Working Hard

 Little video after being appreciated at work. Enjoying the benefits. 

Solo 30

 Nice easier 30. A good ride on Saturday,  moving storage junk on Sunday so no ride knowing it's a 3 day weekend. 

So a solo Monday ride. San Gabriel Trail always a little harder climbing up towards the mountains. And almost always windy heading south on the return. 

But I must have been feeling good because I thought I was doing 25 but without knowing,  I was on a 30 mile course. 

Oh well, got in a little good stretching ride before work on Tuesday. 

Pico Rivera golf course to Encanto Park and back. 

Anudder Taco 🌮 Ride

 40 miles at 17.2 with Jose.  Ran into Paul at the start, Tony at the coast. 

Nice cool day with a tiny bit of drizzle but nice. Then good tacos near the end of the ride.

Yeah Jimbo,  I wussed out. No 59 mile birthday ride. But I was a bit fatigued in the legs from carrying steel at work all week.  Yeah,  that's it. 😄

A little din din with Gina later after the ride. 

My Birthday Dinner

 Work then met Gina for dinner on the way home. Met at Northwoods Inn for a little lobster 🦞. And steak. 

She asked where I wanted to go. I chose this place because it was the first place I took Gina out on a date 36 years ago. 

Nothing like a good memory for my birthday. 

Then a little cake surprise when I got home. 

Nice to actually get PAID for work

 Doing well at work. They feed me,  pay me and even give me nice little cards.

Actually nice racking up the cash for my efforts from people who appreciate me.😉

Couple of weeks ago it was a thank you card and a gift card for Jamba Juice. 

Taco Ride 🌮 with Jose

 40 miles at 17.1 average speed today. Just a nice steady pace working with Jose. Both felt great at the end of the ride. 

Well darn, forgot I was back on my blog and I forgot to get a shot of Bad Bob. Don't see him much anymore but ran into him today. He rode with us for a bit then we stopped at his turn-off for a little chat and catching up. Good thing  he says all is well. 

Stopping for tacos 🌮 3 miles before the end of our ride makes the final stretch a little tough with a full belly. But man, they are good 👍 

 

EZ Sunday Ride post Dental

 Nice solo 20 miles on Sunday along the San Gabriel Trail. Pico Rivera to the Santa Fe dam and back. Windy but not like last week so I actually got to relax some. 

A week of dental work taking advantage of my new dental benefits from the new job. Perfect timing as my crown broke taking part of the tooth with it. So I got the PPO seeing my dentist works the books so I have no out of pocket for most treatments.  

So Monday root canal and deep clean.    Tuesday root canal,  Friday night tooth extraction extraction of the broken crown tooth. 

So today was an easy ride to relax. 

I did try out the new gloves again. Shocked but they are more comfy than most other gloves I've had.  

Also the orange base layer. Got 2. They were on sale at JC Penny for $4. The one at the West Covina mall had a lot of them. Xersion brand.  Work just like my $40 Nike and UA models. You know me,  always out for a bargain. 

Tooth extraction,  root canals, no pain killers. Just some fun on the bike. 😆

Fri Night Tooth Extraction/ Sat Morning Ride

 40 miles 16.7 average speed. 

Root canal Monday,  Root canal Tuesday,  then tooth extraction on Friday night. But, I wanted to ride my bike ha ha ha.  Luckily no pain so no meds and my hole feels like it's coagulating nicely. Dinner with some blood flavoring but late night snack much better. 

So Jose and I set out for an easier 🌮 taco ride but ran into Alyce a bit later who really lifted the pace for a bit ha ha ha. 

Then ran into Joaquin for the return so we held a steady 20 or so. 

Image from Ron & Dixie's recorder. Alyce kicked it up to 21.5 after a few miles on our wheels.  She went around Jose surprising him then leaving him behind.  I wasn't sure what she was doing. We thought she was going to the front but she took off. Surprised us both but I went around and latched on her wheel till she sat up. Jose missed the move.

Picked up some Rock Bros gloves on ebay $14. Pretty comfy on the first ride. 

So, I think they like me at work.  And the dental work,  using my benefits from work. 

Holy cow, I may have got it!

https://youtube.com/shorts/p1Mmw2TEdWA?feature=share  

Wow,  been a while. Had some issues with family that really put a spin on life. So I have all my editing stuff and big computer in storage and haven't been able to figure out this big mess trying to get back on my blog as all my auto sign on and passwords are recorded on files on my big computer. 

I couldn't get onto YouTube as well. Finally figured out that I had to sign out of Google. This crap is confusing at times. 

So working, got money, benefits and even having some dental work done through my ppo.

But most importantly, still riding my bike. 

Let me explain my latest sitcheeashun.

I went back to work.  Got my vaccination then 4 days later,  got a decent paying job.   Gina and I make just about the same amount so we're in good shape now. Of course I have no bills and she does so the way I figure it,  I'm ahead ha ha ha.  

So when I applied for some jobs,  there were plenty because others are still taking advantage of the covid situation. 

I applied and 3 days later had a job.  Little decision to make.  2 jobs were in the QC field which I do but night shifts.  I've done about 13 years so wasn't happy but willing. 

But! The third job was a more physical job in manufacturing.  I wasn't too thrilled about it but my brain said DAYSHIFT. I can be with Gina every night. 

First month was murder on my legs wearing steel toe boots and carrying steel. Every day I came home beat. I worked at a steel company in my early in 30's but now, at 59? I had my doubts.

But I gave it a try because they are very cool people.  Only 14 people but nice outfit.  Heck. Breakfast about 3 times a week,  BBQ  and fancy meals every so often. They take care of us. Strangely enough  the whole crew works well together and I've gotten some great reviews. 

I was worried about the physical part but figuring I've always been a strong guy, I stuck in there hoping my strength would come back.  And it did. I woke up one morning and my legs felt like gold.  

Another month goes by and I've dropped some inches and tightened up the waist. My legs feel awesome now and my upper body strength has come back around. 

I feel like I'm getting paid to work out and I really feel it on the bike.  My bike just wants to roll.   I feel freaking strong now. And, I have all the money I need for bike stuff ha ha ha. A whole lot more than I've had over the last 3 years working in a situation where nobody pays you. 

So we're good and much happier now than we've been for a while. 

Ok, now I can't find the insert image icon 😤 

Ah, freaking got it 👍 

Some recent ride pics. I did 5,010 in 2021. Started working in January so I slowed for a few months but getting back on track with the daily workouts (the job 😄) and feeling feeling strong. 

The pic with the beer. My buddy Tony is an awesome friend so now that I went back to work and making some dough,  I thought I'd buy him a beer and have one with him.  

   I haven't had a beer in 30 years.  I just don't care for them so Tony introduced me to a little something different in beer. Not too bad and better than I remember but, I'm still just not a beer person ha ha ha. 😄

https://youtube.com/shorts/p1Mmw2TEdWA?feature=share

Turning my rides into taco 🌮 and 🍩 donut rides.  Jose and I eating tacos but still getting in a 40 miler at 17.4 average speed. 

Just some I've seen out there. These guys saw my old FART jersey and asked to take a pic with me because they were wearing duck FART club jerseys.  Strange but I had about 4 people ask to take my jersey pic that day.

 As far as Gina,  she's doing well but a bit shy getting back on the bike after having been taken down by a homeless guy taking her down.  He crossed the trail at a blind spot on a cruiser and a leash with a pit bull. Straight across without looking. Some damage to her bike but nothing drastic. More gun shy now. But doing well. 

She did lose her second son about 2 months ago.  Also kidney failure as was her first son who passed 3 years ago at 38 (Chris) .Most recent at 35 was Richard.  Now she's sad saying she has no more children.  Pretty sad but she's actually handling it well.