,000 of my best cycling friends ride it every year.
Covid cancelled the real ride this year, though Michelle and I will be riding the virtual STP starting Saturday!
On Facebook, people are posting memories of their rides. and it started me thinking of my 4 times on this one. I decided it was a good time to share them with you!
Hi all, just a quick story from Friday. Made me smile telling it so I wanted to share!
Michelle had the day off on Friday, so while I was in the office, she was getting some chores and errands done. One of the chores was to wash the car. We have a VW Tiguan a small SUV.
Now unlike big towns, we don’t have an automatic carwash. The kind when you sit, and roll through, starting dirty and coming out clean.
Nope, we have the old school plug in quarters and do it by had thing. Its about 3 miles north of me.
Just before the world closed, Michelle and I had made the decision to downsize to one car. We just have had very few reasons to keep two, and with a regularly scheduled maintenance being quoted at between $1200 -$3000 (Volvos aint cheap) it just wasn’t worth it. So sell it we did. Its been 4 months and there has not been a need for a second car. Well, until Friday….
She took off and I was at my desk when she called and said she needs more money. The car was covered in soap and it took more that she though to finish the wash. Hell I hadn’t been to one of these since high school, I had no idea what they would cost. Woulda thought by now they took debit cards instead of quarters…
OK let’s recap. I am at work, we don’t have a second car. She is three miles, and 2 decent hill climbs from me, and, the biggest issue, there was an UGLY headwind between her and I. It would taken be at least half an hour of hard pedaling to get there….
Then it hit me.
She has a RadPowerBike, an ebike. This one has 4 levels of assist, Each one giving more power assist to the pedaler.
I could hop and Rad and be there like the wind!
I grabbed the money, ratcheted up the assist to maximum, put my foot on the pedal to start and…
Folks that think almost took off without me! At that level I was gonna fly!
I got on and used those mountainstroh legs to pedal hard and Rad reached down and pushed me faster than I could believe. I was heading into the wind doing at least 20 mph! It was a kick in the pants!
I could feel the big goofy grin on my face as I got the car wash, Michelle was laughing when I pulled up and said, “Me and Rad are speedy!!!”
It took me maybe 5 minutes longer than it would have with a car, but HALF the time of a pedal only bike!
I gave her a kiss and headed back to work! I was back before anyone knew I was gone!
I have met many riders of ‘real’ bikes who think people riding ebikes are cheating. (I’ve never really understood what the competition is that they are cheating on though….”
I think all miles are good miles. Anything that gets someone out and pedaling is a good thing!
Plus, that sucker is just plain fun! I have more than enough bikes now, so I won’t be adding an ebike to the stable, but if you ever get a chance to ride one, take it!
So I thought I’d go a little old school here today. A post strictly about a couple a bike rides I had here on the Oregon Coast this week. Both were memorable for good and bad reasons!
First off, as always, the important stuff.
Michelle and I are healthy, happy and still employed. I keep telling her that I am very lucky to be going through a global pandemic with a wife like her!
Wow… I totally fell off the regular blog post wagon!!!
I went back and took a look at the last post, and all the photos I have taken since then. Yep it has been awhile!
I think though you will see that with all the events that have been happening, that the delay is understandable.
So, lets make sure we cover the important parts first. Michelle and I are healthy and still working. Our jobs can be annoying, as all work can be, but we are thankful we are working when so many aren’t.
The scary part around here is we are opening up to the world next week. Hotels open and the folks from the big cities, with a much greater frequency of Covid, will be flooding the town. Add to it, some just aren’t intelligent enough to understand how masking up can help (even though it was proven in the Spanish flu 100 years ago.) We could be in for a rough summer. Michelle and I plan to hunker over the upcoming weekends.
