So Random Things We Found Today

While we were out looking at covered bridges, we came across a few things that make you go hmmmmm.



The first was not that unusual of a thing, except for where it was located. We saw a pair of abandoned shoes on one of the bridges. I wondered as a mom, what happened here? Did they get home and wonder where they left their shoes long after they forgot where they left them? Did they hate the shoes and want them to be lost? Or did they want to leave them there as a symbol of something?

This wasn't a random thing, but we also saw this beautiful creature here:

After we left this bridge, we saw something else that caught our eye. This was the funniest thing we've seen in quite awhile. We had some interesting conversations about who could own this fine piece of machinery. Someone full of life I bet.

Yes, that is Super Scott's car. Isn't that the coolest car? I can see Austin wanting something like this for his first car!



You just never know what you'll see when you drive around looking for local sights.



Living the life in Ohio!

Clipless Pedals on a Fixed Gear

For the final phase of my transition to clipless pedals, I've now installed them on my fixed gear roadbike. I knew that clipless would be trickier on fixed gear than on a freewheel bike, since you have to clip in and out while continuing to turn the pedals.I expected to have two specific problems: getting my left foot clipped in once I got going (I start with the right), and unclipping. For obvious reasons, the latter one worried me especially: What if I could not unclipwith the pedals revolving constantly?




Now that I've done it, my impressions of the whole process are different from what I'd imagined. Clipping in my left foot is not as tricky as I thought. Yes, the pedal keeps going. But at least I no longer have to fish aroundfor a strapwith my toe as it rotates. Instead I just hang on and keep pressing into it even if the cleat doesn't engage right away; eventually it does. And clipping out is fine. Some cyclists say that they can only unclip when the pedal is in a specific position, but I guess I have been spared that problem. Sure, some positions are more awkward than others, but I can still unclip from them.




So that's the good news. The bad news, is that starting is surprisingly challenging. I guess I didn't think this part through very well ahead of time. On a freewheel bike I clip in my starting foot on the downstroke, then pull the pedal up to start. Within a fairly short amount of time, this process has already become automated. Of course on a fixed gear you can't pull the pedal up without lifting the rear wheel, which I've never managed to learn how to do. So when I try to start I nearly topple over, because I automatically try to pull up on the pedal and all this does is jerk the bike violently. It's kind of funny that I do this every time, even though I knowthat you can't pull up on the pedal in fixed gear. Habits form quickly!




Anyhow. So I am not quite there yet with clipless in fixed gear, but I am enjoying the challenge. I either need tolearn how to quickly lift the rear wheel while pulling up on the pedal, or reprogram my brain to clip in my starting foot on the upstroke, the way I used to do with Power Grips. Suggestions from fixed gear cyclists most welcome. Is there a way to make this easier on myself?

Phend-Fisher Family Reunion Ledger (1939)

The 30th annual reunion of the Phend family was held at the Nappanee Community park sun. Aug 27 - 1939

There were 46 present all seemed to enjoy the dinner very much.

Meeting called to order by president Henry Phend.

Election of officers was then in order. Motion made & 2d that the same president be retained for the next year. Motion carried. Motion made and 2d that F. A. Wehrly act as Sec & Treas. Motion carried.

Motion made & 2d that Rob't & Evelyn Bechtel act as entertainment comm..

Coll[ection] was then taken amounting to

[page 2]
Coll $3.11
Bal of .87
[balance] 3.98
Park fee 2.60
Sec exp. .87
Bal. 1.11

There being no further business, meeting then adj[ourned] until next year.

F. A. Wehrly S & T. Protem.



The Phend-Fisher families gathered for a reunion in Northern Indiana almost annually from 1909 until 1943. The events of the day were recorded in an old ledger book. Spelling has been retained as it was in the original though some punctuation and paragraph breaks have been added. To view all articles in this series click on the "Phend-Fisher Reunion Ledger" label at the bottom of this post.

Pitsford Water clockwise

With Marta. Very cold wind again, but dry and occasionally almost bright. Just under 7 miles.




We hit a cracking pace during the first part in order to keep warm. All the same we found a spot that was sheltered enough for a 20 minute coffee break. The trick is to avoid the exposed wooden seats, and go to ground level behind hedges or woodland. Those lightweight mats are worth their weight in - coffee.



We saw plenty of birds today - Canada geese, coots, tufted ducks, mallards, great crested grebe, swans, pink-footed geese, a kestrel, possibly a fieldfare.

This was the snowiest part of the walk - most of the path was clear

silhouette

Tufted ducks

This looks a strange landing posture

Just brrr!

Not many pics - too busy walking fast to keep warm.

Friday Night Live Festival

Each third Friday of the month, Wauchula has an event that they call Friday Night Live. We have always been impressed at all that this town does to build and keep business downtown and this event is one of those things that drives people to Main Street.



Each month has a different theme and you can walk Main Street and visit booths, eat great food and hear live music. We went with my work and worked in a booth we set up for the event, but that still gave us a chance to enjoy the night.

Tibet

Here at jjobrienclimbing we are currently experiencing some technical difficulties with Blogger.I'm with you, I can't believe the good people at Google would let this happen to such a site.I won't be pushing this post, so welcome, if you found it. In the meantime sit back and reminisce with me a year after my visit to China and Tibet.







Enjoy this soothing image of our room at the Banyan Tree in Deqin in Yunnan province in China or Tibet, as you will. It would not be overstating it to say that Sandra liked this place.3,500M of altitude, nothing but yaks and snow. Absolutely beautiful.

The bathroom was downstairs. Wild yaks couldn't dragus away.











But, as always, there was climbing to be done. So I pulled on my Chinese volleys and sampled the local granite at Tiger Leaping Gorge. The route marking wasvelly helpful.

Climbers, don't tell my Red Chili sponsors you saw me climbing in volleys.

( Bouldering, doesn't count.)







Everest looms. Chinese base camp is just up the road. Thin air, bright sun, stillness, reverence.













Bike Rack Mountain, Central China.

I can't remember when I've ever had so much fun.

I didn't want to leave. Some of the stuff just made me laugh so much, it was so inappropriately dangerous.











Model wears: Prana 3/4 pant. I think the photo shoot reveals that the pants are aboutthree inches too long. Have your say.That guy has got a printer and a laminater in that box. His mate will take your photo. A few Yuan and it's yours.





Everest again.Remember Sheepy? My favorite black cashmere jacket?Everest tent hotel. How amazing is that?















Returning via Hong Kong

They are going to need a bigger sun

to get through that air.















Ah, back home at the jjobrienclimbingrainforest retreat.

The Coming Storm

Here's another cool cloud image... this one was taken late yesterday afternoon as the first of several fast-moving thunderstorms came over the tip of Minnesota's Arrowhead region. Not more than two minutes after I made this shot, the rain was coming down so hard that visibility was minimal at best. The wipers on my truck could hardly keep up with it!