Mar 2/3 - hot, hot, hot

Whew. It's hard to adapt to all the temperature changes. Right now it's 84F; it was the same yesterday. Tomorrow the high is supposed to be 63F ... and then warming up again.

I just got back from a hot, dry, very windy ride. They are calling for thunderstorms tonight, hopefully not as bad as up north ! hopefully no tornadoes ! The parasailing knee-boarders were having a blast on the north side of the causeway leading to Titusville because the wind was coming from the SW. At 20-25 mph they were having a blast. Riding into that wind, I was struggling ... but then flew home.

Yesterday I went over to see Kirby and we had the X5 up on the lift. Everything is rock solid; nothing showing any sign of wear. Of course there's still that low speed knock, but if a bushing is worn, it's not obvious and not part of the operational suspension, as it were. Also, if a bushing is worn, like one of those subframe bushings, and allowing the speed-bump kink of knock, it's nothing that affects handling, ride or safety.

However, I'm still poking away at that noise. One possibility, based on an exchange in a forum, is the rear shock mounts. Where the bolt comes up through the frame into the trunk, there's rubber at the top that can break down. I took a look at it, without actually removing the nut from the top of the threaded end of the shock, and there's nothing to see. It all looks pristine. There is a metal cap on top that would have to be removed to see the entire rubber piece, however.

According to a DIY instruction for replacing those shock mounts, it's "beginner" level. First, however, I'd like to be sure that it's really an issue. I may remove that nut so that I can take the cap off and see if there's deterioration in the rubber. I need an 18mm open end wrench, however ... will have to visit Advance Auto Parts. I've got a 16 & a 17 ... a 21 ... nope, won't do.

Poke, poke, poke ... perhaps I'll eventually find the source of the noise. Perhaps I should remove all the loose stuff in the spare tire wheel well to ensure that it's not just something rattling :).

Sue Cockroft is here right now. Sandy picked her up from Orlando -- Animal Kingdom -- this morning. They've toured the town and ate lunch at the SYC. We're going back to Downtown Disney for dinner -- Don is in meetings during the day. They're the couple from Saskatoon; Sue and Sandy grew up together in Hemmingford.

Jerry arrives tomorrow; he's with a friend in Hilton Head today. They may be getting hit with storms. Our plan (Jerry doesn't know this yet) -- is to ride 70 mile rides Monday and Tuesday; a 200k Permanent on Wednesday; take Thursday and Friday off; ride the 400k on Saturday. We might do the 30 mile ride with the local bike club on Friday. Of course all this could change, other than the 400k on the weekend. The weather looks so-so. We'll see.

Marda is firming up her plans, looking at being here for Easter.

That's it ... nothing else new ... Onward !