Vital Statistics

Bike odometer: 1595
Weight lost: 48 lbs.
Hours of sleep last night: 9
Hours billed last week: 38.5
Aches & pains: knees (when riding), abrasion on right calf, left achilles, sore legs
Current reading:: 2107 Curious Word Origins, Says & Expressions by Charles Earle Funk, The Book of Totally Useless Information by Don Voorhees, Metal Cowboy by Joe Kurmaskie
Recent listening: Linkin Park, Poet In My Window by Nanci Griffith, Science Friday
Recent viewing: Countdown, Gilmore Girls, World Series of Poker, Masters of Science Fiction, The Colbert Report
Recent playing: Pangea Arcade, Gimme Friction Baby
Recently accomplished: Picked up bike from Bike Gallery, complete garage re-organization (half completed), unloaded desks from van, buried Nietzsche, Providence Bridge Pedal
Imperative To Do: Finish garage, RMA old Tivo drive, sift through inbox, post office, fix Thomas’ computer

Vital Statistics

Bike odometer: 1544
Weight lost: 50 lbs.
Hours of sleep last night: 6
Hours billed last week: 45.5
Aches & pains: sciatic, ankle (slightly yesterday)
Current reading:: 2107 Curious Word Origins, Says & Expressions by Charles Earle Funk, The Book of Totally Useless Information by Don Voorhees, Dandelion Wine by Ray Bradbury
Recent listening: Playlists for Iowa
Recent viewing: Countdown, Gilmore Girls, The Newshour, The Colbert Report, The Daily Show
Recent playing: Pangea Arcade
Recently accomplished: Fixed boomtube, new litter for cat boxes, trimmed and mowed front lawn, cleared Tivo schedule for vacation, pulled blackberries, packing, confirmed and finalized travel plans, tried to fix Thomas’ computer, burned numerous gift CDs, paid bills, recorded movie for Mindy
Imperative To Do: RMA old Tivo drive, sift through inbox, post office, call Colleen/Kurt, bank deposit, fix Thomas’ computer, drop bike off at Bike Gallery

Vital Statistics

Bike odometer: 1496
Weight lost: 50 lbs.
Hours of sleep last night: 7
Hours billed last week: 45.5
Aches & pains: sciatic
Current reading:: 2107 Curious Word Origins, Says & Expressions by Charles Earle Funk, The Book of Totally Useless Information by Don Voorhees, Dandelion Wine by Ray Bradbury
Recent listening: Handsome Boy Modeling School, The Zombies, Sun Ra, NPR Story of the Day
Recent viewing: The Simpsons, Mindfreak, Man vs. Wild, Biography: Johnny Depp, Biography: Howie Mandel, Gilmore Girls
Recent playing: Pangea Arcade
Recently accomplished: fixed temporary mailbox so it would open, uploaded photographs, cleaned inside of tent, installed memory and DVD drive for Thomas, sent off Lala envelopes, packed up tent, backed up Tina, Graham & me, bike maintenance, cat box, installed desk lamp for Graham, groceries, CD for Ziad, sifted through inbox items
Imperative To Do: RMA old Tivo drive, sift through inbox, post office, renew van registration, pack for Iowa, finalize Iowa travel plans, clear Tivo schedule for vacation, new litter for cat box, fix boomtube, call Kent, call Colleen/Kurt, record movie for Mindy

Morning Bike Commute

Distance: 17.6 miles
Riding time: 1 hour, 43 minutes
Actual time: 3 hours (estimate)
Max speed: 21.5 mph
Average speed: 10.2 mph
Temperature: 63º (with a little rain)
Route:

  • 162nd to Powell Butte
  • Rode in circles for 30 minutes
  • Old Holgate Trail down to Holgate (wow!)
  • Holgate to Buddy’s house
  • Buddy’s house to Foster Road
  • Foster Road to Woodward/Clinton
  • Clinton to Springwater Corridor
  • Springwater Corridor to Hawthorne Bridge
  • Waited 10 minutes for bridge to close
  • Waterfront to Oak
  • Oak to Broadway
  • Broadway to work

I originally intended to ride down to the Springwater Corridor and take that into downtown but taking 162nd south ran me right into Powell Butte. Powell Butte is a park with many trails suitable for biking. It hooks up with Springwater Corridor on the south side, so I decided I would ride over it. It opens with a really steep, but paved hill that will literally take your breath away (from pedaling). After I took a five minute break, I zig-zagged the rest of the way up the hill. Once I got to the top, though, it was easier going. I grabbed the paved trail and went on my way. After riding for about 20 minutes, I was very close to where I had started. Powell Butte has many trails to choose from and I had no idea which to choose. Except it occurred to me that the “Old Holgate Trail” might take me down to Holgate Street which is south of Powell. It did and I came out very close to Buddy’s house. I was going to stop and leave a copy of the Constitution in his door (my new calling card) but his truck was in the driveway and his front door was open. He doesn’t work on Friday so we chatted for a few minutes while I plotted my new course with my bike map. I didn’t think I had much left in the tank so I threw out the Springwater Corridor course, which jogs south a few miles, and adopted a new course crossing southeast Portland into downtown. As it turned out, I was not very fatigued as I pedaled up the ramp to the Hawthorne Bridge. Sadly, they had the drawbridge open and were doing some sort of maintenance which took a very long time. I stood patiently and listened to Handsome Boy Modeling School.

Vital Statistics

Bike odometer: 1468
Weight lost: 50 lbs.
Hours of sleep last night: 7
Hours billed last week: 47
Aches & pains: sciatic
Current reading:: 2107 Curious Word Origins, Says & Expressions by Charles Earle Funk, The Book of Totally Useless Information by Don Voorhees, Dandelion Wine by Ray Bradbury
Recent listening: Coverville, DrugMusic, NPR Story of the Day, Wait Wait Don’t Tell Me, Science Friday, Fresh Air, Velvet Goldmine: Original Soundtrack
Recent viewing: World Poker Tour, Nature, The Henry Rollins Show, Countdown, The Daily Show
Recent playing: Pangea Arcade, Bloxorz
Recently accomplished: Mounted mailbox on “temporary” post, reserved rental car for Iowa trip
Imperative To Do: RMA old Tivo drive, backup Thomas, backup Graham, backup Tina, sift through inbox, CDs to post office, renew van registration

Big Balls in Cowtown

Yesterday we went to see Asleep at the Wheel at the Oregon Zoo’s weekly World Music Wednesday concert. As expected, they were exceptional and everybody was dancing by the last song. Tina does a great job preparing for these concerts so we always have a great meal and plenty of beverages and snacks. It’s really a nice atmosphere as people relax on the grass and groove to the music. We saw Asleep at the Wheel for the first time several years ago at the zoo and it was one of the best shows I had ever seen. I was so impressed that I went out and bought a CD soon after. Asleep at the Wheel is a must-have for anybody with an appetite for great music. I especially recommend the tribute album they did for the music of Bob Wills. And if they come to your area to play? You can’t miss it!

Vital Statistics

Bike odometer: 1406
Weight lost: 52 lbs.
Hours of sleep last night: 8
Hours billed last week: 52.5
Aches & pains: sciatic nerve
Current reading:: 2107 Curious Word Origins, Says & Expressions by Charles Earle Funk, The Book of Totally Useless Information by Don Voorhees, Dandelion Wine by Ray Bradbury
Recent listening: Asleep at the Wheel (live), Live & Kickin’, Meat Puppets II
Recent viewing: Countdown, The Daily Show, The Colbert Report, Wimbledon Finals, World Poker Tour, The Half Hour News Hour, Face The Nation, Beethoven (part), 2007 World Hot Dog Eating Championship
Recent playing: Pangea Arcade, Bloxorz
Recently accomplished: Recycling, mowed lawn, garage cleaning, returned hose, freecycling, paid bills
Imperative To Do: RMA old Tivo drive, backup Thomas, backup Graham, backup Tina, sift through inbox, CDs to post office, renew van registration