Riding with Monkey Boy

After a leisurely start to the morning I asked Daniel if he wanted to go for a bike ride at the high school.  “Yes!  Let’s go for bike ride at high school.”

“Or… would you rather get out the bike trailer and go for a ride on the trail?”

“Let’s get the trailer and go for a ride on the trail!”

The decision was made.  We loaded up the trailer, my bike, and our gear into “daddy’s brand new car”, as Daniel calls it.  It was a sunny drive to Fredericksburg, although a bit cold with the car’s thermometer only showing 46 degrees.  We pulled into the parking lot at the trailhead and were the only car there.

 Heading south.  This was the first time we had to close

the plastic front cover due to temperature.

Daniel rode his Strider bike around in the parking lot while I put together the trailer and loaded us up.  It was chilly as we began our ride to the south.  We did the usual, rode to the depot in Millersburg and stopped at the playset.  Daniel bought his usual Vitamin water from the vending machine, and we ate some lunch at the playset.

 Heading north.  Chasing down a couple Amish buggies.

It warmed up a little bit as the ride back was not so chilly.  Back at the car we broke down the trailer and loaded everything in to the car before spending some time at the elementary school playground.  Daniel put on a good exhibition on the little monkey bar set, making it four bars out on his own, and then we headed home.

 Daniel had fun on the monkey bars at the Depot too.

Racing Red in the Fall

Made it out for a short ride "around the block".  The distance didn't matter, I was just glad to be riding after being stuck with an incessant cough for the past week.  I made a point to bring the camera, as I figured there may be a nice fall scene to capture.  Shortly into the ride I found such a scene and, with the setting sun at my back, stopped for a picture.  I wondered if my Rudy glasses with their Racing Red lenses were inflating the colors of the scene, so I snapped a pic through the glasses.  It kinda came out cool.

 

It was a tight squeeze to fit the camera

between my face and the sunglasses... right.  :-) 

Stacked with Wood

We stacked all the wood split last year and had to add two more 8' lengths to the row alongside the house.  It looks like a lot of wood, but is it enough for the winter?

Two chords by my estimate.

 Daniel looking for wooly bears.

Sound Upgrade

When I sold the truck I pulled my nice component speakers out of the doors and replaced them with some cheapies.  Ever since buying the car I wanted to install the good ones.  Well, I found the time and did the install.  Okay, truth be told, I drove around with the passenger side inner door panel removed for about two weeks while trying to complete the install.  :-)  But, it's done now and they sound good!

 New woofer mounted and wired.

I made a custom baffle to adapt the 5x7

opening to my 6.5 woofers. 

 Small blocks glued to sail panels with JB Weld.

 Tweeters attached with a metal strap.

Working Outside

Borrowed a log splitter and got to work.  The wood collection for this winter is looking good.

Daniel was liking the log splitter.

Dad bought a new zero turn mower, so Daniel had to get in a ride on it.

 Ready to mow.

Friday Night Riding

Friday afternoon I was sitting at my desk and had the sudden thought “it would be a good evening for a night ride!”.  My next thought was “oh man, I haven’t charged my light since the spring.”  I called home and asked KT to plug in my light.

About 7:30 I headed out into the dark and wind.  Daniel was in the bathtub when I left.  After his bath he was asking KT where I was.  She told him I was out on a bike ride.  He wanted to know how I could see where I was going.  KT explained I had a bike light.  Next he wanted to know how it hooked onto my bike.  Nice, I like his inquisitive and specific questions.

Turn now.

I only planned to be out for an hour or so, but a couple hours later I rolled up the driveway.  The wind seemed to lessen and I enjoyed being out in the dark, riding through the swamp a couple times.

 Nightime cockpit.

This morning I was talking to Daniel and he asked me how my bike light hooks onto my bike.  I told him there was a clamp and I would show him next time we were in the basement.  Good follow up on the light attachment question.

A Road Ride - chasing the sun

With KT's help, I came home from work and immediately headed out on a road ride.  The weather was perfect and sunset was around 7:30.  I made the most of it.

Just about ready to roll out.

I was rode north into the wind, out through the Overton Valley.  Then I chased the sun for a while before turning south.  Even after all the bike rides I've done I found some un-ridden roads within a couple hours of home.

 Nice front yard decorations.

I realized the sun was setting fast as I rode across Elyria Road.  No more wandering, it was time to take the direct route home.

 Nice light as the sun was setting.

In the last mile of my ride I swung through Triway Estates to avoid riding on SR3.  Looking off to the side I saw about 11 deer watching me ride by.  I stopped and they didn't run, so I took a picture.  Nice way to end a ride.

 Deer at dusk.