Week 18: 4/30/201 - 5/6/2018

Wow!  51 is creeping up on me really really fast.  Thank you, Muddy for not recognizing I turned 50 last year.  You are too kind!  Somedays I think you guys actually do like me or at least tolerate my presence.

Monday (3.2) The last thing I wanted to do was do anything, but I wanted lunch and I knew that if I did something, anything, I'd feel human again.  The stupid whatever is causing pain when I breath deeply seemed to go away by the end of my walk/run.  I felt it a teensy bit in the evening, but nothing like I felt on Friday walking back home from downtown.  A half mile uphill that felt like 3.  I'd suppose the more dramatic would say FML, I'm alive and functioning, just not where I'd like to be functioning.  It's all on the list for the new Rheumatologist, considering my family history of heart/lung issues it is a HUGE concern for me. 

A different list, a list none the less!
From our first adventure out.  Time to make lists and check them twice and make more lists.

I can't talk about Spud publically the nosey SIL that tells the Smith's everything doesn't read this. He's ours!!  It is a logistical nightmare between the State of RI and the Town of Westerly, you have to have a VIN Certification for registering in the State of RI but in the Town of Westerly, you have to have a Registered trailer to get a VIN Certification.  The higher court, in this case, is the State, we will play by their rules because clearly, we CANNOT get Spud registered with no VIN Certification.  OMG, it was like reading a Vogue pant sewing pattern, put in the buttonhole, then place the zipper.  I can't put in the buttonhole unless I know how it is going to line up with the zipper and it is easier to line up the zipper then put in the buttonhole, not line the zipper up with the buttonhole.  Cray cray.  Sometimes it is easier to deal with a dealership than a private party. 

Tuesday (20 + 1.2) Spud arrived home and I was able to find someone halfway reasonable (read: with only a minor attitude) at the Westerly PD to talk to.  "If you have a registered legal vehicle towing the trailer you are fine.  Bring it to the station between 4 and 8 tonight for a VIN check."  She hung up in the middle of my thank you. UGH. I can't wait to talk to the people at the RI EZPass about the transponder lost in the mail.  Wow, the attitude is a head-scratcher.  

And he's home!

This was the EBAC (Electric Boat Athletic Club) Tuesday night ride.  I talked Ro into it.  Rather Tom talked me into talking Ro into it, hoping they'd get some 'cute girls' his words not mine, on the rides.  LOL.  I was looking for a nice group ride.  I rode with some of the guys last year and they follow the rules of the road and are respectful of people.  Win Win.  (I'll not go into my tirade of those obnoxious PMC bikers) We joined up with the B group ride 20 miles NO DROP.  I'm happy to be the person waiting for riders in a NO DROP ride because people wait for me on my Saturday a.m. NO DROP ride.    We clearly did not need to arrive promptly at 4:15 p.m., because it took the 20 riders a while to assemble.  I had the route in my GPS, makes me feel comfortable.  Tom was going to hang with Ro and I and we were all going to hang with Lucas.  Totally new to cycling, from Brazil.  OMG he was so erratic.  It would have been a horrible ride if he complained a blue streak like Grace's husband, but he didn't, he cheerfully sped ahead and then lagged way behind.  Can't fault him for that, right?  I told Tom he was 'as advertised' Tom said he got a lot better on the last ride.  Whooo boy....  we all have to start somewhere, right?  We either learn or we don't.  We did make a pit stop at 10 miles (it was a 20-mile ride for christ sakes) but we stopped.  Regrouping we gave Lucas some tips.  "Car Back" when the car is behind us and "Car Up" when the car is coming at us on a narrow road.  He was thankful for some guidance, we assured him we all had to learn all of these things and this is what these rides are for.  

It was Ro's first road ride since last season and she was nervous, I've never heard or seen her so concerned.  She's a freaking powerhouse, 5'2" 59-year-old you'd think was 30 (looks and energy).  It took me a day to realize just how concerned she was, I did my best to reassure her that she would continue to kill me on the uphills and I would kill her on the downhills and it was 'as advertised'.  

Bottom line, a good ride, I nearly got taken out by Lucas, we all did, actually.  I rode well with Tom and Ro, and they rode well together not having ridden together before.  If Lucas is the summer project so be it.  A 20+ mile 14 MPH ride on Tuesday nights is a good thing.  I can let George and his gang murder me on Saturday mornings when I have the rest of the day to recover!

Dave spent the evening figuring Spud out. He said I was easier (dayumn he must be pretty complicated) I took Jax for a short walk.  

Wednesday (5.7 + 2.3) Ro and I had some freaking peppy hills!  To say seeing the pace didn't thrill me would be a lie.  I felt like I was lagging the whole time.  I was tired going in and my legs were tired, Ro's too.  But we kept our pace and our jibber jabber and I'm over the moon thrilled.

When will the leaves be green again?

Dave went for a ride so I took Jax to Riverwood, he was so excited to go!  He got in 3/4 of a mile and found a trail leading back to the exit and followed it.  Oh no...  I forced him to go a different way when I got wise to what he was doing when he turned us around.  He wanted to go on an adventure; really he wanted dinner and both his peeps. #dogproblems  He is far needier than either one of us expected.  

Thursday (0)  There is a black snake that shakes its tail!

Northern black racer (Coluber constrictor)

Description: The northern black racer is a large, shiny black snake with a silky appearance because of its smooth scales. At maturity, black racers are generally 36-60” long, but they can reach up to 73” (more than 6 feet). The throat of the Black Racer is white and the belly is an unmarked grayish blue color. While in the juvenile stage, the black racer is grayish with a series of dark ovals along the back, an appearance that changes as the snake matures.

Life History: Black racers can be found in a wide variety of dry terrestrial habitats. They are territorial and maintain discrete home ranges. They usually emerge from hibernation in April and breed from May through early June. This snake has a varied diet, with prey including small mammals, birds, and frogs. Appropriate to its name, the black racer can move very quickly, and will typically flee from danger. However, if cornered, it may respond by rearing up and striking. When agitated, these snakes often vibrate their tail rapidly, which creates a buzzing noise. This behavior leads many people to mistake them for rattlesnakes. 

Pretty cool!

Friday (0) Second round of Euflexxa shots started my day.  I'm not supposed to exercise after the Euflexxa shot, given with NO cold spray, I'm a tough broad.  Actually, it didn't feel any different.  The left knee felt just as stabbed as the first week. 

Jax:  You both have lost your minds, haven't you?

Dave spent the day washing Spud, when I got home from work I helped with the last little bits of that, putting him back together, and cleaning up.  Dave managed to smash his hand in the awning, it is a roll-up retractable number and closes at a pretty serious force.  It swelled up pretty seriously and he took some mega painkillers.  This left a lot of the clean up to me and figuring out where things went.  He's not good at putting things away, he's better and putting them in a pile to deal with later.  

Saturday (25 + 3) Went out on George's 41-mile ride, I made it nearly 13 miles and knew I was done.  There was no way I was going to keep up with the group and we hadn't even tackled the serious hill.  George insists on NO DROP, I really couldn't keep going.  I turned around and headed back to my car at a far slower pace than I rode the first 13 miles.  It was an off week for me.  I was having trouble taking a pain-free deep breath since the previous Friday and haven't been sleeping well for this reason or that.  I can't remember getting dropped so seriously by these folks.  Clearly, my engine needs some more work?  Clearly, it was not my day for a group ride? This is really frustrating.  Then again, I did ride back and not call for help?  I'm not disappointed, the emotions are sad and frustrated.  

Dave:  "Jax, this is gonna be fun."
Jax: "Are there treats in there?"

Dave did ask if I thought I could finish the ride at my own pace. Yeah probably.  I took a little break to have a snack and mess with the cleats in my shoes.  I think I finally have them adjusted correctly.  I'm happy puttering around and Woodville Road is fresh tar and gorgeous so riding it twice wasn't a hardship.  I'm so glad to have that road back in the lineup.  It's a fun road to ride with a set of nice rollers, lots of cows, and very few cars!  Not having to dodge potholes or worry about flats or getting thrown off my bike after hitting one was lovely.

He'll get used to it, comfy camping and the oppressive lead.

\We did our first overnight in Spud. Dave got all the important mechanical and electrical and water in good working order, now we were going to test it all out. This was also a good opportunity to get me involved in a thorough cleaning inside and out and figure out what was in all the nooks and crannies.  For a 20' trailer this was a big job!  Clearly, the previous owners didn't use him much, which was good.  Lots of Mr. Clean & Windex inside and a nice coat of wax outside.  Looks brand new!

Wax on!

Jax was not overly enamored with all of this, he was better than we thought he would be, all in all, this was a change of his routine and stressed him a bit.  He was thrilled to have his peeps in one place, he was not thrilled to be tethered to Spud or to not be allowed on the limited furniture we do have.  His claws would shred the dinette and he has to be lifted up to get on the bed, it's pretty high.   When Dave put the coat of wax on I took Jax to explore the campground.  We enjoyed that, and part of his problem was he had to poop and didn't want to do it where he was hanging out.  After a 1.5 mile walk and a couple HUGE poops he was much better.  

Wax off!
Shiney!

I got a bit of the lay of the land and to see other campers and their setups.  This really is a culture unto itself.  Everyone was really friendly and said "Hi" and talked!  So not New England, Dave said it's just the way people are, you have to prove yourself before you are worthy to be acknowledged and the simple act of being here gives them proof of your worthiness to be spoken to.  It's weird.   Anyhoodles, I was able to see how to use a few of the things we found in Spud and said: "what is THIS for?"  A couple things seemed pointless so we put them in the recycle bin at home.  They do have a pretty serious purpose and are now stowed in Spud.  The sewage line guide was one of them.  If you are in a swanky camp that has full hookups (Electric, Water, Sewage) you use these stand things to hold the sewage pipe up so the black and grey water can flow into the sewer.  Pretty cool.

I thought it was a paper sorter!
It's a sewage pipe holder.
This is the high-end side of the campground.

Sunday (1) We were up early and home by 8:30 a.m. unpack and do house chores and a big yard clean-up.  The rain started about the time we filled up the refuse trailer, perfect timing!  

Squirrels got into my birthday goodies from Zingermans.
Glad mom got the ones in the wooden box or those rascals would have had a field day.
I think they are STILL pissed from getting evicted from our attic.

Knitting:

Still working away on the Red White and Blue socks.  These will be a while I think.  Lots going on.

Reading:

A Thousand Pardons
by: Jonathan Dee

I have no idea how this ended up in my cue, it did.  It started out interesting but now seems like a woman whingeing about her pre-teen daughter and ex-husband, nothing specific, mostly that they breathe and talk at her rather than to her.  As a result of a rather scandalous divorce, she ended up with a job in a PR firm where her MO is to send whomever out on an "Apology Tour" and then all is right with the world.

Mileage:

Saddle: 45
Feet: 16

Sincerely,
Beth who wonders if she can take a nap now.