Finally, I feel that my quest to become handy has some success. While at the Outer Banks, this summer, I learned to lay patio blocks in the sand to create a stable patio. On returning home I used this new skill on a long-standing problem. Many winters ago, I put big-box-bought deicing salt on the walkway connecting the sunroom to the garage. It quickly spalled the concrete creating a mess. Several years ago, in preparation for repaving the driveway, we…
While rummaging through the cruft and crumbs of my hard drive, I found a forgotten Word document from 1999, twenty years ago, outlining my 49-year-old’s future goals, a bucket list. My 69-year-old self read the following, rewritten with comments, but the ideas are unchanged. First Retirement Year At age 62 to 65, hike the 2200 mile Appalachian Trail, from Springer Mountain, Georgia to Katadhin, Maine in one of several ways. Thru-Hike south to north in six months in one year,…
As a teenager back in the 60s, I remember many of my parents’ friends retiring at age 65 and dying within 18 months, typically of cancer, heart disease, or stroke. The same occurred when a spouse died, the other spouse would die within 18 months, presumably of a broken heart. For years, I assumed (tongue in cheek) I should delay retirement so I could live longer so I retired officially April 1, 2018, at the age of 68, beating the…
Things just never turn out the way you think they will. I planned a nice 10-day vacation on the Outer Banks of North Carolina; walking, bike riding, swimming, sitting on the beach, watching movies, and eating seafood with a few friends. But when I arrived at Annabelle’s cottage in Southern Shores and I found this reminder of Hurricane Dorian blocking my way to the back door. I bought a large crowbar at Home Depot and with the help of Milton…
No not that Woodstock! This was Woodstock, Virginia, a sleepy little I81 exit north of Harrisonburg, in northwest Virginia, population 5,000. The BMW Rider’s Association (BMWRA) held their “Set My Soul Free” National Rally at the Shenandoah Fairgrounds from Thursday, September 5 through Sunday morning, September 8. Having an old BMW motorcycle I was curious to go to a motorcycle rally, even if it is marque limited. Daytona Bike Week? Sturgis? Myrtle Beach Bike Week? Nope, quite a bit tamer…
From the age of 20 to about 50, bicycling was a large part of my life. I bicycle camped with Fred Schroeder for a month in England, France, and Germany in 1976, rode across the US with Barbara in 1980 from Yorktown VA to San Diego CA on an unsuited 10-speed racing bike while carrying 50 pounds of gear and promptly bought a 21-speed Trek touring bike on return. Rode that touring bike with Barb for two 1-week camping tours…
It was a beautiful morning this week: clouds for shade, warm, not too humid. Perfect day to go motorcycle riding with the local retirees. I am fortunate to have met (and allowed to ride with) a group of older, retired Richmonders on their regular Tuesday rides through rural Virginia and sometimes West Virginia and North Carolina, 200 to 300 miles with a nice lunch break. Protective clothing: leather chaps, boots, helmet, gloves, armored jacket … check. Accessories: wallet, sunscreen, water…
Rick Steves is a well-known name in the travel industry. For more than 30 years, he has produced hundreds of popular European travel videos for PBS (all available to watch for free on his website or on his YouTube channel), dozens of highly respected travel books and organized guided tours of Europe. Rick Steves focuses only on Europe and spends seven months out of the year traveling and researching his favorite places. His company tours are active, that is, you…
Have had a number of handy adventures since the last post but the latest is worth commenting on. After spending a month in Chandler Arizona helping Ryan and Erin with the birth of her daughter/my granddaughter, Lily Belle Lovrien (great name!) I came home to a dripping kitchen ceiling. Since the kitchen is on the first floor something on the second was not right. Hmmm, maybe two story homes are not as practical as the one story Arizona home I…
How do you fit a bed into a minivan?