Jan 13 - need my gloves

My hands are getting really sensitive to the cold -- arthritis. For the first part of my ride yesterday my hands really ached and then my legs took all my attention :).

It's always tough getting out for that first ride. I've learned from experience, however, that building up to that first 70-miler doesn't make it any easier. Just do it !

The ride did start out cold, temps in the mid 50's, ending up warmer in the low 60's. I should have arrived one day earlier and enjoyed the 70's ... but that will come later. This morning, it's 35F ... brrr ... but warmer than what I see up north, i.e. -11F ! Winter has returned with a vengeance up there.

While I was out, Sandy played with the location of the 9x12 carpet in the living room and furniture positioning. Once home, showered and changed, we finished that up and installed the rubber underlay. It now looks more like home. Abby was all over the carpet sniffing ... "hey, I remember this carpet".

We had panko-encrusted mahi-mahi for dinner, the encrustation being a favorite of Sandy's, the mahi-mahi not so much. With asparagus and rice, it was a typical meal. Sandy also cooked some chicken breasts for her lunches. I had broken out the previously cooked ham from the freezer, so I was set.

I brought in the Christmas lights but have not packed them away yet. I need to tie the three bundles of lights and label them so I don't forget which is which, for ease of installation next year.

I've been doing some research on that lower front control arm for the X5 -- called a tension strut. It's the rubber bushing that wears and while some people have tried to replace the bushing, that's more difficult than simply replacing the arm. Besides, the arm is only worth about $55. I'll have to jack up the front left to see if that one needs replacing too, do the pair at the same time.

Unlike the control arm that I replaced last summer, this one is separate from the ball joint so it's cheaper and easier to replace. Two bolts and it's off ... but I don't want to get ahead of myself. Sometimes bolts are not easy to undo !

As for the coolant, there was no loss in the 1500 mile trip. It seems that in the extreme cold that connection drips a little. At this point, since it ain't broke ... don't fix it. However, since Jim Matthews figures that I should get 500,000 miles out of the car and I'm not quite half-way there yet, I'll have to replace it at some point since the hose will get stiffer over time.

The other part that I'll have to consider replacing is the thermostat on the M5, but that can wait. On a morning like this the engine wouldn't warm up properly ... so I won't drive it ! That's an easy solution ! Today is the lowest temperature prediction for the next 10 days ... I don't think that it's going to be a problem.

Sandy called Christi yesterday and we're set for re-connecting on Tuesday a.m.

Upcoming week -- more riding, perhaps boating mid-week, 200k Brevet next Saturday in Jupiter FL, some work around the house ...

Linda Wilder has clarified her travel plans, arriving next Sunday and leaving on Tuesday.

That's it, I think ...

Onward !