May 28 - a short ride

I did ride, but it was shorter than usual.  Black clouds and a slight sprinkle turned me around as I was heading south on 69 so I cut it short, ending up a little over 40 miles.  I gave it an extra push though, so it was good exercise.  I really didn't feel like being wet and cold and could sense the temperature dropping rapidly.

We actually didn't get much rain until later in the day, at the cottage at least.  The rain was mostly south of us so I had been heading into it.  That's ok; I accomplished what was needed.  That could be a challenge as the week wears on as the next several days all have rain in the forecast.  I need more riding before the Shenandoah next week !

What else ...

-- short boat ride with Abby, will have to put it up in the boathouse before we head south
-- a little bike maintenance
-- more online orders -- bike tires and coax cable (good stuff)
-- updating my wine file with the latest maturity / drinkability values from the Opimian Society
-- watched another episode (that makes two) of "Fringe" on Netflix.  I'm not sure about this one, overacted but haven't found anything else to watch
-- probably more, don't remember but I will as soon as I post this blog !

Sandy worked in the garden again, has now planted beans, potatoes, zucchini and perhaps other stuff.  She's pretty pleased with progress.  The beds are in much better shape this year because she had covered them with leaves last fall.  The prior year she didn't, and the weeds had taken over by the time she started work in the garden.  The leaves keep the soil more moist, so it's easier to work, and the weeds under control.

I think that she's planning on going to Parry Sound today to pick up some more veggies for planting.

Speaking of "going", we're not sure if we are going to Reading on Monday or Tuesday next week.  Tuesday would be the latest since I have to be in Leesburg VA on Wednesday for the Thursday start of the Shenandoah. 

Oh yes -- more research and orders.  Sandy has ordered the new washer/dryer and is trying to nail down the delivery date.  Although it would fit in the laundry room ahead of the posts, we want to move it a few inches backwards, which means that our current sink won't work -- too wide.  Believe it or not, it's too wide by 1/2".  It's actually worse than that though, because you need a little play between appliances, say 1/2", so it's probably 1.5" too wide.  We've found another at Lowes U.S. that's 20" wide vs our current at 23", so that will do the trick.  We'll probably bring it back up with us.  Abby will have to share the back seat with a laundry sink :).

Whoops ... will that work ?  If we're bringing Emma back, it might not !  Perhaps Emma could ride in the tub ?  Noooo ... don't think that will work.  I'll have to get the exact specs and see if it would fit in the back under my bike.

Oh yes more -- reset the dryer again.  I think that it's the double-bend vent hose that is the problem, reduces the air flow too much and then the overheat thermostat trips.

Oh yes more -- I talked to Paul Lamb about the driveway work and he's going to give me a quote.  I also talked to Bruce Fraser about the blasting.  He's going to send someone over today to look at it with me.

It's drizzling now and more is on the way, looking at the Doppler.

It just stopped drizzling and is now pouring.  What happened in the meantime ?  I was proof-reading my writing.  That's no guarantee that I caught everything, but I did fix a few things.

Ah yes, with the heavy rain the signal strength has dropped and the attenuation has jumped.  We've lost our internet connection.  This will be posted eventually !

I guess that it's time for breakfast for me and Abby.

Onward !