These Are Some Socks!

Now These Are Some Socks!

From Random Graphic Images

I got a gift certificate to REI from my sister (who wrote this card) 

When I did a search on the REI site for 'socks' it did not take long to make my decision.

The way I see it, if you are going to wear socks and sandals your socks should stand out.

My other pairs of socks that I wear with sandals are hand knitted (by Evelyn).

A Haunting 10 Mile Ride

Sunday was such a beautiful morning, Evelyn and I decided to load up the bikes on top of the car and head out to our favorite cycling path; The American Tobacco Trail Bike Path (A Rails To Trails Project).  I rode Robert's Trek 6000 mountain bike which goes very well on the crushed, packed limestone of the bike path.


This bike path goes from around New Hill NC to downtown Durham NC.  We typically get on the trail at the second Wake County parking entrance about 5 miles from the New Hill end.  We then have the choice of riding back toward the New Hill end or north toward Durham.  Both are beautiful rides and we wind up going between 10 to 18 miles total.  This day we traveled toward New Hill.


When we got to the parking lot we heard what sounded like a loud distant mournful tone.  At first I thought it was some sort of machinery.  Evelyn said she mistook it for the warning siren at the nearby Sharon Harris Nuclear  Plant.  It was neither it was the song of the Cicada.  Usually it is a high pitched whine but these Cicadas have a lower mournful tone.  We recalled that Cary NC even put out a press release this year about the Cicadas Song.  They only come out ever ten years or so and this years bloom is quite large and to folks who have not heard this particular song it can be alarming.


As we rode through the Tunnel-Of-Green that is the ATT cycling trail along this stretch, we found the temperature just right and the grade of the trail very slight either up or down with a few flat spots and the constant, seemingly distant haunting song of the Cicadas to all combine to be an almost fantasy like atmosphere .  The Cicada's song lent just the right air to the lonely woods-ride.


I got a picture of a worn out Cicada along the trail and once we got back to the parking lot I found myself ducking as one headed across the parking lot straight toward my head.  I took a couple of pictures of this one where it landed in a nearby tree.


Here is a link to the pictures for this ride.  And here is a short video of the ATT where you can hear the sound in the background.

Another Bike Ride (And A Broken Cable)

My 'Good-Old-North-Raleigh-Loop-Ride'


I left this morning a bit before eight o'clock and everything went grand.  There was one small 'glitch' at the 35.5km point.  My rear derailleur cable broke at the shifter.  And I was at the intersection of Durant Road and Honeycutt Road.  


I was at the bottom of one of the longest and steepest climbs of the loop.  And when the rear cable breaks the gears go to their 'resting-position' which is the absolutely highest gear.  So I got off the bike, pulled the cable loose and pulled it while manipulating the rear derailleur to a middle gear and wrapped it around the nut that holds the seat post in. 


That gave me a three speed bike and as I got closer to Falls of the Neuse Road the cable slipped and the gear shifted back to high gear.  So I stopped at the filling station at the intersection and did a better job of securing the cable to a fixed 'middle-gear' and rod my three speed bike back home.


I though I would be clever and just replace the cable but I can NOT figure out how to actuate the shifter, I worry that something is loose inside and I'll be taking it to the bike shop today.


Here are the stats. for the ride


distance ... 45.25 km
average .... 19.50 kph
max ........ 60.30 kph (Down Hill on Ebenezer Ch Road)
time ....... 02:18 hh:mm

Thank You Dear Sister

Awwww.... (See Pictures Below)

Thank you for the sweet birthday card ...
At some time on Sunday 15 May 2,011 CE 
I will have completed 64 years of my life ...

And you and I will be twins for the next 9 days ...
And then you will have completed SIXTY-FIVE years of your life ...
(sorry could not resist)

But don't worry I'll be there next year this time ...
And to close:

When I get older losing my hair, (Already DONE!)
Many years from now, (Or not :-()
Will you still be sending me a valentine (My favorite sister almost always sends)
Birthday greetings bottle of wine? (Got the birthday greeting :o)

If I'd been out till quarter to three
Would you lock the door,
Will you still need me, will you still feed me, (Easter lunch :o)
When I'm sixty-four?


oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oooo
You'll be older too, (ah ah ah ah ah) (65 to be exact)
And if you say the word,
I could stay with you.

I could be handy mending a fuse
When your lights have gone.
You can knit a sweater by the fireside
Sunday mornings go for a ride. (American Tobacco Trail!!!!!)

Doing the garden, digging the weeds, (That would be you, sister)
Who could ask for more? (Really!)
Will you still need me, will you still feed me,
When I'm sixty-four?

Every summer we can rent a cottage (I'll commute from MHC to EI on my bike)
In the Isle of Wight, if it's not too dear (oh my!)
We shall scrimp and save
Grandchildren on your knee
Vera, Chuck, and Dave (and Rachel)


Send me a postcard, drop me a line, (got it this afternoon --- and it was SUPER!)
Stating point of view.
Indicate precisely what you mean to say
Yours sincerely, Wasting Away. (NO WAY!!!! I swam 1,825 yards this AM)

Give me your answer, fill in a form
Mine for evermore (I Love you, my dear sister!)
Will you still need me, will you still feed me,
When I'm sixty-four? (Sure looks like it to me!)

Whoo!

From Random Graphic Images

From Random Graphic Images

Waving At The IIS

This overpass was a -3.8 magnitude and was really bright. The ISS passed into shadow just after passing over the zenith.

Here is a slide show:



And here are two pictures that I took with our digital cameras set to 15 second exposures pretty cool:

From 14_APR_2011_IIS_OVERPASS

and:

From 14_APR_2011_IIS_OVERPASS