Finally, I am back walking again. Only doing 5 or so miles each morning, but am pushing the envelope speed-wise. Have a 2.7 mile route from home to the local Hatteras Campground and back. Today took 66 minutes. By week end, expect to round trip in 60 minutes = + 5 mph.
We shall see.
Returning home, was sweaty, but no pains...no hard breathing; so, am still in shape even tho not doing much extreme walking for nearly one month.
Not much doing with the Food Pantry the last couple weeks. It is open only after church services on Sunday and from 9 - 11 on Wednesday. A "run" is also made to pick up food on Friday, but it is delivered to a separate organization.
General observation - by others of the "Food Bank" program(s) - is that the economic slow down is reducing availability of food items available.
I am being introduced to a much expanded "reality" of what is going on in these Outer Banks relative to "Food Banks / Food Pantries". Not being fully informed as of yet, I hesitate to say too much. I can say that Pastor Steve's LIFEBOAT COMMUNITY CHURCH Food Pantry is one of a large number - over 100 - Food Pantries...all associated in one way or another with larger centralized "Food Banks"...somewhat akin to the "trikle-down" system. That somehow smacks of the trillions of $$ pumped into our economy in recent times.
Anyone out there been trikled upon?
Anyhow, when I get all the options straightened out, I will share them here.
In the mean time, I continue to toil with the yards (mowing, trimming, picking up, etc) of properties of my landlady, Linda, as well as that of Pastor Steve and the Church itself.
It is not enough to keep me busy, so am putting out feelers for employment possibilities.
Good Luck to that dream!
My computer "chip slot" has ceased to function...and I have misplaced my camera-computer connector; so, still do not have photographs available. Stopped in at Radio Shack to pick up the proper connector, only to find that they do not carry the one I need...with the commentary by the salesman that it is ..."common knowledge that the camera folks change the design of accessories with every new camera."
When I become president of the World, three things will be required:
1. Commonality of interface connectors;
2. No SMALL PRINT allowed.
3. No "speed" talking in commercials.
See what kind of thoughts are generated by idle minds.
Monday, September 10, 2012
Tuesday, September 4, 2012
POST 687: 09/04/12; SALVO - COLUMBIA, N.C.
Finally, I am back up. My computer has been down for over two weeks. Sent it to my personal guru in Belligham for rework. All seems to be OK now, but was loaded with virus, requiring considerable updating.
Before I get started on updating my activities on OBX (Outer Banks), I wish to make a couple comments about my health. No, no big problem; however, I have been increasingly bothered by arthritis in both hands the past few weeks. I am devoted to better health through stimulation of my Lymphatic System...in my opinion, second only to the blood circulatory system for a healthy body. I am thoroughly convinced that my walking has brought my Lymphatic System to the peak of functioning. I therefore decided to use Reflexology on my increasingly arthritic fingers; i.e., message of each finger/thumb for 1/2 hour each day. Would you believe...tho the pain has not fully gone away, full functioning has returned.
I have been quite reluctant to pursue discussion on Politics, Religion, or health matters. I will, however, be discussing the Lymphatic System in the future.
My new home is coming along quite nicely. Pictures are hung; a daily routine is coming along.
Primary to my activities is the Food Bank. The building has been emptied out, bombed to rid creepy crawlies, scrubbed with disinfectant, painted, and fully cleaned daily. Some folks think it looks rather nice.
Pastor Steve's food bank program is a bit complicated...more so than I had been previously introduced to. Still have much to discover in obtaining food items from various sources. Summer is coming to a close out here on OBX, which, I am informed, will result in a significant increase in food bank customers...this because work opportunities disappear with vacationers, reducing $$ incomes. Will, therefore, be increasingly busy.
In the interim, I have taken it upon myself to pursue gardening for Pastor Steve's home, in addition to sprucing up some properties of my landlady, Linda.
Many local residents are still without permanent homes, having lost theirs to Hurricane Irene.
Drove to Columbia, N.C., where I spent three restful nights visiting with Karen, Craig, and the boys - and some friends.
My camera battery charger has been misplaced the last three weeks. I do have some photographs which will be uploaded in my next blog.
The new trailer I used to move from Bellingham has been sold. Now have only the MPV and Motorcycle to get around...both of which are working just fine.
I have not been walking as I wish...only a couple times a week, which has resulted in moving back into size 38 waist.
Have not yet gone to the beach, but was invited to an evening of fishing from the Rodanthe Pier, where I caught a smallish Blue Fish. Have been an avid fisherman most of my life, so look forward to drowning some more bait. The Atlantic Ocean beaches are only a block away from my home.
In two weeks, my 60th High School Reunion is on in Kennewick, Washington. I am vacillating as to whether I should fly out to attend. Must decide within the next couple days. I would very much like to be there.
Does anyone know where the Planet NIBIRU is at the moment ?
Before I get started on updating my activities on OBX (Outer Banks), I wish to make a couple comments about my health. No, no big problem; however, I have been increasingly bothered by arthritis in both hands the past few weeks. I am devoted to better health through stimulation of my Lymphatic System...in my opinion, second only to the blood circulatory system for a healthy body. I am thoroughly convinced that my walking has brought my Lymphatic System to the peak of functioning. I therefore decided to use Reflexology on my increasingly arthritic fingers; i.e., message of each finger/thumb for 1/2 hour each day. Would you believe...tho the pain has not fully gone away, full functioning has returned.
I have been quite reluctant to pursue discussion on Politics, Religion, or health matters. I will, however, be discussing the Lymphatic System in the future.
My new home is coming along quite nicely. Pictures are hung; a daily routine is coming along.
Primary to my activities is the Food Bank. The building has been emptied out, bombed to rid creepy crawlies, scrubbed with disinfectant, painted, and fully cleaned daily. Some folks think it looks rather nice.
Pastor Steve's food bank program is a bit complicated...more so than I had been previously introduced to. Still have much to discover in obtaining food items from various sources. Summer is coming to a close out here on OBX, which, I am informed, will result in a significant increase in food bank customers...this because work opportunities disappear with vacationers, reducing $$ incomes. Will, therefore, be increasingly busy.
In the interim, I have taken it upon myself to pursue gardening for Pastor Steve's home, in addition to sprucing up some properties of my landlady, Linda.
Many local residents are still without permanent homes, having lost theirs to Hurricane Irene.
Drove to Columbia, N.C., where I spent three restful nights visiting with Karen, Craig, and the boys - and some friends.
My camera battery charger has been misplaced the last three weeks. I do have some photographs which will be uploaded in my next blog.
The new trailer I used to move from Bellingham has been sold. Now have only the MPV and Motorcycle to get around...both of which are working just fine.
I have not been walking as I wish...only a couple times a week, which has resulted in moving back into size 38 waist.
Have not yet gone to the beach, but was invited to an evening of fishing from the Rodanthe Pier, where I caught a smallish Blue Fish. Have been an avid fisherman most of my life, so look forward to drowning some more bait. The Atlantic Ocean beaches are only a block away from my home.
In two weeks, my 60th High School Reunion is on in Kennewick, Washington. I am vacillating as to whether I should fly out to attend. Must decide within the next couple days. I would very much like to be there.
Does anyone know where the Planet NIBIRU is at the moment ?
Thursday, August 16, 2012
POST 686: 08/16/12: SALVO, OUTER BANKS, N.C.
My five minute walk to Pastor Steve's home this morning resulted in another bunch of mosquito bites. Angry now, I drove to near by ACE HARDWARE, where I purchased a bottle of "what the locals use": CUTTER BACKYARD BUG CONTROL. Returning home, hooked up Linda's hoses to my bottle of Cutter and sprayed the yard grass until it was well soaked.
...first, put on long thick pants, long sleeve shirt, Aussie Hat and Betty's Bee Net.
Have not seen a mosquito since spraying.
So, since I was already dressed for bug protection, cranked up Linda's lawn mower and finished cutting the grass.
Today's other achievement has been to strip out the entire Food Pantry building. Mixing up a solution of antiseptic and water, washed down all the shelving and the concrete floor. The concrete is impossible to keep clean...sweep it 6 times and then once again still results in a dust pan full of dirt...so, I again trundled back to Ace Hardware where I purchased a gallon of cement paint which I will apply on Monday.
Cleaning the shelving, ran into a few undesirable crawling critters...some of which escaped me. So, I have set off a bug bomb inside...after first removing food items. Must wait 4.5 hours before entering the closed space. Will then again wash everything down in preparation for arrival of new food items tomorrow morning.
Food Pantry customers will begin arriving around 9:30 am, so will be busy this evening and in the morning. Will accompany a driver to the local Food Lion Grocery Store at 7:00 am, pick up the food set aside for our Food Pantry, drive the 35 miles back to Salvo, unload, sort, and stock the newly sparkling shelves before opening up for clients.
Wearing my anti-mosquito get up today resulted in bites only to my hands. All else was protected...even tho many mosquitoes swarmed around my head, they could not get thru the bee net.
...first, put on long thick pants, long sleeve shirt, Aussie Hat and Betty's Bee Net.
Have not seen a mosquito since spraying.
So, since I was already dressed for bug protection, cranked up Linda's lawn mower and finished cutting the grass.
Today's other achievement has been to strip out the entire Food Pantry building. Mixing up a solution of antiseptic and water, washed down all the shelving and the concrete floor. The concrete is impossible to keep clean...sweep it 6 times and then once again still results in a dust pan full of dirt...so, I again trundled back to Ace Hardware where I purchased a gallon of cement paint which I will apply on Monday.
Cleaning the shelving, ran into a few undesirable crawling critters...some of which escaped me. So, I have set off a bug bomb inside...after first removing food items. Must wait 4.5 hours before entering the closed space. Will then again wash everything down in preparation for arrival of new food items tomorrow morning.
Food Pantry customers will begin arriving around 9:30 am, so will be busy this evening and in the morning. Will accompany a driver to the local Food Lion Grocery Store at 7:00 am, pick up the food set aside for our Food Pantry, drive the 35 miles back to Salvo, unload, sort, and stock the newly sparkling shelves before opening up for clients.
Wearing my anti-mosquito get up today resulted in bites only to my hands. All else was protected...even tho many mosquitoes swarmed around my head, they could not get thru the bee net.
Wednesday, August 15, 2012
POST 685: 08/15/12: SALVO, OUTER BANKS, N.C.
Finally, I have a functioning home. A number of boxes remain to be unloaded, but Kitchen, Living, Bath, and Bedroom are all up and running - even the hot water tank....weeeee, hot baths !
Have checked in at the Food Bank (Food Pantry) and have received the "key" with the advice that it is all mine. Am informed that as soon as local schools re-start, locals will flood to the Food Pantry. During the Summer, tourist activity apparently keeps locals busy and in food essentials.
Trailer is on display at the LIFEBOAT CHURCH, sponsor of Salvo, N.C. Food Pantry, having Highway 12 exposure. Hope for a sale in a few days. The motorcycle has been put through it's paces and performs OK - now in the protection of Landlady Linda's garage. MPV / Mazda is relieved from it's burden of the trailer and also performs like new - even with nearly 253,000 miles...and having been rebuilt three times:
Yes, my MPV has been in three crashes...two involving deer requiring new sheet metal to the front window - engine and suspension totally avoided damage -, and a third injury to both front and back: Nephew Dale driving, stopped in traffic in Seattle when a speeding motorist crashed into the U-Haul trailer Dale was towing to pick up shipments from Europe. The crash was so severe that the trailer hitch broke free and went flying through the MPV rear door...at the same time pushing the front end into the flatbed truck stopped in front.
All running features of the MPV avoided damage. Metalwork was perfect during all three repair efforts...and the MPV runs, as I said, like new.
But, I do have a major problem involving the MPV. It is parked on the "crab" grass in front of my new 2-bedroom home, about 100 feet away. Walking from the MPV to the front door results in a swarm of mosquitoes attacking every exposed bit of skin. Running to the front door results in a half-dozen bites...opening and entering lets in 5 or 6 mosquitoes...which I spend the next hour tracking down.
Have been in Salvo one week and have at least 25 bites still irritating and itching.
...that is until today. Today, I offered to mow the grass of Linda's three homes, of which one is mine. Linda has a small manually pushed gas mower to chop down a large expanse of grass, some of which is over 1.5 feet high. Wearing long heavy pants, long sleeve shirt and hat with ear flaps protected all except my face and neck. At this writing, the right side of my face - from forehead to neckline, is swollen with too numerous to count mosquito bites...
...and I itch like crazy.
I MUST find a defense against the millions of mosquitoes which rise up from the sodden - been raining for nearly three weeks - grass at every step. The town "mosquito" spray truck trundled by yesterday sending out clouds of mosquito spray. The truck passed by quite fast, pointing the spray nozzles mostly over the pavement...not many mosquitoes live in the pavement..., but not much spray over the grasses lining the roadway.
I do have a "bee" net which I received as a gift from Ed and Betty (Oregon) two years ago. I used Betty's bee net extensively until I became oxygen deprived in Georgia and collapsed, ending up in ER. Nonetheless, I have broken out Betty's bee net, which will become a required garment when walking to and from the MPV.
Began my quest to find employment. No luck today, but am encouraged by learning of three businesses looking for "help". Perhaps tomorrow will land me a source of $$ income...which I need to pay off trailer and MPV repairs incurred en-route from Bellingham.
My home is 1 city block from the Atlantic Ocean Beaches; 3 blocks from Pamlico Sound, and 3 blocks from the Food Pantry. Am pleased that I need not drive the MPV much for the moment.
Have not walked significantly since leaving Bellingham two weeks ago. Most folks living in OBX are runners. Have not run since giving up Marathons 35 years ago...perhaps it is time to get my old body back into running condition...must be cautious, however, not to re-damage either knee, both of which have received ORTHOSCOPIC surgery to repair running damage of years ago.
Sure is fun growing old...especially since I am keeping myself healthy and finding so many interesting and intriguing activities ... not to mention oodles of new / old friends.
Have checked in at the Food Bank (Food Pantry) and have received the "key" with the advice that it is all mine. Am informed that as soon as local schools re-start, locals will flood to the Food Pantry. During the Summer, tourist activity apparently keeps locals busy and in food essentials.
Trailer is on display at the LIFEBOAT CHURCH, sponsor of Salvo, N.C. Food Pantry, having Highway 12 exposure. Hope for a sale in a few days. The motorcycle has been put through it's paces and performs OK - now in the protection of Landlady Linda's garage. MPV / Mazda is relieved from it's burden of the trailer and also performs like new - even with nearly 253,000 miles...and having been rebuilt three times:
Yes, my MPV has been in three crashes...two involving deer requiring new sheet metal to the front window - engine and suspension totally avoided damage -, and a third injury to both front and back: Nephew Dale driving, stopped in traffic in Seattle when a speeding motorist crashed into the U-Haul trailer Dale was towing to pick up shipments from Europe. The crash was so severe that the trailer hitch broke free and went flying through the MPV rear door...at the same time pushing the front end into the flatbed truck stopped in front.
All running features of the MPV avoided damage. Metalwork was perfect during all three repair efforts...and the MPV runs, as I said, like new.
But, I do have a major problem involving the MPV. It is parked on the "crab" grass in front of my new 2-bedroom home, about 100 feet away. Walking from the MPV to the front door results in a swarm of mosquitoes attacking every exposed bit of skin. Running to the front door results in a half-dozen bites...opening and entering lets in 5 or 6 mosquitoes...which I spend the next hour tracking down.
Have been in Salvo one week and have at least 25 bites still irritating and itching.
...that is until today. Today, I offered to mow the grass of Linda's three homes, of which one is mine. Linda has a small manually pushed gas mower to chop down a large expanse of grass, some of which is over 1.5 feet high. Wearing long heavy pants, long sleeve shirt and hat with ear flaps protected all except my face and neck. At this writing, the right side of my face - from forehead to neckline, is swollen with too numerous to count mosquito bites...
...and I itch like crazy.
I MUST find a defense against the millions of mosquitoes which rise up from the sodden - been raining for nearly three weeks - grass at every step. The town "mosquito" spray truck trundled by yesterday sending out clouds of mosquito spray. The truck passed by quite fast, pointing the spray nozzles mostly over the pavement...not many mosquitoes live in the pavement..., but not much spray over the grasses lining the roadway.
I do have a "bee" net which I received as a gift from Ed and Betty (Oregon) two years ago. I used Betty's bee net extensively until I became oxygen deprived in Georgia and collapsed, ending up in ER. Nonetheless, I have broken out Betty's bee net, which will become a required garment when walking to and from the MPV.
Began my quest to find employment. No luck today, but am encouraged by learning of three businesses looking for "help". Perhaps tomorrow will land me a source of $$ income...which I need to pay off trailer and MPV repairs incurred en-route from Bellingham.
My home is 1 city block from the Atlantic Ocean Beaches; 3 blocks from Pamlico Sound, and 3 blocks from the Food Pantry. Am pleased that I need not drive the MPV much for the moment.
Have not walked significantly since leaving Bellingham two weeks ago. Most folks living in OBX are runners. Have not run since giving up Marathons 35 years ago...perhaps it is time to get my old body back into running condition...must be cautious, however, not to re-damage either knee, both of which have received ORTHOSCOPIC surgery to repair running damage of years ago.
Sure is fun growing old...especially since I am keeping myself healthy and finding so many interesting and intriguing activities ... not to mention oodles of new / old friends.
Monday, August 13, 2012
POST 684: 08/13/12: SALVO, OUTER BANKS, N.C..
Yes, arrived last Thursday evening in Salvo, North Carolina on the sand spit of the Outer Banks.
Has taken most of three days to unload the trailer and decide where to put what to make my new home livable. Linda Hooper, my landlady, has presented me a like-new 2 bedroom home...fully redone after being flooded - along with dozens of neighborhood homes - with up to 5.5 feet of water during Hurricane Irene of last September.
The first night, Linda offered one of her own home bedrooms (thank you, Linda). Linda added a couch, kitchen table & chairs and all appliances - including a heat pump to ward off the stifling humidity. Feel somewhat guilty all alone in my spacious home, as Pastor Steve and Betty are sharing their tiny newly renovated home with friends and family shoehorned into every nook and cranny.
Spent better part of two days visiting sister Carol in DeKalb, Illinois. Carol is doing OK, but is still in need of assistance. She seemed pleased that I dropped by to see her again so soon, as she assumed she would not see me for quite a long time...one just never knows.
I took time to install rear brakes on the MPV...and good thing too. To avoid the series of steep West Virginia Allegheny mountains along I-40 and Highway 64, I stayed North, driving Highway 68 East in West Virginia and Maryland (close to the Pennsylvania border) before turning Southeast to Washington D.C. and Norfolk, Virginia to reach OBX at Kitty Hawk.
BAD CHOICE !
The northern route had many more L O N G and S T E E P hills than the southern route ever did. Poor MPV was constantly jarred by rough roadways plus the strain of dragging our heavy trailer.
MPV, however, performed flawlessly. Drank up tons of gasoline. Normal gas mileage is + / - 20 MPG. This trip, she realized only 12 - 14 mpg over our course of 3,350 miles. We consumed 260 gallons of fuel @ $4.00 = $1,040.00.
We made the 3,350 miles in 7 days/nights, taking motel rooms at from $45.00 to $80.00 per night, wiping out an additional $450.00.
U-Haul wanted $1,000.00 to rent their large (but not large enough) trailer one way from Bellingham to OBX, so I purchased a new larger trailer for $3,000.00, which I will now sell for around $2,200.00.
All told - including $150.00 for food, $250.00 for new rear tires and $300.00 for new rear brakes, this trip cost:
$1,040.00 (fuel)
450.00 (motel)
150.00 (food)
250.00 (tires)
300.00 (brakes)
800.00 (trailer)
______________
$2,990.00 Total for the trip...
In the next day or so, I will look for employment.
Arriving in Salvo, I could not get close to my new home because of the extensive flooding left behind after three days of soaking rain. The land (all sand) here is only about 6 feet above sea level. There is simply no way to drain away the rain water left behind. Wearing boots, I was able to back the trailer up to the home. Between rain squalls, I was able to carry all my stuff into the home. Two of Linda's friends helped me move the heavy credenza and off-load the motorcycle (thank you guys).
Assisted in yesterday's - Sunday - Food Pantry. This morning - Monday -, spent a hour or so sorting through the veggies and breads, discarding out-of-date items into the dumpster. On Wednesday, new product will be picked up to restock the shelves. The Food Pantry is open Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday mornings.
With all the flooding, mosquitoes are rampant. Backing the trailer up to the front steps, I was bitten no less than 6 times. One critter slipped into the house, giving me more stings during the night...part of the price paid to live in OBX.
Unpacking has been a traumatic trip. I managed to hold on to a few meaningful items from previous years...a photograph or two, a few dishes, a favorite dishtowel, a gifted "I Love My Teacher" coffee cup. Once again taking these treasures into my hands has returned a flood of memories...memories difficult to process.
I have not slept well. For the first time in many years, I mixed and drank a few Rum & Cokes.
Realization has fallen that I am indeed beginning a new chapter...a chapter I swore I would never venture near. I'm not sure what I feel. "Empty" might be appropriate.
I am, of the moment, not quite so certain of where I am...where I am heading. I do know, however, that I must - will - go on, looking to gain the next hill...to round the next corner.
Have shed more than a few tears maneuvering through recent days.
...Lisbon to Beijing is becoming ever-so-important.
Has taken most of three days to unload the trailer and decide where to put what to make my new home livable. Linda Hooper, my landlady, has presented me a like-new 2 bedroom home...fully redone after being flooded - along with dozens of neighborhood homes - with up to 5.5 feet of water during Hurricane Irene of last September.
The first night, Linda offered one of her own home bedrooms (thank you, Linda). Linda added a couch, kitchen table & chairs and all appliances - including a heat pump to ward off the stifling humidity. Feel somewhat guilty all alone in my spacious home, as Pastor Steve and Betty are sharing their tiny newly renovated home with friends and family shoehorned into every nook and cranny.
Spent better part of two days visiting sister Carol in DeKalb, Illinois. Carol is doing OK, but is still in need of assistance. She seemed pleased that I dropped by to see her again so soon, as she assumed she would not see me for quite a long time...one just never knows.
I took time to install rear brakes on the MPV...and good thing too. To avoid the series of steep West Virginia Allegheny mountains along I-40 and Highway 64, I stayed North, driving Highway 68 East in West Virginia and Maryland (close to the Pennsylvania border) before turning Southeast to Washington D.C. and Norfolk, Virginia to reach OBX at Kitty Hawk.
BAD CHOICE !
The northern route had many more L O N G and S T E E P hills than the southern route ever did. Poor MPV was constantly jarred by rough roadways plus the strain of dragging our heavy trailer.
MPV, however, performed flawlessly. Drank up tons of gasoline. Normal gas mileage is + / - 20 MPG. This trip, she realized only 12 - 14 mpg over our course of 3,350 miles. We consumed 260 gallons of fuel @ $4.00 = $1,040.00.
We made the 3,350 miles in 7 days/nights, taking motel rooms at from $45.00 to $80.00 per night, wiping out an additional $450.00.
U-Haul wanted $1,000.00 to rent their large (but not large enough) trailer one way from Bellingham to OBX, so I purchased a new larger trailer for $3,000.00, which I will now sell for around $2,200.00.
All told - including $150.00 for food, $250.00 for new rear tires and $300.00 for new rear brakes, this trip cost:
$1,040.00 (fuel)
450.00 (motel)
150.00 (food)
250.00 (tires)
300.00 (brakes)
800.00 (trailer)
______________
$2,990.00 Total for the trip...
In the next day or so, I will look for employment.
Arriving in Salvo, I could not get close to my new home because of the extensive flooding left behind after three days of soaking rain. The land (all sand) here is only about 6 feet above sea level. There is simply no way to drain away the rain water left behind. Wearing boots, I was able to back the trailer up to the home. Between rain squalls, I was able to carry all my stuff into the home. Two of Linda's friends helped me move the heavy credenza and off-load the motorcycle (thank you guys).
Assisted in yesterday's - Sunday - Food Pantry. This morning - Monday -, spent a hour or so sorting through the veggies and breads, discarding out-of-date items into the dumpster. On Wednesday, new product will be picked up to restock the shelves. The Food Pantry is open Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday mornings.
With all the flooding, mosquitoes are rampant. Backing the trailer up to the front steps, I was bitten no less than 6 times. One critter slipped into the house, giving me more stings during the night...part of the price paid to live in OBX.
Unpacking has been a traumatic trip. I managed to hold on to a few meaningful items from previous years...a photograph or two, a few dishes, a favorite dishtowel, a gifted "I Love My Teacher" coffee cup. Once again taking these treasures into my hands has returned a flood of memories...memories difficult to process.
I have not slept well. For the first time in many years, I mixed and drank a few Rum & Cokes.
Realization has fallen that I am indeed beginning a new chapter...a chapter I swore I would never venture near. I'm not sure what I feel. "Empty" might be appropriate.
I am, of the moment, not quite so certain of where I am...where I am heading. I do know, however, that I must - will - go on, looking to gain the next hill...to round the next corner.
Have shed more than a few tears maneuvering through recent days.
...Lisbon to Beijing is becoming ever-so-important.
Wednesday, August 8, 2012
POST 683: 08/07-08/12; ON THE ROAD - DEKALB, IL.
Have avoided most criticisms in this blog; one constant, however, must be mentioned:
I-90 (Interstate 90), is becoming a rutted undulating roadway in need of significant maintenance / replacement. Poor MPV has been beaten up.
In particular, approaches to bridges: many approaches have sunk / separated below bridge-level roadway surface, leaving severe "bumps" driving onto and off bridge surfaces.
Also, a couple feet or so on the berm-side of concrete expansion joints are being broken apart - seems to result from insufficient sub-base support and ever-heavier trucks, leaving gaping holes between concrete sections often filled with large chunks of mangled concrete pieces. In Wisconsin, I nearly hit a worker removing - by hand - pieces of crushed concrete...he was out in the traffic lane in heavy traffic...with NO warning signs set out to protect him, or even wearing a reflective vest.
Driving is becoming hazardous!!
Truckers are still following much too close to vehicles in front of them...witnessed a truck running onto the back of a car, turning it sideways and throwing it across two traffic lanes to smash into the center divider..
OK, enough of that.
Visited with sister Carol in DeKalb, Illinois for 24 hours before continuing on to OBX. Carol is doing OK considering the burden(s) she is carrying.
Took the opportunity to stop in at MIDAS, where the MPV received new rear brakes. The old brake pads had NO friction surface remaining and had been metal to metal. Installed all new parts. MPV now brakes properly. No excuse for not changing the brakes back in B'ham, except for lack of $$ until my SS arrived on 08/03. Total rear wheel brake job: $285.00.
Also, gas prices (regular 85 octane gas) prices in DeKalb are now $4.99 gallon. Sister Carol says price was about $3.50 only a couple days ago.
Drove from DeKalb on I-39 to I-70 East. Stopped for the night at the up-scale COMFORT INN motel in Danville, Illinois. Took a swim and hot-tub soak...what a pleasure !
In the morning, will continue on I-70 to above Washington, D.C. Will drive to and thru Washington D.C. where we will pick up I-95 South...then to US 64 in North Carolina, which we will take to Nags Head, Outer Banks...about 600 miles distant.
During the few minutes writing this short blog update, VERIZON has "dropped out" five times !!
Very annoying.
I-90 (Interstate 90), is becoming a rutted undulating roadway in need of significant maintenance / replacement. Poor MPV has been beaten up.
In particular, approaches to bridges: many approaches have sunk / separated below bridge-level roadway surface, leaving severe "bumps" driving onto and off bridge surfaces.
Also, a couple feet or so on the berm-side of concrete expansion joints are being broken apart - seems to result from insufficient sub-base support and ever-heavier trucks, leaving gaping holes between concrete sections often filled with large chunks of mangled concrete pieces. In Wisconsin, I nearly hit a worker removing - by hand - pieces of crushed concrete...he was out in the traffic lane in heavy traffic...with NO warning signs set out to protect him, or even wearing a reflective vest.
Driving is becoming hazardous!!
Truckers are still following much too close to vehicles in front of them...witnessed a truck running onto the back of a car, turning it sideways and throwing it across two traffic lanes to smash into the center divider..
OK, enough of that.
Visited with sister Carol in DeKalb, Illinois for 24 hours before continuing on to OBX. Carol is doing OK considering the burden(s) she is carrying.
Took the opportunity to stop in at MIDAS, where the MPV received new rear brakes. The old brake pads had NO friction surface remaining and had been metal to metal. Installed all new parts. MPV now brakes properly. No excuse for not changing the brakes back in B'ham, except for lack of $$ until my SS arrived on 08/03. Total rear wheel brake job: $285.00.
Also, gas prices (regular 85 octane gas) prices in DeKalb are now $4.99 gallon. Sister Carol says price was about $3.50 only a couple days ago.
Drove from DeKalb on I-39 to I-70 East. Stopped for the night at the up-scale COMFORT INN motel in Danville, Illinois. Took a swim and hot-tub soak...what a pleasure !
In the morning, will continue on I-70 to above Washington, D.C. Will drive to and thru Washington D.C. where we will pick up I-95 South...then to US 64 in North Carolina, which we will take to Nags Head, Outer Banks...about 600 miles distant.
During the few minutes writing this short blog update, VERIZON has "dropped out" five times !!
Very annoying.
Sunday, August 5, 2012
POST 682; 08/05/12: ON THE ROAD TO OBX - I-90
MPV with her severely overloaded trailer. Trailer hitch is nearly scraping the ground. Front tires are contacting roadway surface just enough to enable positive steering. If this were not plenty to challenge our drive, must admit that both rear brakes have now depleted the brake pads...which had 2mm remaining when we departed Bellingham.
Using plenty of motor braking to slow this duo safely.
Took two days driving to find the proper running speed and how to brake such a heavy unwieldy tandem. Today, we ran between 65 and 70 mph...at a very comfortable stability factor.
Stopped at Mitchell, South Dakota for gas and 1/2 hour nap.
The Sturgis Motorcycle Rally has resulted in I-90 literally filled with motorcycles...thousands of motorcycles converging on the small town in South Dakota. I heard one report that 1.2 million(1,200,000) motorcycles have been expected.
The Mitchell Gas Station was crowded with bikes en route to Sturgis.
MPV performed well again today. She seems to like cruising at the higher speed...which gives her a boost when climbing the hills - hills must less demanding that those of the Rocky Mountains.
Have stopped for the night at a truck stop motel ($39.50) near the city of Madison, Wisconsin.
We should arrive in DeKalb before noon tomorrow, where I hope to spend two days with sister Carol.
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