Soggy Blogger Thanksgiving Get Together

While I haven't entered a log in exactly 5 months, I felt it only appropriate to log one tonight as I started to make plans to meet again with the group that got me started on this "on and off" adventure. I'm looking forward to meeting with good friends for another soggy blogger lunch next week!

Just a few other updates:
Back on October 9th, Erin & I completed our first metric century bike ride; 62 miles in 3:56. WooHoo!!

I've stopped running completely but plan to start again since I'm planning a run with my old running buddy while back in SC next week. UGH! I might just help him train by having him pull me on roller blades.

I've completely stopped swimming - not sure when that will start back up either.

I need to start setting some goals and get a race in my future so I start training and exercising again!

We cached for 104 days straight from June to September... Wow, what an adventure that was!

Relaxing ride this morning

I planned to up early and out for a good ride this morning after missing out yesterday but... I slept in a little, then had to get my bike ready, etc. since I didn't do that last night, then I couldn't find my speedometer, UGH. I finally headed out with my speedometer for a relaxing ride not focusing on speed or distance just an opportunity to get out and ride for about 30 minutes. I enjoyed the rising sun, the dew as it evaporated off the fields, the birds singing and the opportunity to enjoy it all. God is so good! It's been amazing to see where God has brought us and the things He's taught us over the last year. God is so good!

Final ride results: 10.2 miles, 31:15 19.6 mph avg,
Bike miles this week: 22.5
Bike miles this month: 116.4
Run miles this week: 3.8
Run miles this month: 3.8

Until the next ride, run, swim or cache...

Rides, Runs, Caches and Rain

Went for a run with Melissa Monday night. We went 2.3 miles but have no idea how long it took. Can you believe I went out for a run without a watch?! Eli, Isaac and I grabbed a cache nearby as well.

I had a great ride with Erin yesterday morning... 12.3 miles in 52 minutes for a 14.5mph average. She had a great ride for her first time back on the bike in quite a while. I stayed in the smallest chainring and smallest cassette to keep my rpm's up. After the ride, I had about 15 minutes left available for a run so I went out for a timed run. Turned out I ran 1.5 miles in 16 minutes. Not that impressive but given it's my first brick workout since April, I'm happy.

I didn't get to ride into work this morning or even ride this morning due to rain. There was a strong chance of rain in Wilson but not in our area so I planned on just riding from home to Snow Hill and back, about 21 miles. However, when I woke up this morning... RAIN... UGH! I'm really missing a good higher speed ride. Hoping to get one in tomorrow morning. Today after lunch we grabbed another cache as a family. Caleb was the first to spot it while the rest of us were still just starting. Great eyes Caleb! This made #10 on our 100 days of caching challenge.

Final ride results: 12.3 miles, 14.5 mph avg, 52:45
Bike miles this week: 12.3
Bike miles this month: 106.2
Run miles this week: 3.8
Run miles this month: 3.8

Until the next ride, run, swim or cache...

Some weekend highlights

I had a great time with the Collins' and Harris' this weekend. Friday we went to Fort Macon State Park and played on the beach, flew stunt kites and played hard all day. Caleb even went "swimming with the Jellies" and got stung pretty good on his ankles. Melissa suggested that Jordan pee on his ankles but after consulting with the lifeguard, they had a spray bottle with vinegar & water to spray on area to help with the pain. Needless to say, both boys were relieved. We also got to eat a local place called Roma's and enjoyed several varieties of pizza, subs and salads. Great times with friends!

Greg, Erin and I enjoyed continuing our 100 days of caching with a cache down in the area as well. Caleb, Jordan and Avonlea waited for us in the van. Greg was the first to find it as Erin and I worked our way toward the cache.
Saturday afternoon, Greg and I went out to continue the challenge and found a very memorable cache. Pictures are coming soon.
Sunday evening the family headed out to find our daily cache. However, we came up empty handed on the first attempt but came up with a smiley on the second attempt. Whew! Eli found this one. It's fun to have the whole family participating. This is their kind of caching too, one cache a day so they don't get tired of caching for too long.

Friends, Sun, Ocean & Caching

What a wonderful day today. We've had friends from SC join us this weekend and today we went to Fort Macon State Park down near Morehead City, NC. What a BLAST! Playing in the ocean, flying stunt kites, good eats, caching, laughs and more!

Glad there are P&G Caches

I've never really been a big fan of the Park & Grab caches. I generally like to hunt and work for the find or be taken to a uniqe place that I may not have gone to otherwise. Even if I would have been in the area, an opportunity to learn something new or a piece of history via caching is always a neat addition to the trip. Even a cache along a series of caches makes the memory special. P&G's however, have never really held a place in my heart; I've always just discounted them as caches for the numbers chasers. Well today, that has changed... a little. I didn't get a chance to grab a cache on the way in to work this morning and just didn't at lunch either. So... a quick P&G was much appreciated after work considering I got out at about 7:00 rather than the expected 5. Anyway... day 5 of the 100 days challenge is now complete.

I also finished my first real video today. I came up with the creative ideas, shot all the video and then edited it all into one mostly seamless piece. I'm looking forward to getting it posted here and letting all my critics help me improve next time.

No ride, run or swim today... it was a rest day. Tomorrow... THE BEACH!

Until the next ride, run, swim or cache...

Another PR on the bike!

I had a GREAT ride in to work again today. I'm really beginning to enjoy these bike rides, except for the dogs. Today I tried pouring dog food out as they approached but they took NO interest in it at all. I ended with a new PR for the ride in of 1:23:50. Today, I felt like I could have gone for a short run after the bike. That's really exciting for me. I hope to start working in some 3 mile runs after the bike in in preparation for an international distance Tri this summer/fall. I'm hoping for a run tomorrow.

My interesting sight of the day on the bike made me wish I had my BlackBerry out and ready to take a picture this morning or the fancy camera mount above. As I was cruising along, two men in an OLD, BEAT UP pickup truck passed me towing 3 small trailers all attached to each other. It was quite the sight!

I also stopped along the way for a quick break to grab a cache continuing our 100 days challenge. This cache would have made day 3 but I didn't find the cache. I had set a 5 minute search time limit knowing I hate to DNF (Did Not Find) a cache but I also had to get in to work. I searched for the cache for 7 and then for my speedometer for another 3 so my total stopped time was 10 minutes. UGH! Good news though, I managed to grab another cache during lunch while out meeting Melissa at the bank to set up our NC bank account.

On the job front, I'm enjoying my new job, getting to know the new church body and trying ot remember all their names, etc. I'm learning to use iMovie to create the video announcements at the church. I've shot and edited a couple simple one scene videos last week for the announcements and they turned out OK. Today I started my first multi scene video and I'm looking forward to finishing it up tomorrow. I may just post it here when done... we'll see.

Final ride results: 26.5 miles, 18.9 mph avg, 1:23:50
Bike miles this week: 63.1
Bike miles this month: 93.9
Run miles this week: 0
Run miles this month: 0

Until the next ride, run, swim or cache...

Dogs & Geocaches

Had a great ride into work this morning. I have three dogs that come to "greet" me and chase me as I ride past them. The two bigger dogs just bark and generally stay along the edge of the yard but the small one gnarls, growls, barks and bites at me. Pastor Damon suggested I bring doggie treats but the pepper spray really sounds better to me. Today they were waiting on the road, spread out across both lanes running AT me. UGH! the two larger dogs on the outside and the little one in the middle. As I approached, the two larger moved off to their yard and the small one turns and chases after me. I'm telling, I think this dog wouldn't hesitate to BITE me if it could catch me. Luckily the adrenaline kicks in as the hair on my legs and arms stands straight up and I don't have an issue out "running" it. Perhaps tomorrow I will remember doggie treats and I'll see how that goes.
I also picked up a Geocache along the way this morning. Yesterday we went out as a family and picked up our 500th find. This also marks the beginning of a challenge that I'm undertaking... 100 consecutive days of caching, 100 caches in 100 days. Today made #2 of the 100 goal. I'll also be keeping you up to date on this as it progresses.
Final ride results: 26.6 miles, 17.8 mph avg, 1:29:35
Bike miles this week: 36.6
Bike miles this month: 67.4
Run miles this week: 0
Run miles this month: 0

How to fix a flat on the road 101

Hello to anyone who actually reads this blog.
I headed out for a short 45 minute ride this morning (after sleeping in). Melissa stayed home today passing on another Monday morning ride with me so I was on my own this morning. I headed down toward Snow Hill again anticipating going 22:30 and turning around but by that point I was so close to Snow Hill I decided to go all the way down to Lenoir Community College where Melissa I biked to last week Monday. I made it down in just over 24 minutes averaging 22.4 mph. WooHoo! What a great ride. I took a short water break and headed back home. My rear tire seemed low and I would shortly realize the importance of testing the tires and topping them off BEFORE heading out on a ride. I decided to stop and top off the tire with my new CO2 cartridge. I assembled the device and filled the tire and everything went well until suddenly the tube went BAM!!!! and now I had to replace the tube(first time doing this on the side of the road). Now frustrated with myself after this rookie mistke, and after changing Eli's tire this last week I looked down at the tire and realized I didn't have the wrench needed to remove the wheel so I messaged Melissa (my princess in a shining white dress) to come rescue me. Shortly after texting her I had a moment of clarity and realized that I have quick release on my road bike and didn't need a wrench (Duh!) so I began the process. As I finished the repair and mounted the tire, she and Eli arrived so I loaded the bike into the van and we drove home. We arrived to breakfast on the table and sat down for a great breakfast of scrambled eggs, goetta and blueberry muffins.
Final ride results: 11 miles, 20.1 avg, 32:50
Bile miles this week: 11 miles
Bike miles this month: 40.8 miles

Until the next ride, run or swim...

Tuesday, June 1

I biked into work this morning. We left the car the church on Sunday so I'll drive back home tonight. I had a record best time this morning of 1:25:25 averaging 18.8 mph for the 26.7 mile ride.
Totals:
This week: Cycle 45.7 miles, 2:45
This month: Cycle 26.7 miles, 1:25

Monday, May 30 - Memorial Day

Melissa and I had a GREAT bike ride in the morning. We headed down to Snow Hill from home on Hwy 91 and cruised all the way down to the outskirts of town to Lenoir Community College and stopped for a water break there. After that we turned around and headed back home. This was Melissa's longest ride to date at 19 miles with an average of 14.4 mph. She did great! Among the many interesting things we saw was a spanish church that seemed to have its power from the house up the street. We could see an orange and then black extension cord running along the ditch from the neighboring house (about 500-700 feet away)! Other interesting sites included a turtle and what seemed to be a manure processing plant. YUCK!

Eli and I even got in a 2.5 mile ride together in the late afternoon. It was great. We biked up to the cemetery and then to the south side of town and back.

Later in the day, we hosted the Masters Commission guys that helped us move in. We served some great new recipes including grilled nachos, citrus lime chicken & chili lime grilled corn. The guys shot some hoops, played guitar hero and then we had some killer air hockey games. Fun times!