Feb 14/15 - v-day and ride

The 15th is easy to cover; I did a 300k with Paul and Judith.  Starting at 6am, we finished just before 10pm. 

Neither of them have done much riding of late, so they needed many breaks.  I haven't checked my Garmin, but actual rolling time will be recorded as much less.  Of course to tally that rolling time, I'll have to look at a half-dozen rides ... the Garmin was acting up.  The USB cable clearly needs some contact cleaner as a power cycle on would shut down the unit.  I got around that a few times but removing the cable when we stopped and then plugging it into the Garmin once I was rolling again, but especially at night when the light is also being powered there can be a momentary interruption ... unit shuts off.  Not only did it shut off but I'd have to reload the course.  I would do this while rolling, losing a mile or so each time.  What a pain.

Two more things need to be addressed with the TN bike -- the headset isn't tight enough and the rear fender is rattling against the rack.  The latter is most annoying on rough roads, of which there were plenty.

Paul opened Cracker Swamp registration on the 13th, as planned, and they flooded in.  He left it open while we rode yesterday since it hadn't hit his max of 80 registrants yet ... but by the end of the day we were over 90.  There will be drop-outs, so that's not a real worry, but I expect that he shut that down and opened up the waitlist page when he got home in the wee hours.  He was going to have a shower in the hotel room before heading home and his drive is about 2.5 hours to St. Pete vs my 1:15.  I'll take my shorter drive, thank you very much !

On the 14th, Valentines Day, I took Cassie out in the boat while Sandy opted to stay home and do some cleanup, including washing floors.  It's easier for her to do that without us (me and Cassie) around.  I found our usual sandbar inaccessible due to the tide coming in, so I headed to "disappearing island" (these are all islands and they all somewhat disappear at high tide).   We had DI all to ourselves, very unusual for a weekend day.  Cassie got in some good running and the Chuck-It go a workout as well.  My gas tank plumbing continues to work and since getting to the island involves some full-speed running, it's a good test.

We had V-Day dinner with Jim and Joanne at The Cork and Bottle, always good.  I had a full rack of lamb; Sandy had lobster ravioli, eventually (they messed up her order and brought her lasagna at first); Jim and Joanne had surf and turf.  Their definition of S&T is steak and shrimp -- I always think of S&T as steak and lobster.  I guess that it could be pork chops and oysters, for that matter !

Another day was done but it was a relatively short night for me and Cassie.  Since I was getting up at 3:30 a.m. and making coffee and having breakfast, I knew that she'd start to fuss if I left her in the crate.  I got her up; she peed and pooped; I got ready and left.  Sandy was surprised to see her up but I also knew that she'd fuss being put back in the crate.  She's a good puppy; not a problem to leave her out.  In fact, she doesn't really need the crate.  Vickie and Abby liked their crates, not so Cassie.  She doesn't need the closed in space like they did. 

Onward ... we may go boating with Jim and Sheryl today, depends on the weather and whether they can/want to go.  If not, I'l probably take out the skiff.