tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19950208107537720442024-03-14T08:39:07.525-07:00The Old Man and his BikeWhat better way to describe myself and one of my great loves, Biking. I don't expect this blog to be about personalities, however I do appreciate the differences each of us bring to any commentary. The common denominator among all of us, I hope, is the bike and what it means to each of us. I enjoy, and I hope others will enjoy, a story about what ever possessed you to start expending your energy to move from place to place by bike when it is so much easier to drive in AC comfort.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger39125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1995020810753772044.post-57694628127922446462012-05-01T13:31:00.000-07:002012-05-04T19:27:48.685-07:00AmazingThat I am back here writing another post after such a short time. However, I am determined to continue, both writing and riding. Today was a 30 mile run, with a couple of errands along the way. Had to check on the lawnmower repair at Colliers in Seffner. Tom said it would be ready around Thursday. So I got another break. Today it was a circular route and I discovered something I never noticed before. How do I ride 30 miles, out and back, with a headwind in both directions?, and all uphill? Tomorrow I'll reverse my direction and see if it makes a difference.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1995020810753772044.post-10242024013111461902012-04-29T18:32:00.001-07:002012-05-04T19:31:15.748-07:00Two Years???Procrastination,<em> </em>I guess, I kept telling myself that I need to get riding again and posting again. Although I have not posted in a while, more than 2 years, I have been riding, although I did take some time off this year and just recently started again. Getting back into shape is not really as difficult as I thought. No, I'm not ready to do a 60 miler yet, but I feel ready for 25 / 30 miles. My problem is that I need to do it every day. That was difficult to do while Veronica and her Mom were here for her annual appointment,(see: <a href="http://veronica-andes.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: #ffe599;">http://veronica-andes.blogspot.com/</span></a> ). Next week we have Frank and Tatiana visiting for the first time and some major surgery scheduled.(see: <span style="color: #ffe599;"> </span><a href="http://theluzfund.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: #ffe599;">http://theluzfund.blogspot.com/</span></a> ). However, I'll squeeze in some riding as time permits, with some visual proof.<br />
Just recently had some time to surf some other blogs and ran across the blogspoy Nauga Bike, written by Tom Winfield from Iowa. I'll need to see if I can connect again and list his blog on my regular visits.<br />
Middle son, Chris, did the St Anthony's Triathlon today. He called after and said he did well and finished within one minute of his projected time. I should have gotten some photos when we were in St Pete for pre-race activity yesterday.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1995020810753772044.post-17302334983196165012009-12-06T17:42:00.000-08:002009-12-06T18:00:16.443-08:00Bicyclist Ticketed - in Tampa, FLIt's not bad enough that bicyclists in Tampa, FL need to put up with some of the worst conditions for bikers in the country, we also have some law officers who are ignorant of the law regarding cyclists, their rights and responsibilities. Key word here is RESPONSIBILITIES. Riding an average of 25 / 30 miles a day around Tampa and Hillsborough County, I have seen the best and the worst when it comes to drivers and cyclists. In my personal observations, both are at fault. Education of drivers regarding the presence of cyclists on roadways is a necessity. Observation of the laws, rules and responsibilities are the requirements of both groups. In any confrontations, the cyclist loses.<br />Read about Brad Marcels experience. <br /><a href="http://www2.tbo.com/content/2009/dec/03/cyclist-says-ticket-impeding-traffic-unfair/ww2.tbo.com/">http://www2.tbo.com/content/2009/dec/03/cyclist-says-ticket-impeding-traffic-unfair/ww2.tbo.com/</a><br />Drop him an email of support at <a href="mailto:bmarcel@mail.usf.edu">bmarcel@mail.usf.edu</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1995020810753772044.post-24404814121278916292009-09-01T08:16:00.000-07:002009-09-01T08:28:14.757-07:00Flat Tire?, Again?Had to postpone today's ride. I had a difficult puncture last week and no repair items, 15 miles away from the house. Someday I'll learn to carry more than a can of Slime(which did not do the job). After an extended wait time from my support vehicle(Nancy was busy), I got back to the shop and did a repair. <u>But, </u>the repair patch let go the next day because of the Slime in the tube. This time only 5 miles from home. So I did a really great repair with a real rubber patch, and yesterday I took off, with hard wheels, for a 45 mile run to a winery in Plant City. Made it to the winery, they were closed, my tire was again flat, and I was #%&@**. So today I am not on a ride, I am headed to Wally World to buy a few tubes and a good tire repair kit and some compressed air in a bottle. Maybe even some of those flat tire rejection strips that go between your tube and tire. Anyway, it looks like rain. Maybe I should do like my Cardiologist says and walk instead of ride.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1995020810753772044.post-91765733439453782482009-09-01T08:08:00.000-07:002009-09-01T08:15:33.993-07:00Ernest & Leana - Africa and BeyondMany thanks to SMB Tech Geeks for the advice about the blog of Ernest and his biking partner Leana. <a href="http://ernestonbike.blogspot.com/">http://ernestonbike.blogspot.com/</a> Click on Ernest's blog and you can also find a link to Leana's adventures. Gosh, what a great adventure. Leana also has a Facebook site. I have not had chance to read all the archives on their individual sites, but I will. Good reading, if you are a rider.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1995020810753772044.post-89199608287752748012009-05-26T13:58:00.000-07:002009-05-26T14:12:29.578-07:00Gosh, How time fliesI need to find a way to do this daily. I am looking at the blog and see how long it has been since I posted anything. Maybe the key is to do it each day as I get back from my morning ride. I came across a cool blog for cycling called The Hungry Cyclist. <a href="http://www.thehungrycyclist.com/blog/2009/04/index.html">http://www.thehungrycyclist.com/blog/2009/04/index.html</a> It makes for some interesting reading but I prefer more road adventures. Maybe I just have not read far enough into the blog. I thought he was presently located in South America and was going to contact him and send him info to get in touch with Angelica and Claudio. <br />I was able to contact Ben Becker, cycling through South America. He was headed to the Galapagos Islands on a sailboat he hitched a ride on from the Panama Canal. His partner left him in Panama to head back home but has done a website at: <a href="http://www.lettherebmorebikes.com/">www.lettherebmorebikes.com</a>. if you are interested.<br />If anyone has any good road travellers websites or blogs, send them this way. Wish I was 40 years younger.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1995020810753772044.post-33280161872321581272008-10-15T09:22:00.000-07:002008-10-15T16:57:20.339-07:00I'm Baaaaaacccck(from Alaska, Ireland, etc)Good to be home again. This time maybe we'll stay for a while. I have loads of photos but will likely post them on a new blog. "Ireland by Nancy, Chuck, Kathy & George". Alaska was great, a really fun and relaxing trip(7 days on the "Radiance of the Seas"). However, Ireland was, by far, the best trip we have ever made. Not just because of family connections, but because of the overall kindness, generosity, and friendliness of the Irish people. 'Cead mile Failte' says it all.<br /><p align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5257533449566991026" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 358px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 289px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" height="239" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrv6uxUuPU3WFYzB5iF8pgTdElLN_shA19pp8T4vVaLTXEY6aQ87mewtO4CwDcVNA3dziABez-H901ljBJ8RCBa4cnWgOIyPU9kJnIufzC3JIVuNTQPMDhAlbzyByqJZer5aip-HhQgkqG/s320/Guys.bmp" width="430" border="0" /></p>On one particular day stopping in the small village of Leenane in County Galway we stopped in a small pub for lunch. Sitting there trying to get warm and dry, from the irish mist were three bike riders from the US. Mike from Virginia, Ken from Montana, and Jason from Chicago. They had started in Killarney in County Kerry. We chatted for a while over some Potato-Leek soup and a pint of Guinness. Then it was time to go our individual ways. I have a photo and will upload it when I get chance.<br />Good to be back. The best cure for jet lag is to get back on the bike the next morning for a nice long ride.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1995020810753772044.post-66710403484171473352008-07-31T12:58:00.000-07:002008-07-31T13:15:06.094-07:00What a TripAll I can say is that I am back, in better shape now, and best of all riding again. <br /><br />All things considered, Grenada was a good trip. However, after developing a hernia shortly after my arrival, of course my bike ride around the island of Carriacou was eliminated from my plans. Instead of three weeks, with one week of biking, I ended up with two weeks and a rescheduled flight home for surgery. So instead of being with the team at St George Hospital while they performed cardiac surgery, I was in South Florida Baptist Hospital undergoing my own surgery. Not exactly what I had planned.<br /><br />It took a while to recover physically enough to get back on the saddle. Six weeks turned into ten weeks and I was still a little apprehensive. But not to be held back once healed, I am back at my 15 / 20 miles a day. A little warm riding a bike around Hillsborough County this time of year, but early in the morning, with the wet, cool air in your face, what could be better.<br /><br />I talked with my friend, Hilmer, from Peru. Hilmer is the Dad of Luz Estephanie( <a href="http://www.luzestephanie.blogspot.com/">http://www.luzestephanie.blogspot.com/</a> ). He has received an email from Angelica and Claudio. They are back on the road from White Horse, Yukon Territory. As soon as I hear more I'll pass on the information.<br /><br />More later. Need to go put the squirrel repellants on my bike.(more about that later)Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1995020810753772044.post-58943509123477626572007-12-09T18:23:00.000-08:002007-12-09T18:41:54.376-08:00The Adventures of Angelica and Claudio continue<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5PDPkKjHhm-QrdFbzEBwwuQx2LPYqa-IGzqqEC1KyrzE1hdegyHRviKT5uNtMjd8kD1lib_yMvae9wzdSnNmynjv0hep26O463qUwPH4YSD147hwo1cMlwk7VFoTb6_PE6SBiIt4uxx6x/s1600-h/claudio+y+nieve.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5142168332825416898" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5PDPkKjHhm-QrdFbzEBwwuQx2LPYqa-IGzqqEC1KyrzE1hdegyHRviKT5uNtMjd8kD1lib_yMvae9wzdSnNmynjv0hep26O463qUwPH4YSD147hwo1cMlwk7VFoTb6_PE6SBiIt4uxx6x/s320/claudio+y+nieve.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV22XRdbXoJCwCpYwVhSKrESYKrYfT1GPgoxVfxOBLBMBbk6HN5ujbYQQu5aW0QgPI6P5WzjxtIZL1hmuRXHym42GKLZHEu_9kGlNysTBeMo2ah4RY0lVzhq86eMX9yIZA5cMXQ8OHDqhH/s1600-h/tobogan.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5142168332825416914" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV22XRdbXoJCwCpYwVhSKrESYKrYfT1GPgoxVfxOBLBMBbk6HN5ujbYQQu5aW0QgPI6P5WzjxtIZL1hmuRXHym42GKLZHEu_9kGlNysTBeMo2ah4RY0lVzhq86eMX9yIZA5cMXQ8OHDqhH/s320/tobogan.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>Still in Whitehorse, Yukon Territory, Angelica has published new information on her blog. An english version can be found at: <a href="http://cardiostartbiketour.blogspot.com/">http://cardiostartbiketour.blogspot.com/</a> The following are two photos from them. Links to their Fliker photo gallery of the trip can be found on the weblog.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1995020810753772044.post-19511553727235698872007-10-20T08:32:00.000-07:002007-10-20T09:22:39.670-07:00Update - Riding<span style="color:#000000;">For those of you who are interested in the progress of Claudio and Angelica, they are wintering in Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada. We'll stay in touch with them over the Winter and keep you posted from time to time on their activities. Angelica said they hope to spend the time learning English.</span><br /><br /><span style="color:#000000;">I guess you know you are too busy when you do not have time to take a short ride around town. Before Nancy and I left on our long trip to California, Oregon, Washington, British Columbia and return across the northern tier, I had a reason for not riding. Maybe in reality, they were excuses. It had been very hot here in Tampa and my back had been bothering me so bad I considered a pain management Doc and a nerve block. However, no nerve block(I just did not like the Doc), and then the long trip. But now my back feels better so I am working to get my trusty steed, the Mongoose, back into condition. The "Hilly 100" bike ride is this weekend, but I will miss it. I need to get back into riding shape for a few weeks before I tackle a ride like that. More soon. Maybe I'll do a blog on our long trip. I need to put one together for CardioStart's surgery mission to Grenada in Jan/Feb. I also want to mention that I expect to head to Grenada about a week early so I can bike the island of Carriacou. More later.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1995020810753772044.post-35388353739503000932007-09-02T20:27:00.000-07:002007-09-02T20:35:04.618-07:00Cold is Colder in the Yukon<div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSnjg2IPk1FXz5uz85oegeunJE_9lkmlnK7G2u3LknYlY-6ACqQBBbj22W5h-7IhkY6KyZXXgtkGpHFZG-KTyRFhXzDWewkwL3KHPVk3HCpE0x9EPmuJOywAqMyPJZy1-NcuwSQ-oXMlYi/s1600-h/Lago+Cheverie.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5105815437293625314" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSnjg2IPk1FXz5uz85oegeunJE_9lkmlnK7G2u3LknYlY-6ACqQBBbj22W5h-7IhkY6KyZXXgtkGpHFZG-KTyRFhXzDWewkwL3KHPVk3HCpE0x9EPmuJOywAqMyPJZy1-NcuwSQ-oXMlYi/s200/Lago+Cheverie.jpg" border="0" /></a> <span style="color:#009900;">This cold in the North of America is the coldest we ever imagine, we have felt it day after day, and it has turned into a great experience, we have learned how climate varies suddenly from a radiant sun to a strong rain, they are very great distances with many pines at each side of the highway and where the only company is the wind, the dangerous bears do not show themselves, because they are more afraid of the humans than we of them. Different motor-homes pass us in the highway constantly, reminding us that each one takes in life what they wish... our bicycle home!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP4L1O2vOqUjRjl0OJJdcHFMoDl5O1EUAn206zCKIfrQ4O8QFoZtbt82hsp_SA17075RVSyicF_AyPvu-QiADXYyiu-c7bvXtHpX3FSHzGFhHS_YIedpotmeRKr8aeO2hgo9POVuCgLJzI/s1600-h/Claudio&Angelica.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5105815244020096978" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP4L1O2vOqUjRjl0OJJdcHFMoDl5O1EUAn206zCKIfrQ4O8QFoZtbt82hsp_SA17075RVSyicF_AyPvu-QiADXYyiu-c7bvXtHpX3FSHzGFhHS_YIedpotmeRKr8aeO2hgo9POVuCgLJzI/s200/Claudio&Angelica.jpg" border="0" /></a>It will stay with us in this long route, showing a little more of the world and of LIFE, now we are in Whitehorse, the capital city of Yukon. In the highway we have seen a bear cub, which was startled when it heard a car; swans, fox, beavers, white collar eagle, squirrels that do not cease to work for wintertime!!! And the giant raven which is the one that cleans the carrion and wastes. Also gorges with very nice translucent water! It is important to see how the great majority of the inhabitants care for the water. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw8UhNJAWpsCWAcbLDXoCSZv4CRZXTs9rzkgLOSGGS9IHsTyFMhtZCngQ5Kcvc2yXtK43R5HoHp2wGLQNQ3l2o8N4sK-qiq2X11T5ktST8mF32a4WizWVDaFLpqKtagcvatXe1NbjM5Ojv/s1600-h/On+the+Road+Again.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5105816111603490802" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 210px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 181px" height="167" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw8UhNJAWpsCWAcbLDXoCSZv4CRZXTs9rzkgLOSGGS9IHsTyFMhtZCngQ5Kcvc2yXtK43R5HoHp2wGLQNQ3l2o8N4sK-qiq2X11T5ktST8mF32a4WizWVDaFLpqKtagcvatXe1NbjM5Ojv/s200/On+the+Road+Again.jpg" width="200" border="0" /></a><br />The H2O IS NO PROBLEM!!!!! for us, what is a kind of problem is the coooooooooooooooold. Well, we are very far from our house, seeing people that pass by us very swiftly, it is difficult to see persons in the streets, you only see cars that go by rapidly, there are few houses and in most of them you can see nobody, when we reach a town there are few persons, it is not like South America, in which we saw people in the route and many people in the towns. .Maybe in South America life is in the streets and here it is the other way around? Or the weather makes the people stay much at home? Or are people hre more accustomed to loneliness? Well, we do not know what the reason is. Of what we are certain is that it is a different life style. </span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1995020810753772044.post-76840775534734924382007-09-02T20:20:00.000-07:002007-09-02T20:25:54.223-07:00One Push of the Pedal nearer to Colombia<div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpBzC89Hl4Os6CLO8UXUqXhqpisyrEpPNud5gefcSr2YS0dYL8jbkSHoRnBskiD1pr8KAG0xM1kNEmLHhFEeu0F2Y3pjwKxw2mE-EYbYGOEFMTCHBnXWwN93VEMdWuAtVFQkSbXuKrqsmG/s1600-h/Campsite.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5105813568982851506" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpBzC89Hl4Os6CLO8UXUqXhqpisyrEpPNud5gefcSr2YS0dYL8jbkSHoRnBskiD1pr8KAG0xM1kNEmLHhFEeu0F2Y3pjwKxw2mE-EYbYGOEFMTCHBnXWwN93VEMdWuAtVFQkSbXuKrqsmG/s200/Campsite.jpg" border="0" /></a> Alaska! State of USA, which in summer has approximately 20 houres of light, where the vegetation grows very swiftly...all this is for us very strange, since we feel it is day until 11:00 p.m., but our biological clock lets us know that it is already time to rest!!! Pedaling from Anchorage to Fairbanks we have found a territory with many pines and beautiful animals which appear suddenly in the way, such as squirrels and rabbits of which we have seen a lot, also a large cub of black bear that suddenly showed up and disappeared, we have felt the cold which is very strong in the days it rains. But it is very <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBVXv9kH6IGbbw3sMB6EVK-E_WTjCTcnovKvwjIiERTDmAvcGN6dqhynVWC9oI0yQ3OcXod2hXAGiYeNOuEDfG9CU9350xrFMSlq3R4xSryeD-3WOtdjySSd1lY8Asq9U4mFTB3Z4bllvX/s1600-h/Before+the+snow.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5105813826680889282" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBVXv9kH6IGbbw3sMB6EVK-E_WTjCTcnovKvwjIiERTDmAvcGN6dqhynVWC9oI0yQ3OcXod2hXAGiYeNOuEDfG9CU9350xrFMSlq3R4xSryeD-3WOtdjySSd1lY8Asq9U4mFTB3Z4bllvX/s200/Before+the+snow.jpg" border="0" /></a>pleasant when the sky is blue, the sun warms us, the dragonflies, butterflies and bees, fly around us, but for the traveling cycle the weather is never perfect ….. It is perfect, the landscapes, the smell of nature and the sounds of this are felt fully. After visiting the Denali National Park and only feeling rain for several days and not seeing more BEARS!, we went to the second most important city of Alaska, Fairbanks, arriving in three phases of which the last one was the strong mountain. Here we will rest a little with some friends and will visit the city. The places are constituted by the people and Alaska is no exception, we have found very kind people who are very respectful and excellent hosts. From here we say “From now on each pedal push we do is nearing us more to our dear nation “Colombia”</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1995020810753772044.post-68076733985409247712007-09-02T20:05:00.000-07:002007-09-02T20:19:44.417-07:00Moose on the Road<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvDGXydd8L9nZGJK20fAWFc3C861sm8KSkhnXJrO3LvtOXj2TBNf771KiCws8lYa_ULt4kQ7HC-2ZLm2QcH2Dx0kxAi3kX8xHV0gORBVFqfZsnCoqAxNyNjo6dV7mcQYGGBGZpzWQ_LBXA/s1600-h/Time+to+Bathe.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5105812306262466450" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvDGXydd8L9nZGJK20fAWFc3C861sm8KSkhnXJrO3LvtOXj2TBNf771KiCws8lYa_ULt4kQ7HC-2ZLm2QcH2Dx0kxAi3kX8xHV0gORBVFqfZsnCoqAxNyNjo6dV7mcQYGGBGZpzWQ_LBXA/s200/Time+to+Bathe.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_hE_NGUQFrpRxBDRcRKny91is0P3SdpnSIQe7IwY5YNFX8Efga74vQDudLY2b4qSJEwXW1gMMu8tUvkY2kL10KVh5oVml1CHs1yMk0wHAIYECD9GKMtB2xQTrjL5fYhdCWl2_uDTWRMgv/s1600-h/Typical+Weather.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5105812306262466466" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_hE_NGUQFrpRxBDRcRKny91is0P3SdpnSIQe7IwY5YNFX8Efga74vQDudLY2b4qSJEwXW1gMMu8tUvkY2kL10KVh5oVml1CHs1yMk0wHAIYECD9GKMtB2xQTrjL5fYhdCWl2_uDTWRMgv/s200/Typical+Weather.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><strong><span style="font-size:130%;color:#009900;"><u>News from Angelica and Claudio:</u></span></strong></div><br /><div><span style="color:#009900;">I'll let the direct translation do the writing. Angelica is writing;</span></div><br /><div><br />Once we came out from Colombia we arrived at the CardioStart headquarters in Tampa, Florida, and there we met an Angel called Luz Estephanie, a Peruvian little girl, 5 years old, who had an accident in her country lost her right arm and is being supported by CardioStart so that in the city of Tampa she is receiving the necessary prostheses for her rehabilitation, more information in http://luzestephanie.blogspot.com/. Several days in that beautiful city and the great day arrives, we take a plane for Anchorage- Alaska, the two of us in different flights, Angelica with a stop at Phoenix – Arizona, Claudio with stop at Minneapolis-Minnesota, we met again in Anchorage, we stayed three days in friend Owen’s house. Saturday we started the adventure taking the route North to the Denali National Park and then on to the city of Fairbanks, it has been four days of hard pedaling, a new period of adaptation to the highway and luggage. A beautiful cycle route from Anchorage to Willow and then on by the highway. We have met very kind people, the weather has not been favorable, because in this season of the year there is much rain in Alaska, on the fourth day of the trip we met Ricardo Ernst, an American citizen who lives in Trapper Creek, and who some years ago lived in Colombia. He invited us to his house. He wanted us to know a typical house of the region. He prepared a delicious dinner with wine, beer and red salmon, we rested all day today, we dried the tent, washed our clothes, we write and studied a little, we visited the surroundings and will have supper of moose. Ricardo remembers Colombia very much because people there were very kind with him. Tomorrow we will start pedaling again and hope the weather improves.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1995020810753772044.post-80825199987932075962007-08-09T19:29:00.000-07:002007-08-09T19:54:11.050-07:00Alaska, by Bicycle<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfTPczwaR4JatXvvV951c6qYxDPTOS2o8KDESVEwRwzrq5uLQe5MqcSB3Abkd4Oc2XQ4HQZIE7_qQf7WcPn9ITvqzp5tRkHBY7HIsusiOQP8r2F1uN1mr146svqjeeARpwVtN8FLJBpLre/s1600-h/dyn006_original_796_597_pjpeg_56418_4beb574b743bc89ea608c5e0ad84230a%5B1%5D.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5096898398068791842" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfTPczwaR4JatXvvV951c6qYxDPTOS2o8KDESVEwRwzrq5uLQe5MqcSB3Abkd4Oc2XQ4HQZIE7_qQf7WcPn9ITvqzp5tRkHBY7HIsusiOQP8r2F1uN1mr146svqjeeARpwVtN8FLJBpLre/s320/dyn006_original_796_597_pjpeg_56418_4beb574b743bc89ea608c5e0ad84230a%5B1%5D.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmggJqOJMRNmeBarsmLoma3kitYzpecG7Sg9iOTkZeDkUm8-UeOVjNW_e0yZEBTnzZ74d2xWeZWmkzRg4A0kUkzvDqMMnPSkQKLmqYBTj96aNwFcCMeDK-HB4aFMOu0K_1enimkBRgc6Ca/s1600-h/dyn002_small150_568_426_jpeg_56418_f37807429d7180732e81e7f9a75d6a28%5B1%5D.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5096897143938341330" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 195px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 146px" height="194" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmggJqOJMRNmeBarsmLoma3kitYzpecG7Sg9iOTkZeDkUm8-UeOVjNW_e0yZEBTnzZ74d2xWeZWmkzRg4A0kUkzvDqMMnPSkQKLmqYBTj96aNwFcCMeDK-HB4aFMOu0K_1enimkBRgc6Ca/s320/dyn002_small150_568_426_jpeg_56418_f37807429d7180732e81e7f9a75d6a28%5B1%5D.jpg" width="252" border="0" /></a>Good news from Angelica and Claudio. They made it to Anchorage and met Kenny. After a few days preparation they left for Denali and their Alaska adventure. After Demali we e<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOw-XvPUhNVByChIhGzXWaussYSoItQHp1PtqIZfWwnzoNsfnHYHsfkXPGp5__dGXXsQM-rDys7SgZEaRr2hDx7tNDwZItXVFM-xyqIr5QokgnupTu-YHF05GIRHqxz76v4JQ00Uhm1oRr/s1600-h/dyn002_small150_568_426_jpeg_56418_f37807429d7180732e81e7f9a75d6a28%5B1%5D.jpg"></a>xpect them to head south to the lower 48. I will try to meet them in Missoula, Montana, at the home of Adventure Cycling. Nancy and I will be coming across the upper US from Portland, Oregon, headed for New Jersey and hope to spend a day with them. Enjoy the photos. These are all I have for now. They are having a difficult time getting internet connections. Claudio said everytime he sits down to try connecting on his portable he finds a bear looking over his shoulder. Maybe on the next p<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTbNuiu_1ue-TFgeslE_-zPWDYAAeM50AMLUr87S_DUh-jpqY_tivBzW2EWY88bYO4CrmaDWunOqgc3Q71fCgyzCPzDNl76E7HWbDc-hDHNJxtRQX68dnSTAUXZdsIV3nGZRLlVzo7GKaw/s1600-h/dyn002_original_682_512_pjpeg_56418_49156ba855950a96ebf852fc87545af0%5B1%5D.jpg"></a>ost I'll tell you abou<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQQx_-tbPVYZs5qMRgFpvpgLT-EeAhkZQxz8AOHXW9BFGvnrQ_LF3OdiQW6Z9B1341gvQaw9QvuP0Gti6pQml6G0a45dHDs2OgDxHTbsh3u6cXdfKCFBtwIn2N0wTtrwjMIpLb7w44z6QN/s1600-h/dyn002_original_682_512_pjpeg_56418_a40b138a26de05e54af57d800e5e44ed%5B1%5D.jpg"></a>t their adventure wit<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrvPOSZ5L9PjLNVYs6OWC2ixd9fqNpivBR0vYcre7vdReQlm4Ds2yWBFUiq7VlU9511mQ7-iqAykIzpylxvNLvSTwyeR6Zfk4mW6tW69XZ7oWCBA6q0EEyr4BC-eE5PcVmCQlGApZptOAu/s1600-h/dyn006_original_796_597_pjpeg_56418_4beb574b743bc89ea608c5e0ad84230a%5B1%5D.jpg"></a>h the wolf. Rem<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz_abKOXziL8RqHLykhfH4-bU2HsG6QZxnh6VtnHXPP3QhMK-Ejz9Exgad-8tWFqJWpVVG3MVte45F6nLSBlvc3rUs8HIvkYzapT9TE6Iu_nYP2n5kPJMUvRct84IWJAaFYsYNQTSipz8E/s1600-h/dyn006_original_796_597_pjpeg_56418_1da5878a981bf51d1f08adc403aa660f%5B1%5D.jpg"></a>ember to click on the photos to enlarge them for better viewing.</div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8_ZmInA8hJSEw-W9yF3GEYKb138nPsWfGp5MZpxxo9Qh6lv-CuYUAozJq4l8g1q4DVxGZT1SUM9M_avgB2aJi3TM9lEM6h4zE5Wgt20StgXHe0Q7NIztsgFepqWCzrAQ6NleIafsW2mvV/s1600-h/dyn006_original_796_597_pjpeg_56418_1da5878a981bf51d1f08adc403aa660f%5B1%5D.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5096897152528275954" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8_ZmInA8hJSEw-W9yF3GEYKb138nPsWfGp5MZpxxo9Qh6lv-CuYUAozJq4l8g1q4DVxGZT1SUM9M_avgB2aJi3TM9lEM6h4zE5Wgt20StgXHe0Q7NIztsgFepqWCzrAQ6NleIafsW2mvV/s320/dyn006_original_796_597_pjpeg_56418_1da5878a981bf51d1f08adc403aa660f%5B1%5D.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNy949PRdYLn7XtZP2DLXod5lgU2bCERIgrnp4m-KmPjVggcmPF1k2jnYQZ3wSipcAJfz3L_FQZQnlPm9XwbdHM3234Pou2PnHK_T6C4DXjKdsTPcCqjGnLtoBeDl4_Syam364qXH6EgSk/s1600-h/dyn002_original_682_512_pjpeg_56418_49156ba855950a96ebf852fc87545af0%5B1%5D.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5096897156823243282" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNy949PRdYLn7XtZP2DLXod5lgU2bCERIgrnp4m-KmPjVggcmPF1k2jnYQZ3wSipcAJfz3L_FQZQnlPm9XwbdHM3234Pou2PnHK_T6C4DXjKdsTPcCqjGnLtoBeDl4_Syam364qXH6EgSk/s320/dyn002_original_682_512_pjpeg_56418_49156ba855950a96ebf852fc87545af0%5B1%5D.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPRgoXDqJjMI3hfhWxU8kRebI_JvM_XgKkRm4R5DSmFFRNzkUM-EA2o1-sZn7HHKesqSusmrdBylpHxJr8_n2gqzyH7eeTZatJY06RP-23OAL36BUZprXBmx4Vc_8RTVaMHUEgYFXuod0-/s1600-h/dyn002_original_682_512_pjpeg_56418_a40b138a26de05e54af57d800e5e44ed%5B1%5D.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5096897156823243266" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPRgoXDqJjMI3hfhWxU8kRebI_JvM_XgKkRm4R5DSmFFRNzkUM-EA2o1-sZn7HHKesqSusmrdBylpHxJr8_n2gqzyH7eeTZatJY06RP-23OAL36BUZprXBmx4Vc_8RTVaMHUEgYFXuod0-/s320/dyn002_original_682_512_pjpeg_56418_a40b138a26de05e54af57d800e5e44ed%5B1%5D.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1995020810753772044.post-16598723115820314572007-07-21T13:20:00.000-07:002007-07-21T13:41:35.455-07:00Grenada<p align="left"><span style="color:#009900;">Headed to St Georges in Grenada for a week. CardioStart has been invited to install a cardiac surgery unit in the local hospital there. I visited the island last December and the facilities look very good and they have an excellent medical university located there. Some changes have ocurred in the local management so we are back for a second visit. I am hoping to make contact with a local rider I met last year at the airport. He said he could fix me up with a bike, helmet, and directions, so I am looking forward to it if time is available. Grenada is an old British Colony and thus is pretty stable as far as government is concerned. I didn't see much during the two days we were there and hope to see more this time. Grenada is about 70 miles off the coast of Venezuela, Hugo Chavez country, and the location of President Reagan's war to thow out the Cubans. I'll be back next Saturday night. Hopefully have some photos of biking Grenada.</span></p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5089752860978436466" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg42J69lRaOrIS5ufSEM_o-KPIJC8zuYbBHXOb6FwLYf4m8gtXdiDL3CoJlsKorJ1tFqR8304WpF7H9jRqjZhpLorgNwRAtyHhpRc6S-SSTIuZkhQ4qpPkmtf7FpVfko_fOmVPTxEWip2f3/s400/HPIM0269.jpg" border="0" /><span style="color:#009900;">Above photo is from the stairway from my room near the restaurant at the University Club, where we will be staying for the week of our visit. Tough life, huh?</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1995020810753772044.post-24509780657153574872007-07-14T19:04:00.000-07:002007-07-31T13:58:44.571-07:00Been BusyA little 5 yr old girl can sure keep you busy. Luz is the 5 yr old., but what fun it is to be kept busy.(see: <a href="http://www.luzestephanie.blogspot.com/">http://www.luzestephanie.blogspot.com/</a> ) I went for bike rides on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, but slipped Friday and today. My back is killing me. I think I hurt it lifting a larger bucket of concrete out of the truck on Thursday afternoon. Tylenol is being consumed at a high rate of consumption, but it seems to do little to relieve the pain. I think rest is the answer. Take a look at the photo. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCOOeVmnYJT2s8Q8GZLIlz0jFqZcuinbjLfMInV1jfkou8HCUZ5rxlY1CgdQCQnQy9WvxR4NuGPfF86Bfav05qWxulPTOt1r1Z5YADnt0A0xLCHn0wGFQZ7gquqtLzvAJR01r6q6Hyay2R/s1600-h/HPIM0517.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5087248204740758674" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCOOeVmnYJT2s8Q8GZLIlz0jFqZcuinbjLfMInV1jfkou8HCUZ5rxlY1CgdQCQnQy9WvxR4NuGPfF86Bfav05qWxulPTOt1r1Z5YADnt0A0xLCHn0wGFQZ7gquqtLzvAJR01r6q6Hyay2R/s320/HPIM0517.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />I saw Chris on the side of the road on Hwy 41 on my way back from All Childrens Hospital on Friday. Chris works for an engineering firm. They give him a GPS, a bike, and a water flow detector. he is mapping out the county's water system, valves, conduits, etc. All the info is recorded on a computer he carries on his b<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYOblu5134Lc68gvby6ycpHwXCerGklFW7Ppvm6XA_EDNhJ5OwHWI5U0nGRI1AbPpQPxCJLnLcttE3MwKnj51nROhu2NRbCRjyJH1y6t22pzCRqmmc7K_9Lwnv70xQe7m3orr-kiOU68Y8/s1600-h/HPIM0521.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5087249183993302178" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYOblu5134Lc68gvby6ycpHwXCerGklFW7Ppvm6XA_EDNhJ5OwHWI5U0nGRI1AbPpQPxCJLnLcttE3MwKnj51nROhu2NRbCRjyJH1y6t22pzCRqmmc7K_9Lwnv70xQe7m3orr-kiOU68Y8/s320/HPIM0521.jpg" border="0" /></a>elt. That big dome is the GPS receiver and transmitter for him to download back to the office. Interesting job.<br />Photo #2 is Claudio and Angelica on their arrival at the Amtrak Station in Tampa from Miami. They stopped by on their way to Anchorage, Alaska for a ride from Anchorage down the Great Divide Bike Route. They will continue through to their home in Bogota, Colombia. They'll be at CardioStart House in Tampa until July 24. You can follow their adventures on their website at:<br /><br /><a href="http://bicinfronteras.skynetblogs.be/">http://bicinfronteras.skynetblogs.be/</a><br />They will soon have a blog available for daily postings. Click on their photo above for a real closeup and take a look at the CardioStart patch on Angelica's shirt. The patches are available for your own shirt from CardioStart. Send me an email.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1995020810753772044.post-33584106639331276642007-07-09T10:25:00.000-07:002007-07-09T11:14:17.254-07:00Check out the NeighborhoodTime sure flys when you're having fun. What else can I say, I guess I have been having fun, It is already July 9 and I have not written since June 30. But I thought a lot, that should count for something. A little girl named Luz has been keeping me pretty busy.(see earlier post, or weblog at <a href="http://www.luzestephanie.blogspot.com/">http://www.luzestephanie.blogspot.com/</a> ).<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOpWPI4xixR33Yxg2c7smqDFxqj2szsPWs39FeRklD_yJ-H8LIPRCwG8Hxyesf0HLob0SgdGMSnx1jftDWl7Q13VSRsnSVD8BDfbU_idCK4MYL7MwG_3pTF-1ZCBR_0nGdLES3Kx0IGxy-/s1600-h/Peacock+1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5085253315137466722" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" height="309" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOpWPI4xixR33Yxg2c7smqDFxqj2szsPWs39FeRklD_yJ-H8LIPRCwG8Hxyesf0HLob0SgdGMSnx1jftDWl7Q13VSRsnSVD8BDfbU_idCK4MYL7MwG_3pTF-1ZCBR_0nGdLES3Kx0IGxy-/s320/Peacock+1.jpg" width="213" border="0" /></a>My recent rides have been keeping me closer to home. It is amazing what you will find if you just slow down and look around. These are some of the photos I took on a short 17 mile ride areound home. <div><div><div><div><div><div>How many people are lucky enough to have a peacock or two in their neighborhood? The colors are tremendous. This fella was just sitting there watching me pedal by. As I turned around to catch this photo I saw anothe<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0B29LmGdUf64bJVFOOXnbhDj4Z5Ax9fUlGhSVyjCjr_WnqLAWLIN8IXkoAGCQ-vZKg8_bdrtFJuETug0__RDjcF2ADQJtSoIsG-i-CVzkZHiUSGm-3U0VgqYw5GWTnGB-vsVTycZwq7ds/s1600-h/Peacock+2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5085253899253018994" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 221px" height="229" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0B29LmGdUf64bJVFOOXnbhDj4Z5Ax9fUlGhSVyjCjr_WnqLAWLIN8IXkoAGCQ-vZKg8_bdrtFJuETug0__RDjcF2ADQJtSoIsG-i-CVzkZHiUSGm-3U0VgqYw5GWTnGB-vsVTycZwq7ds/s320/Peacock+2.jpg" width="320" border="0" /></a>r one in a building lot. But don't start thinking that having these beautiful birds as neighbors is a neat thing. Have you ever heard the cry of a peacock? The first time I heard one it scared the bejeebers out of me.(is that a word, bejeebers?). They sound like a cry for help. And they are very loud. I am thinking that I might better enjoy the company of a Pantree Chicken, in the next photo. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCQJOB0zbXhXRiI12HkV1crZhGx0kVMY4C7IeS0w8t78ob4p8bxdwxYOkBMBCDTiSo6ghji8xVvW3oGdYj8SY_R0emD9Yk1OhAp6tLU0Pq9OiyXlQJV-yF1cVHpB_jMHAs7f4sC5y1JgsL/s1600-h/HPIM0498.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5085255630124839298" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" height="251" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCQJOB0zbXhXRiI12HkV1crZhGx0kVMY4C7IeS0w8t78ob4p8bxdwxYOkBMBCDTiSo6ghji8xVvW3oGdYj8SY_R0emD9Yk1OhAp6tLU0Pq9OiyXlQJV-yF1cVHpB_jMHAs7f4sC5y1JgsL/s320/HPIM0498.JPG" width="320" border="0" /></a>I'm not really sure what kind of bird this is but you see them all over, usually in pastures and many times sitting on the backs of cattle picking flies off them. We named them after a restaurant that was formerly in Valrico. A club, of which I was a member, had a weekly meeting at the restaurant and nine times out of ten chicken was the meal of the day. I used to kid the owner about going across the street to catch his chickens, referring to these birds. At least they are quiet, and they do a good job of picking bugs from your lawn. My favourite are the Sandhill Cranes, seen below, in a neighbors yard. Of course they are also noisy, but not like the peacocks. They move so majestically and are fairly common around here.</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioTOMVrm9bgaFZ6cz44eJ0c1QiUaO6sus7whywDaBLKD740jBUtXCJ5KoZgcdpBvZUUdHgm95WsyIzvU-qoOVZCwaBigaTH9ckHpeMvQ3Ur03Gg15ltesshEIk24AgpJyzlUSGoSnnj2Do/s1600-h/Sandhill+Cranes+1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5085258293004562834" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioTOMVrm9bgaFZ6cz44eJ0c1QiUaO6sus7whywDaBLKD740jBUtXCJ5KoZgcdpBvZUUdHgm95WsyIzvU-qoOVZCwaBigaTH9ckHpeMvQ3Ur03Gg15ltesshEIk24AgpJyzlUSGoSnnj2Do/s320/Sandhill+Cranes+1.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJouNLoCJ_U6Ifj_TxUvhh_nAZYAEWwchetRQEVccqyOpf0umnkroX3qWt6N2_-NVbx78VI9g_cly4umcG3SuQDnPsOmeBG7u8rKGTHqcOfl0nP9wXR_pd4ER8axdji-c9f_-nrGFZFRWU/s1600-h/HPIM0018.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5085259873552527778" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJouNLoCJ_U6Ifj_TxUvhh_nAZYAEWwchetRQEVccqyOpf0umnkroX3qWt6N2_-NVbx78VI9g_cly4umcG3SuQDnPsOmeBG7u8rKGTHqcOfl0nP9wXR_pd4ER8axdji-c9f_-nrGFZFRWU/s320/HPIM0018.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><br /></div><br /><br /><br /><p align="left"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCQJOB0zbXhXRiI12HkV1crZhGx0kVMY4C7IeS0w8t78ob4p8bxdwxYOkBMBCDTiSo6ghji8xVvW3oGdYj8SY_R0emD9Yk1OhAp6tLU0Pq9OiyXlQJV-yF1cVHpB_jMHAs7f4sC5y1JgsL/s1600-h/HPIM0498.JPG"></a></p><br /><br /><br /><div><br /></div><br /><br /><br /><p></p><p>The photo at the right is from our own backyard. A Lady Cardinal trying to pickout just the right sunflower seed. Of course, no photo layout would be complete without one of my best friend, Jack.<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5085260852805071282" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0XaNkL5Ad8LhhCc5D8cCJyUkU8YDHeSkn2Dl_yeX8-eLAJx46tVVsc0DLstduzjHcgJgiB4ryNvracWyqcsEsOAROY9THFYMkdt2t460-aLlfQM4DhBCCD4YxL2-962DGk6PKq8q9bBQG/s320/HPIM0019.jpg" border="0" /></p></div></div></div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1995020810753772044.post-75141853462784068162007-06-30T19:19:00.000-07:002007-06-30T20:00:44.798-07:00Where is my Headlight?<span style="color:#009900;">Early to bed, early to rise....etc. What it gets me is out on the road barely before dawn. Looking for my Headlight, with a flashlight, in a shed that I should have cleaned out last year, or was it the year before. Early riding on a Saturday means no traffic, fairly cool riding, but one big drawback. La Cubanita, at Bloomingdale and Lithia Pinecrest Road is not open that early, so I must skip my Cubano Cafe Leche this morning and face the dreaded Lithia Springs Hill with no reinforcement other than a powerbar and gatorade. My camera sits at home right next to my second bottle of water. My financial analyst(wife) tells me that short term memory loss is a sure sign of old age. I tell her as long as I can remember how to get back home I am doing OK.</span><br /><span style="color:#009900;">After a short stop at the Springs I head east to Hwy 39 and debate going to Ft Lonesome. Instead I decide to continue east and find a road that takes me back to Keysville Rd. It has been so long since I have been on these roads east of Hwy 39 I forget what connects with what. Suddenly I start thinking about what my FA said and start thinking maybe there is something to this short term memory loss. Just then I look across a field and see two deer standing in the shade of some pine trees and my camera is aimed at my dining room wall. As luck would have it, I find my way home, again, after stopping to chat with Sam the produce man at Fire Tower Hill about the new Target Store they are going to build there. 42 miles, not bad for an old man. Now I gotta go clean out that shed. Well..........maybe I'll do that tomorrow.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1995020810753772044.post-25919927747972943962007-06-27T11:11:00.000-07:002007-06-27T12:19:18.430-07:00Hump Day<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6d6LWH4cnqoV8mHgno3Rn153gbOA24yLbOA1FhYld8DjEEKujMMGhRouvKJot4EFq_vhY0Yi7ZRS8knacwUyXWvIwZAnLz-vaeQCO_jkTrTAmyYGP_8ca4Zq0E24xWhizerrCwLxX1Cin/s1600-h/I-4+Overpass.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5080823816580854034" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6d6LWH4cnqoV8mHgno3Rn153gbOA24yLbOA1FhYld8DjEEKujMMGhRouvKJot4EFq_vhY0Yi7ZRS8knacwUyXWvIwZAnLz-vaeQCO_jkTrTAmyYGP_8ca4Zq0E24xWhizerrCwLxX1Cin/s320/I-4+Overpass.JPG" border="0" /></a> If you are in to good classical and movie theme music, I am sitting here listening to a theme from "The Lady Caliph", by Ennio Morricone, played by Yo Yo Mah on the Cello. It is the first I have heard it. If you can, get a copy or listen on-line.<br /><div><div><div><br /><br /><div>Anyway, 39 miles today. Rode up to Hillsborough State Park north of Tampa, including 8 miles through the woods on an unpaved trail. Now I am going to need to clean the bike and chain again. There was a lot of mud<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieu-RTMh5YZRwZmC77QQoJu_m4806iJOHCnnarXvKs4LEgR2YYqoyCGwAGPQdwJ0avrC9273w0_7lUaIHrhjxOevgYDriWmvcUJb2aIo8OhnucBH7HGPDE_0JolVSUt_xiMxHNybwOEPv1/s1600-h/Overpass.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5080822090004001026" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieu-RTMh5YZRwZmC77QQoJu_m4806iJOHCnnarXvKs4LEgR2YYqoyCGwAGPQdwJ0avrC9273w0_7lUaIHrhjxOevgYDriWmvcUJb2aIo8OhnucBH7HGPDE_0JolVSUt_xiMxHNybwOEPv1/s320/Overpass.jpg" border="0" /></a> on the trail, I guess from the rain a few days ago. Then back home through Dover. I took two photos as I passed over Interstate 4. Which road would you rather be on. Both photos are from the same spot. I'm happy I was on the road I was. Great ride through shady roadways(well, some of them are shady). But it was approaching 90 degrees when I got back home around 11:00 AM. The third photo was my speedometer turning over to all zero<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsK6OIc2ss6nhkcFSwWIy0Juimiyiw3YH83RnJ3qM075J3ByVS-5a31S2DEIymzVWnAuQC4Nv93VuWyCkDzPwW_gl2-PsTVh7T1oNKg1eP_Lj1-6yVmvpS_jGNsvmB9ZJ5nfFlKUyENbSq/s1600-h/Overpass.jpg"></a>es. Had to show the 9999.9.</div><br /><div></div><div></div><div></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5080824404991373602" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw6pVfDuI1qSpaqTNKlDgLesPUECWXkmBWQZiOdKizSiZfATArKbt0UyZXRFWlHZ8toxW1Pruk3HlOMjnRyZkkGLxdpOwA5AzwDBr9cVx8gYnyXdIIxIbjqhl5SO6DjsTPiXeJZIHxmyWV/s320/HPIM0472.JPG" border="0" /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1995020810753772044.post-68989326909174473892007-06-26T19:13:00.000-07:002007-06-29T21:06:04.207-07:00Not a Bicycling Tale (but read it anyway)<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdfRPJO5TGXGCdDX03HwyK_U8tFpo3THyezaSVHq2QdqHUlBCPsJqDs2LejsBbHN1k4m_fZrWUdLz7eJ5HFe2b-XMUK7XUNy28UyTVo_TGc5N06_vAszAKymhdqInr81R7p0Hw0tTO7r7d/s1600-h/Luz+at+Del+Nino+%232.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5080567836530012370" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdfRPJO5TGXGCdDX03HwyK_U8tFpo3THyezaSVHq2QdqHUlBCPsJqDs2LejsBbHN1k4m_fZrWUdLz7eJ5HFe2b-XMUK7XUNy28UyTVo_TGc5N06_vAszAKymhdqInr81R7p0Hw0tTO7r7d/s320/Luz+at+Del+Nino+%232.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div>Luz Estephanie Machiavello. What a beautiful name. What a beautiful little girl. We met Luz in the Childrens Hospital in Lima, Peru, on a recent cardiac surgery mission. She was injured in a motorcycle accident, which severed her right arm, in her village of Juanjui, about 300 miles from Lima in the jungles of northeastern Peru. 14 hours after the accident she arrived at del Nino Hospital. We found her after the amputation.</div><br /><br /><br /><div>Shriners Hospital in Tampa, has agreed to treating Luz to fit a prosthetic arm, and to continue to re-fit the prosthetic until she reaches her 18th birthday. American Airlines donated round trip air travel for Luz and her Dad, Hilmer. Luz and Hilmer are staying with us at CardioStart House for 8 weeks during the initial phase of her treatment. Hilmer is a farmer in Peru. While he is here with Luz, her Mom and four siblings are in Peru. Naturally there is no family income during this period. Hilmer is doing some work around CardioStart House, gardening, etc. and we will be paying him a stipend to send back home to help the family during this time of trial.</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirC06tQppjiXsyY_EUtlVnQN668O4gwYEk1zUdD37YAiqa-zQWODJUAjnWpO-lmBS5feHb7-X6rRRvGckcXUqcExS0e_ZxDoYowEeAwjxeLmgmVY5ZFHv74_6K7RiaYKE5FAKhmk8W9nTN/s1600-h/Luz+-+Airport+-+%233.bmp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5080951334159872306" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirC06tQppjiXsyY_EUtlVnQN668O4gwYEk1zUdD37YAiqa-zQWODJUAjnWpO-lmBS5feHb7-X6rRRvGckcXUqcExS0e_ZxDoYowEeAwjxeLmgmVY5ZFHv74_6K7RiaYKE5FAKhmk8W9nTN/s320/Luz+-+Airport+-+%233.bmp" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div>If you are interested in helping the family or to offset some of the expense, we have set up a special account, "<em><u>CardioStart - Luz Estephanie Machiavello Account</u></em>", at Royal Bank Centura, Brandon, Florida. For account number and other information you can email or leave a comment with a return number or email on this blog. Thanks, Chuck</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Email me at: <a href="mailto:Chas1935@donegal.net">Chas1935@donegal.net</a></div><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1995020810753772044.post-27601804899741953042007-06-24T13:53:00.000-07:002007-06-24T14:17:36.396-07:00Future Star<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_5lxoJMTiNjsHv4Iw-jbR5jg31GjonoiFA1Aoxfy8Eqi43muZi8Ubne-76UWaHYVXGkBygQQLv3lGdgp1jdOevLoFvLoU5tMIZW0W23y3dff38dkISrqMlmEUQIyxVF1wiOT7zNc3Qxoo/s1600-h/Arthur+2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5079741745497815314" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_5lxoJMTiNjsHv4Iw-jbR5jg31GjonoiFA1Aoxfy8Eqi43muZi8Ubne-76UWaHYVXGkBygQQLv3lGdgp1jdOevLoFvLoU5tMIZW0W23y3dff38dkISrqMlmEUQIyxVF1wiOT7zNc3Qxoo/s320/Arthur+2.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><span style="color:#009900;">On my ride to Lithia Springs last Thursday, I came across Arthur on his way to a Summer music lesson. Boy do I remember those days. Arthur said he was happy he decided against the drums. He would need a wagon to carry them. He dreams of playing with a symphony orchestra someday. Arthur could be a budding Itzhak Perlman or Mstislav Rostropovich. Meeting and talking with people like Arthur make my day. Travelling in an automobile that chance is lost forever.</span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1995020810753772044.post-56075537096523928432007-06-19T15:52:00.000-07:002007-06-19T16:00:13.204-07:00Biking and BugsSomeplace I saw a photo of a motorcycle rider during luvbug season here in Florida. Smiling away with little black spots on his teeth. That's how I felt today on my way home from CardioStart. I never saw so many Gnats. My shirt looked like the front of a big truck after running thru a pile of luvbugs. I mean it was loaded with Gnats. And it wasn't just in one location. They were everywhere. Most of them blew off by the time I got home. But, I had loaded up with sun screen before I left the office. They did not blow off my face, neck, arms, etc. I wanted to take a photo but my hair was not combed. I had black freckles all over. You know you must like riding to eat that much protein during a ride.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1995020810753772044.post-12907553953453691592007-06-18T19:40:00.000-07:002007-06-18T19:58:34.660-07:00Talk about a Loaded Ride<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpxxrrzbAuRynEo6ihmKcGSOD8E5KTVqoAFhZUPhTSTe_f-wWl25smG_6IYFdj4FmX-7noFRSIf2stXeCibs_fwCMq52hpr1zElX50Pe8hw_sL1BDxbd2swQR5BJ0IhY3wGbtJrz9_Q60g/s1600-h/Loaded.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5077604239058843906" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpxxrrzbAuRynEo6ihmKcGSOD8E5KTVqoAFhZUPhTSTe_f-wWl25smG_6IYFdj4FmX-7noFRSIf2stXeCibs_fwCMq52hpr1zElX50Pe8hw_sL1BDxbd2swQR5BJ0IhY3wGbtJrz9_Q60g/s320/Loaded.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnKUE3FqP9OM0N4peZ7PTTMc-JJl1La14KeCY4dRm4jGh5cLNGeIjj8uYMjIdV_KqJbr7jeULCMGcvQwyiKn_0CkexQx9PujH58tWY25ceuaJ-aCUuMr8tfERsDH0duYMtnWvjua1XbqQ2/s1600-h/lo+mejor+de+bici+184.jpg"></a><div><span style="color:#009900;">I spent some time today looking over some photos that Angelica and Claudio sent me from their recent tour around South America. Most cross country riders I read about in Adventure Cycling and other mags and blogs, ride with about 50 to 70 lbs, and consider that heavy. Take a look at Claudio's bike combo for their ride through the Andes. This is what his bike looked like when I met him in Arequipa. Of course, Boomer had eaten most of the food by that time. Makes me wish I could ride with them on their Alaska to South America ride this Summer.</span></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1995020810753772044.post-58676954126374441132007-06-16T20:13:00.001-07:002007-06-16T20:21:28.517-07:00Happy Day Before Fathers Day<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDc1-LD01vxsGw9GzKw-hCsgkH5AusFfs5MLTa8CK2EcbpUio8pXulQc0jcme3AFZJR7fYy-1ra4Gudi2xZfTcfmpJJcY2ru19a01a62aJ_CBtM6iECzOjqW5r73t4K5TbX7xGx3lN1Yd6/s1600-h/HPIM0459.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5076868000059930802" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDc1-LD01vxsGw9GzKw-hCsgkH5AusFfs5MLTa8CK2EcbpUio8pXulQc0jcme3AFZJR7fYy-1ra4Gudi2xZfTcfmpJJcY2ru19a01a62aJ_CBtM6iECzOjqW5r73t4K5TbX7xGx3lN1Yd6/s320/HPIM0459.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifjKM_eor3wWbx7KH7pueoixEKybST8RYZeL73WevBdDgaGs-lb5gCkcpDZSi29evPk9Z92dqNAhXPvlKp38lFKGY-eRyMQhvcHhpBvaSu5IR5x4Fm1Wjb841mEOpKpAZwQu1y_FVd4suh/s1600-h/HPIM0461.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5076868004354898114" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifjKM_eor3wWbx7KH7pueoixEKybST8RYZeL73WevBdDgaGs-lb5gCkcpDZSi29evPk9Z92dqNAhXPvlKp38lFKGY-eRyMQhvcHhpBvaSu5IR5x4Fm1Wjb841mEOpKpAZwQu1y_FVd4suh/s320/HPIM0461.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh4SjTGMu3UTkK09rpMtbbeQKn54DVgN6W2ZroEFSp-f3mBZ9NPb1sknpUQTU_aMY0pxrs8_JKcbiFnVOc5ccMwmRXynE7A1VCL0KT3VpCXyOqt8VZE-E9p544pBbqFLF7gTJGS80Tc8ix/s1600-h/HPIM0464.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5076868008649865426" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh4SjTGMu3UTkK09rpMtbbeQKn54DVgN6W2ZroEFSp-f3mBZ9NPb1sknpUQTU_aMY0pxrs8_JKcbiFnVOc5ccMwmRXynE7A1VCL0KT3VpCXyOqt8VZE-E9p544pBbqFLF7gTJGS80Tc8ix/s320/HPIM0464.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzI8IoQlT0YejHwQ8c9HwRS7BrQ27BvbUqMtIwA_rsTEnwybcIAhwk8C-Qy5iSs-aVHucWKh0kOJz58Zdn2T56D4Ns9zsV3bzcTCQCRPcO5tLI6_j4BuWAAkTLyr9W4p6F1VtDssEhb3mC/s1600-h/HPIM0465.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5076868017239800034" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzI8IoQlT0YejHwQ8c9HwRS7BrQ27BvbUqMtIwA_rsTEnwybcIAhwk8C-Qy5iSs-aVHucWKh0kOJz58Zdn2T56D4Ns9zsV3bzcTCQCRPcO5tLI6_j4BuWAAkTLyr9W4p6F1VtDssEhb3mC/s320/HPIM0465.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div>John took Mom and me out to dinner tonight at the Shrimp Boat Restaurant in Brandon. Great food and excellent prices. I had Tuna Au Poivure(or something like that).</div><br /><div>Rode 41 miles today. North to Hillsborough State Park and then out to Dover. See the photos from the ride.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1995020810753772044.post-58936083001338277392007-06-14T17:10:00.000-07:002007-06-14T17:27:00.815-07:00Get the Knots Out<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsidU7SVQL2vF4K8XkgcdSzFoSo0g9TwhuaawwhhCi1xFWqSVN9HV_h3vVVnXX9L7r-BcMU-nnA-GLIFa5rzhUtKYHJa43FgBrq77Ce0kZkasT8tDWySLWB37rM8F1GW9rlzDIdx1QdkVz/s1600-h/50+mile+day.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5076080071129610402" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsidU7SVQL2vF4K8XkgcdSzFoSo0g9TwhuaawwhhCi1xFWqSVN9HV_h3vVVnXX9L7r-BcMU-nnA-GLIFa5rzhUtKYHJa43FgBrq77Ce0kZkasT8tDWySLWB37rM8F1GW9rlzDIdx1QdkVz/s320/50+mile+day.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>Well........What do <em>you</em> do after a long ride?</div><div>Actually it wasn't that long, just to the office in the morning and back in the afternoon, 23 miles. But that ride back was at 2:00 PM, ninety two degrees and about 90% humidity. The water sure helps the muscles relax, and about two quarts of Gatorade.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0