Jan 15 - first Populaire of 2014

These short, under 200k rides of mine are called Populaire's, in RUSA lexicon.  I'm covering the same territory as before I started counting the rides, but doing the paperwork so that I can enter the results in the RUSA database and get km credit.  It's one more way of adding notches to your belt, an important part of an program meant to keep you exercising even when you don't feel like it :).

Yesterday I rode with Paul Selden from MI to the half-way point and then the rest of the way on my own.  I was riding just a little bit faster and completed the 32 miles from Titusville to New Smyrna Beach just under 20 minutes faster than him.  I had actually thought that he was going to be a bit further behind but, as we were riding into a headwind, he had a slight advantage on his recumbent.

I met his wife at the start of the ride and invited them both over for a glass of wine / whatever, afterwards.  They took us up on it and we had a lovely time talking about travel and diving.  It's amazing how many things I have in common with some of these riders when we move the conversation from the latest ride. 

Paul is a fairly recent Rando, having started in 2011.  At the time, he thought that he was old (same age as me) ... and perhaps we are ! ... but it really is an older persons' sport. 

Anyway, we had a good time riding and then later, meeting, the Seldens.  For once I was able to remember names.  Usually I'd promptly forget Mary's but from the get-go, I remembered "no Peter".  You can think about that one.

We had stir fry for dinner, or rather stew fry -- a curry sauce, chicken cubes and veggies over ride.  Good.  

After dinner I had a 2-hour conference call with Randonneurs Ontario.  I have to admit that I don't like the conference calls.  It's not the time, it's the memories of all the conference calls in my life.  I'm happy to work on RO endlessly, but find the calls a pain.  I will live though and the calls are necessary to keep things going. 

Today it's cool.  The temperature started off < 40 with a predicted high in the mid 50's.  Tonight it's going to be even cooler, predicted low 36.  It does beat -38 though !

I've got a new kitchen table lamp to hang that matches the ones over the island.  That's my only project for the day although I could start work on the deck boards that need replacing.  The weather is perfect for that !

Sandy talked to Patty Himes yesterday.   Norm is the one who passed away before Christmas.  It was a difficult call to make but they are getting together on Friday for lunch.  Good.  I was happy to hear that Patty had come back to NSB, worried that she'd be bouncing around her kids' places over the winter.  I wasn't sure that she was able to drive yet, after her minor stroke last year, but she can.  Also good.

Onward ...