Happy New Year

Anyone for karaoke???

Road trip

Made a trip to the Twin Cities this weekend. We went to visit my aunt, who is in like a nursing home in South St. Paul...South View Acres. My parents came with us. There was some ice down around there. With my parents, and us for that matter, not being exactly young, ice is a concern.

After the visit, we headed over to Eriks in Bloomington and then on to REI. That REI store was packed. Wall to wall people...parking at the extreme end of the lot. Obviously, some people have money...or some of that plastic money. Some had arm loads of stuff. Not us, as we were looooking not buyyyying. Hell, I don't know if I will have job next year, so buying things that are not really needed are on the back burner.

Watch where you're going and keep your hands on the bars...in the winter anyways.

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas from our house to yours.

Eve ride

Went for a nice ride this afternoon. I did not have the computer hooked up on this ride, but I was gone for nearly two hours and was guessing I logged about 20 miles. Most of the roads I was on today had a loose sugar like coating...with one stretch of sand road that was really tore up. Had to unzip the coat after I got warmed up. Had G2 in the water bottle...it was frozen when I got home. Put things away, showered and puttered around a little...Then had a G2 slushy...pay extra for that.

Calm Clear and Cold

Minus 20 this morn. We had an errand to run this morning so I snapped a couple pics near home of the St. Croix river. The steam did not show well.

Sun shining bright on the way home.

Roads in perfect condition for biking.

Shanty time

Stayed up late last night clearing the snow away we got...so I could go to the shanty today. We ended up with about 6" and then came the wind and the cold. It was about -7 below when I arrived at the shanty and 5 above when I left, with a stout wind all day. I was the only out there for about 5 hours, then two trucks drove past me and farther out about a half mile. They did not stay long. It was nasty out there today. It does not look like it here, but there were some big drifts out on the lake. I had to back up and get a run a couple of them. You people that eat healthy may want to X out now.

Lunch was fresh brewed coffee with a hot dog sandwich.

Just before dark, a few more snow flurries

Sun is down but still glowing

And dark when I left. These are my tracks from when I arrived. Had to hit a couple of the drifts twice on the way off the lake too.

Fluff

Light snow all day and very little wind, temp around the 18 mark.

Sun peaked for 46.3 seconds

Will get to plow again tomorrow or late tonight...yea

More mini bricks

Still been riding the trainer and running indoors. Hunting season is over, so outside riding this weekend for sure. If I had a job close to home, I would try the work commuting...although I do not know if I would be as dedicated as some out there. Like for instance All the way Ray...and...Doug, who had a really nice streak going before an unfortunate accident...and sounds like bother yam does also. One of my co-workers, who received the lay off notice at work a while back, was one of these hardy souls. I witnessed first hand what he rode through and it was impressive. Blizzards, way below zero and thunder storms and downpours, these guys make it look easy.

Snow

Seven inches of snow today...so that means shovel and plow.

LOL>>>Bush had shoes thrown at him. Come on, you have to have a sense of humor.

Not much to write about this week. Same old stuff...trainer and elliptical. Outside riding is only available at night thru this weekend when the hunting season is over, and I haven't done that either.

Worked on the ice fishing shanty and also got the battery changed in the car...under the back seat...special battery at $190...must be done right or the computer gets screwed up, special tool...and that brings me to the auto parts store in Solon Springs. I try to keep our business local, so we buy our auto parts there. The unit I needed to change the battery I did not have. The owner said he would like to have one as he didn't have one either. He bought it, opened it up and sent it home with us to use with these instructions, "I would like to have one any way. Bring it back when you're done. No hurry." That is just one example of many. So...a shout out to Glen at Solon Springs Auto Part's and Machine Shop.

It was cold this morning. This one is for you CAD.

Some days...

There are some days that you have it and then there are others...others that, well I just don't have it. Yesterday felt good on the trainer and even did an extra 1 hour 18 in the evening, just because. A nice easy pace...relax'in...a waste'in time. Tonight I rode 35 minutes of 1 X 3's and now...ready for a nap. Man, just zapped me. I have the same issues when I am riding for real. Stolen from???google

Climate reality check

A dose of climate reality this morning. It was minus 16 degrees...Fahrenheit. I had been wondering about the strength of the battery in our car. No need to wonder anymore...it didn't start.

More work on the trainer and elliptical today.

First measurable

First measurable snow last night and this morning...about 2" of fluff. Still not comfortable riding during the daylight hours because the muzzle loader deer hunt is going on until I think, Tuesday. Then follows another four day doe only season. Only time to ride safely is night... ooor...it's the trainer...Yeah

Stay'in warm

Minus 16 this morning. Just a sit'in home keeping warm tonight.

Celsius that is.

Mixing it up

I have been mixing it up with the cardio lately. Tonight I did 20 minutes on the trainer, 20 minutes on the elliptical and finished up with 20 more minutes back on the trainer.

I used no towel for sweat either...must not have been a work out. I held a good strong heart rate for me for quite some time...in the 150 to 160 range for about 15 minutes of each of those and the verdict is...none to very little sweat. I ride sometimes with a guy who sweats like no other I have seen. I would think it would be better to sweat...at least some. Why is that? Good...Bad???

Mini Brick?

Decided to mix it up a little tonight. Did 30 min at a good pace on the elliptical and then got on the trainer for another 30 minutes. The elliptical program I ran had intervals and on the trainer I tried to keep the cadence above 90 and up to 100, except for a 2 minute cool down. Now....Is this considered a brick, at least a mini brick? Or maybe a pebble? How about a cube, one of those little chocolate ones...ice cube. How bout it coach, a mini brick???

On another note, I am already looking forward to more of this in the spring. If anyone else is interested in doing some weekend rides in WI and MN...let us know.