Goal Surety

I think I have all but ensured reaching the 1,000-mile goal on my bike after todays' 24.6-mile endeavor. I only have 16 miles to go and a week to do it in. I'm glad I ordered the extra-large seat but my ass is still a bit angry with me.

Today I rode out to Seven Mile and back. I went out on one side of the river and came back on the other side. It was a good two-hour outing on a very pleasant trail. I went out to the George Wright Cemetery and continued out towards Seven Mile. 

This portion of the trail was still closed off. It made a little more sense because I rode through an area where the fire definitely came through. There have clearly been crews working the area as there was heavy equipment sitting idle along the trail all along the way. I think most of the dangerous trees had been cut down so I really wasn't worried about riding through the area. 

I crossed the river on the Seven Mile bridge and returned to downtown along the river road that goes through Riverside State Park. It's a little bit hair-raising on that road because it is so narrow. Fortunately, today it was very lightly traveled while I was on it and everyone gave me a lot of room.

There were a lot of people in the park downtown. You really have to keep a sharp eye out and I have found it's best to yield to everyone.

Now that I'm home, I'm going to take my sore ass and kick back for a while.

Riding Towards the Goal

The secret to making my 1,000-mile goal on my bike is to get out on it early in the morning. Which I did today. I logged a little over 14 miles and had a great ride out along the river from the George Wright Cemetery.

That trail is still closed off for some reason but that did not stop me from enjoying it. I just rode past the yellow tape and I was off.

It was a bit on the chilly side, but I wore a heavy flannel shirt which kept me comfortable. Now, I just have to keep getting out there and riding every day.

Saturday Festivities

I am working the winery today so I have lots of time to update this Blog cuz there usually nothing else to do when I work here.

I’m really starting out with a handicap because I forgot my reading glasses. I never go out without them. That, and a pen which I also forgot. I feel naked!

Without the glasses, I can’t read very well and without the pen, I can’t write at all.

I was working in the yard all morning putting up a gate at the east end of the Carriage House. We always store a lotta crap in that little slot and it looks like a place with a lotta crap. 

So, with a new gate, we can’t see all the crap. 

It pretty much took me all morning long to put these gates together and get them installed. They’re just frames right now that I have to attach lattice to. They don’t fit quite right so I need to do some fine tuning to them, but at a later date. I’ll get the lattice on the frames tomorrow and that should get the heat off me for this project…at least for a while.

In the course of doing this project, I worked up a powerful sweat and the accompanying B.O. that goes with the powerful sweat.

So I quit working on the yard project at noon and got myself into the shower. A change into clean clothes and I am a new man with no pen and no glasses. So, that’s how all that came to be.

2:30PM: I have just spent the last hour visiting with a Wine Club Member who comes in from time to time when I” ve been working here. It seems like he comes by to get out of the house. And drink some wine.

I now have about an hour and a half to go. I think I’ll nap.

Fulfilling the Daily Goal

I've just returned from a bike ride around the neighborhood. I logged another seven miles which covers my daily goal for today. I plan to go out later and add some more mileage. I don't want to fall behind in my goal to get to 1,000 miles by Labor Day.

It's a nice morning, perfect for getting out on a ride while it's still cool enough to enjoy the surroundings. I actually took notice of some houses I've never really paid attention to before. There are lots of really interesting houses around this neighborhood. Nice yards, weird locations and then the ones who have just given up on their yards.

I don't think I could do that. I'm far too concerned about what people think of me to ever let my yard go to hell like some of these. They clearly just don't give a shit.

I should point out that my yard is far from a showcase. but it is mowed and mostly green-ish.

The funny thing is that my two side yards, which nobody really sees, are in great shape. Green, lush and nice looking.

Okay, stand by and let's see if I get back out there and add some more miles.

11:12PM: I managed to get a few more miles on the bike. I need 207 more miles to make my goal. I'm pretty confident I can do it.

Bicycle Mileage Goal Update

I’m happy to report that I am mostly recovered from my bicycle mishap one month ago. It kind of slowed me down in my goal to get 1000 miles on my bike by Labor Day. I now have 36 days before my goal date and I have 263 miles to go. That means I need to ride 7.3 miles every one of those 36 days. Of course, if I ride more than 7.3 miles, that just helps lower the daily total.

So, I’m going to be riding some bike over the next month.

I’ve been doing a bunch of little projects around the house so t hat is also keeping me busy. Susan is doing a lot of prep work for painting. If you want more specific update, check out the house blog at www.my-life-as-a-house.blogspot .com.

Three Week Fall Report

It’s been three weeks since my incident on the bike. As of Wednesday, I can finally go down the stairs without any pain. I’m still kind of stiff in the knee and my ankle, which initially didn’t have any trauma, is my most painful joint right now.

I have been out riding a little. There was a period where I couldn’t ride. I couldn’t complete a full peddle cycle. That only lasted a couple of days. I can now ride with hardly any pain. Which is great because today is Susan’s birthday and I got her a new e-bike. It’s the same brand as mine but a slightly smaller model.

Knee Update

It's been two weeks since the falling incident on my bike. I finally was able to get back out on it today. It was a little painful but nothing that kept me from enjoying the ride.

Today is the first day I didn't have to bandage up my knee. It's finally looking almost normal. My leg is still a rainbow of ever-changing colors.

Anyway, I can now resume my attempt to get to one thousand miles on my odometer by Labor Day.

By the way, today I managed to weigh in at 200.8 pounds. At this point, I'm calling my weight loss program complete. I think I'll be able to maintain my weight in this region. I guess we will all find out together.