Tales from the Log of the Ruptured Duck

[oldsparkey]

Nice thing about living down here.
I use my trekking poles ( Black diamond carbon fiber ) to support the ends of the rain fly. I don't extend them all the way , keep them at 48 inches which makes a nice slope to the rain fly and offers vision and ventilation.
At times I have cut a palm frond ( Sable or common name , Cabbage Palm ) and use the stem portion of it to support the rain fly. I like to cut them so they are about 60 inches in height. When I have done that it's a single frond for the corner by the head of the hammock.

 

[Kayak Jack]

With the Hennessey hammock, I can get by with just one pole, though 3 are more versatile. With my tent, if on the bike I prefer 4 poles. In the canoe, just 2 poles suffice, as my paddles double for poles then. If at all possible, I like everything to do either one, critical job, or several jobs.

Everything, that is, except me. I prefer to have no jobs other than to sit around looking elegant!

 

[oldsparkey]

Everything, that is, except me. I prefer to have no jobs other than to sit around looking elegant!

One out of two isn't bad , now work on the elegant portion.

 

[Kayak Jack]

Oh!! You cut me to the quick!

By the way, OUCH

 

[Kayak Jack]

Folks from around these parts clamor for pictures of me. When set up in the basement - mice and other critters vacate, fast.

 

[Kayak Jack]

A friend of mine is enjoying a resurgence of interest in biking. She’s exploring bikes, trikes, recumbent, folding, etc etc etc. Bikes have begun to creep back into the market place now. A lot of folks are reviving childhood fun this year. Biking is one of the fun things you can do with your clothes on.

 

[oldsparkey]

A friend of mine is enjoying a resurgence of interest in biking. She’s exploring bikes, trikes, recumbent, folding, etc etc etc. Bikes have begun to creep back into the market place now. A lot of folks are reviving childhood fun this year. Biking is one of the fun things you can do with your clothes on.

You wear clothes when Biking ? Silly me , I keep forgetting you live in a cold climate.

 

[Kayak Jack]

So, you’re “streaking” now?

Reminds me of the story about the two, elderly ladies, sitting in rockers on their front porch. An old fellow was “streaking” past. He was naked, and shuffling as fast as he could.

“Gracie! Did you see that? What . . . .what was he wearing?”
“I don’t know what he was wearing, Mabel. But, it sure does need to be ironed!”

 

[Kayak Jack]

Yesterday, I showed my folding 26” bike to her. She wants a bike with the crossbar that dips clear down to the pedal crank. Not very many bikes are made like that nowdays.

 

[Kayak Jack]

Come spring weather, my first rides are going to have to be carefully done. After the knee surgery, it will be difficult the first few times in the saddle. Shorter trips, near home. Then, start stretching out again.

sigh

 

[oldsparkey]

Thats good , take it slow and easy , you are not 29 anymore , best being sensible.

 

[Kayak Jack]

Yeah, I know that. Got word yesterday of another college friend passing. My age. I don’t have survivor’s guilt, though. More like survivor’s pride. Plus some survivor’s obligation.

If their Life ended earlier, I figure that maybe some of the time they might have had, is now tacked onto my time? So, just in case that might be true, I owe it to them to do some of the crazy stuff they didn’t. (All the while, thinking to avoiding the stupid stuff that they did do that maybe contributed to an early demise.)

It’s a thready path.

 

[BEARS BUDDY]

Are you still flying?

 

[Kayak Jack]

No, I sold the plane 3 years ago.

 

[BEARS BUDDY]

I see you had knee work done. How's it going?

 

[Kayak Jack]

Thanks. Slower than I want.

 

[BEARS BUDDY]

Well we are getting older and slower.

 

[Kayak Jack]

With any luck we are, yes.

 

[Kayak Jack]

I like my Dahon folding bike. It packs nicely into the back of my Toyota RAV-4. I can pack both (1) a non folding bike with front wheel removed, and (2) my bike folded and front wheel removed. I have a luggage rack permanently attached to the rear, and sometimes attached to the front for camping.

Now, I’ve signed up for a kit to make my bike into an electric bike - pedal assist or total power. Swych sends a replacement front wheel with a motor hub built in. I move tube and tire to the new wheel, bolt on a bracket to the fork head, connect and secure some electrical cables, and hang a bag with computer and battery on the new bracket.

The kits should be available in a month or so. My gimpy calf muscle gets an assist.

 

[oldsparkey]

Jack , You will find a whole new world of biking with the pedal assist or just throttle. It's FUN and as far as I'm concerned , the only way to go. The best of all three worlds ..... Peddle , Peddle Assist and then just throttle.
The part I'm going to enjoy is watching you kick your self in the rear end for not doing it sooner.