Good morning!!!!

[Ed of all trades]

I dunno, Ed, you might have a keeper there...:laughing:

Yes I sure do. Ed

 

[Ed of all trades]

I stopped riding to work in 2010 when I retired, and it was another reason I left. Most mornings somebody would do something stupid, didn't matter if i was on the bike or in the truck, and my BP would spike. At least once a week there was an adrenalin moment on the bike where I'd have been badly hurt or killed if I hadn't seen it comin' and taken appropriate action. When I've been in big metro areas since while riding, it's even worse. Many drivers have one eye on their phones, some even use both. Or they're screwing around with the touch panel on the dash. Usta be it was just people reading the paper, putting on lipstick, eating an EggMcMuffin, or shaving, now I'd be surprised if anyone devotes more than half their attention to driving. Then there are those that simply don't care, either asleep in the fast lane, changing lanes without looking, pulling out from side streets without yielding, or, the worst of the worst, turning left in front of me at an intersection. Only way to survive it is to anticipate the worst that could happen and adjust speed and position to give myself as much time and distance to react as possible. For the left turn thing, though, a lot of times it's just slow down, cover both brakes, and hope for the best.:shocked: So now I try to stay out of cities altogether, and just ride rural roads on long vacation trips. Still dangerous, but nothing like the old commute was.

The problem here in the valley is that every year the traffic is much worse. 25 years ago this was a quiet area and traffic was light, now... Thats a big reason no bike for me. Ed

 

[Bird]

I stopped riding to work in 2010 when I retired

I used to like riding a bike to work in downtown Dallas because there were places I could park at no cost, while it did cost me to park a car or pickup. But no way I'd do that now. I got rid of my last bike (R80RT BMW) when I retired and we took off for 6 years in an RV. That was 1989.:laughing:

 

[toppop52]

I used to like riding a bike to work in downtown Dallas because there were places I could park at no cost, while it did cost me to park a car or pickup. But no way I'd do that now. I got rid of my last bike (R80RT BMW) when I retired and we took off for 6 years in an RV. That was 1989.:laughing:

I sold my last one around 20 years ago but I kept my nice Marushin helmet and long gloves. I sold several bikes and helmets, then I bought another bike. This time I’ve kept the helmet and so far it’s worked.

 

[RedNeckGeek]

This time I’ve kept the helmet and so far it’s worked.

I think it's something else, Randy. I've got a closet full of old helmets and new bikes still keep showin' up in my garage. :laughing:

BTW, how do you sell an old helmet? Around here, nobody'd buy one!

 

[toppop52]

I think it's something else, Randy. I've got a closet full of old helmets and new bikes still keep showin' up in my garage. :laughing:

BTW, how do you sell an old helmet? Around here, nobody'd buy one!

In the 80’s and 90’s, run an ad and sell the helmet, never had a problem, bought one used one myself.

But I do agree it’s more than the helmet, common sense set in in my mid 40’s. The drivers here were getting way too crazy and plentiful.

 

[Ed of all trades]

I think it's something else, Randy. I've got a closet full of old helmets and new bikes still keep showin' up in my garage. :laughing:

BTW, how do you sell an old helmet? Around here, nobody'd buy one!

I have two you could add to your collection, no wait I still use one when I use the snow blower to keep the snow out of my face. Ed

 

[jbrumberg]

Buenos noches el Caballeros!!!!!!!

I really tipped the waiter well last night and got a decent road map of CR today from him after breakfast and befor checking out = We only got lost 3X and we realized that we were lost much quicker. The little towns are really confusing and there is no signage. A couple of times we were where we wanted to be , but did not know it. In one town the Policia led us out to the road that we needed. The 4 hour drive only took 5 hours and there were no streams/rivers with which to deal.

We drove over the bridge that has the Man Eating crocodiles of the Tarcoles River underneath the bridge. We are going back to get some pictures before we leave. They sell dead chickens to feed the crocs. Some people who do not get chickens and if they go down from the safety of the bridge and get too close they become croc food. Crocs are not too particular about their next meal. Crocs in a short burst of speed will outrun the most scared of humans :wink:

We have been to Villas Caletas twice before. It is a really nice place. It was a villa built ~ 25 years ago by imported Italian stoneworkers who recreated an Italian villa with stonework and an ampitheater that faces west towrds the setting sun The ampitheater was packed before sundown. The rooms cost half what the Islitas Hotel cost, but the meals are 2X as expensive.

We have two balconies. It was hazy when I took those pictures and I am none too swift when it comes to photography. Wifey got some decent pictures on her "smart" phone. I am pretty much a luddite when it comes to "smart phones. I can barely mange wifey's old flip phone, but will try to download some of her pictures. We have met quite a few Texans down here. It is ~ a 3 hour flight to CR from TX.

That's the news......... semi-live form Villas Caletas

 

[lostcreekranch]

Buenos noches el Caballeros!!!!!!!

I really tipped the waiter well last night and got a decent road map of CR today from him after breakfast and befor checking out = We only got lost 3X and we realized that we were lost much quicker. The little towns are really confusing and there is no signage. A couple of times we were where we wanted to be , but did not know it. In one town the Policia led us out to the road that we needed. The 4 hour drive only took 5 hours and there were no streams/rivers with which to deal.

We drove over the bridge that has the Man Eating crocodiles of the Tarcoles River underneath the bridge. We are going back to get some pictures before we leave. They sell dead chickens to feed the crocs. Some people who do not get chickens and if they go down from the safety of the bridge and get too close they become croc food. Crocs are not too particular about their next meal. Crocs in a short burst of speed will outrun the most scared of humans :wink:

We have been to Villas Caletas twice before. It is a really nice place. It was a villa built ~ 25 years ago by imported Italian stoneworkers who recreated an Italian villa with stonework and an ampitheater that faces west towrds the setting sun The ampitheater was packed before sundown. The rooms cost half what the Islitas Hotel cost, but the meals are 2X as expensive.

We have two balconies. It was hazy when I took those pictures and I am none too swift when it comes to photographyCR. Wifey got some decent pictures on her "smart" phone. I am pretty much a luddite when it comes to "smart phones. I can barely mange wifey's old flip phone, but will try to download some of her pictures. We have met quite a few Texans down here. It is ~ a 3 hour flight to CR from TX.

That's the news......... semi-live form Villas Caletas

Jay;

My bride and I got engaged, about 12 years ago, in CR. We were staying at the Marriott Los Suenos Resort, just up the coast from Jaco. Great Hotel, golf, etc.

We found a great open air sea food restaurant, in Jaco, that served everything buffet style. They served about the best ceviche I’ve ever had. I wish I could remember the name of the place, it was excellent.

Engagement was not pre-planned and her original engagement ring was a Romeo Julieta cigar ring. The real engagement ring cost a bit more.

After almost 11 years, she’s still a keeper and I work diligently every single day to be the same.

BTW, she’s a tractor driver!

 

[mostly_gas]

Good evening all. 24F this morning, overcast, light wind. Overcast clear off about 11:30, wind picked up some and high temp was 44F. Choir practice first, restart WBS, bike ride @2 because it wasn't getting very warm. New molar is finally in, gets installed Friday.

Welcome back David, good to hear you are recovering from Mainland bug.

Ed it could be worse, she could have said Not again?!

It has been about 10 years since I sold my last bike, did not ride as much in St Louis as I did in Rolla, traffic was much worse.

 

[buckeyefarmer]

Got a barn full of bikes, and junk.

 

[Eric Salop]

It's time to get out of this area... First shooting in 20 years locally, was at the local gas station yesterday afternoon. Wife and I were about 2 blocks away coming out of the grocery store when it happened. Clerk was shot twice, died on the way to the hospital... All for about 50 bucks.. Real shame, guy probably just trying to make ends meet and gets killed by some low-life. They haven't caught him yet.

Bad things can happen anywhere, but i know how you feel and being able to move away to a quieter area is certainly one of the added benefits of a retirement move. Hope you soon find the right place.


Where I used to live the local paper would often have stories of stabbings and occasionally a shooting too. By contrast, last week the story that made the headlines of the weekly paper in the small town that we now call home was a "shock" story that someone out for a walk around a private lake that has a cafe open to the public had found - wait for it - two mole traps - (which are perfectly legal !)

This dreadful event managed to fill the entire front page and half of page 3.



Whitchurch's Alderford Lake owner: Mole trap find was one-off | Whitchurch Herald

 

[Eric Salop]

A windy and dull start to the day here. We were out for most of yesterday and the house has cooled down noticeably. Time to for an early fire in the woodburner in the living room before the dog starts complaining to the local press.

 

[RoyJackson]

2018-02-13, 0337

17 right now...upper 20's today....
I broke up ice on the front walk when I got home yesterday...Should warm up tomorrow, so I'll break up as much more as I can.
Looks like a gradual warming trend over the next 10 days...Ol' Man Winter is movin' out, but grudgingly. And I won't be surprised if we get a March "surprise" before it's all done.

 

[Ed of all trades]

Good morning all, 27 now going to 37 and a 20% chance of wintry mix. They are calling for 71 on Thursday, sounds good to me.

Have a great day and prayers sent. Ed

 

[Looking4new]

-16 with a 40% chance of flurries. Wind WNW 2 mph.

The snow pushed yesterday was so fine and powdery that when I shoved it up into the piles, I couldn't climb the piles to get to the top. We haven't had any good packing snow in a while.
The next time I plow I will open up one of the other snow dumps.

I gotta go to town today, ship some mail and other nonsense.

Have a good day all

 

[daugen]

Cool day, 43 out now, not going up much, later on this week it really warms up with days in the 70s.

Wrists are sore from all that planting yesterday. And after doing an entire row of cabbage, far more than I really wanted to grow, I then realized I had another half tray of Brunswick Cabbage seedlings in the sun room. Not sure what to do with it. Will plant Pak Choy next, then figure out what to do with these cabbage seedlings. Maybe I can give them to my farmer neighbor, he grows cabbage plants, maybe he can use them.

Fireman helper comes today to help me put up garden fence. Have two kinds of plastic fencing, not sure which will work better. Trying to recycle/use again some very heavy duty deer fencing I carefully saved after my last big garden. I even saved the gate and found the 4x4 with the gate hardware on it. Moving guys thought I was nuts to move it from PA, now I have a pre-engineered gate ready to go up. Always nice when some things go easily....

 

[Thomas]

11F now upper 20's for high.

Sanded driveway plus after work yesterday 1/2" ice most places other spots 3/4",need some 50F day w/southern wind.
Nice to see day light almost 5:30 pm now,even nicer when we spring clocks ahead soon.

Enjoy the day all.

 

[wngsprd]

Nice to see the stars again...seems like it's been a while. Finally stopped raining, with standing water in places I don't remember seeing it before. 32 going to 41.

Was warm enough the last couple of days that our resident chipmunks came out from hibernating and filled their cheeks with sunflower seeds yesterday morning. Hope they are back in a warm hole now...started up the woodstove after temps starting dropping fast.

Love looking at your bike pics and hearing your stories...all I ever had was a 10-speed, but it was great exercise.

LS, I think the crocus spread naturally...they come up in new places every year. We never planted them, but previous owners may have. We've been here since 1985.

 

[daugen]

knees were pretty sore this morning
ordered a thicker foam kneeling pad from Amazon
And I found an old gardening kneeler with handles to help one get up.
That I sure could have used after two hours kneeling...talk about stiff, bones cracking.

After that reporter died in that tank incident from sitting too long in one place and throwing
off clots I believe, have always tried to move around a little. So at least once an hour I have to get up and walk around.
Probably should do that more often.
I'll be out there at sun up this morning.
It's pak choy day and more onions, before my helper shows up. Decided to let him do all the hauling of fence material and other heavies.
I'm back into the dirt with a smile.