January 1 - August 31, 2007
It seems that I'm getting into the rut of providing an update on my life in year increments, that is not a good thing. Since I have retired time has been measured more by the seasons of the year than the calendar. I should be reporting on those periods so what I'm going to do is report on my spring & summer of 2007 activities.
Since my last Long Letter I muddled through the winter months by continuing my walking program and planning a trip. If I am going to travel for any length of time I must put my possessions in storage, give up my apartment and travel - I can't pay for an apartment and travel at the same time. Therefore, I prepared to leave on my trip by moving into a motel for a few weeks, the timing of everything gets complicated also when I have to see dentists and VA appointments.
However, I did get back on the road. You can read all about it by clicking my ITG 2007 Trip here or at Site Map-Road Trips. What I have written in the journal of my trip is what I have been doing!
After I completed the Road Trip I sold my trike and my trailer. I did so for two different reasons. The trike had not been ridden for well over a year and I will probably not bike ride again. The traffic issue has me "spooked" enough when I'm walking. I will also not move to a more bike friendly environment because of dental and medical coverage that is available in the Reno/Sparks area. The trailer sale was motivated more by Pandora needing some repairs to fix the water damage and prevent more. I have no way of doing those repairs and to have it done would have been expensive. So, a sale seemed the best solution and I was lucky in selling her. I placed her on the Private Party car lot here in Reno which also takes pictures that they post on their web site. I then placed an ad on a Teardrop Forum and it was through the Forum that I found a buyer. A nice grandma from Hamilton, MT (that I had driven through) bought her so that she would have a place to sleep when she traveled to see her grandchildren. We worked out the delivery by me driving about 1/2 way, to Elko, NV where she and her son met me.
I found out that my walking program has been helpful and saw the results of not walking during my Road Trip. When I got back to Sparks in July me blood pressure was up by 10 points from when I had left. It only took about 2 weeks to get it back down when I got back on schedule and walked. I must consider this also when I plan my next adventure. It is not just the blood pressure but I know that I put some of the weight back on also, I just don't know how much.
Well that is it for this installment. I'll be updating the site again before my next Road Trip which I'm think about. Unfortunately, when I'm not on the road my life is rather dull. Just a final bit of news that many of you probably have heard already but for those of you that have not:
"With all the sadness & trauma going on in the world at the moment, it is worth reflecting on the death of a very important person, which almost went unnoticed?
Larry LaPrise, the man who wrote "The Hokey Pokey" died peacefully at age 83.
The most traumatic part for his family was getting him into the coffin.
They put his left leg in. And then the trouble started."