Drifus' Travels – Well he thought he would

Well since the last writing I thought that I would share some pictures of the MTB and other ramblings.

Currently the bike is stock, the gear I have added:

Rear Rack: Topeak Super Tourist DX (TA2036-B)
Rear Bag: Topeak MTX Trunk Bag DXP w/ fold out panniers (TT9616B) + Rain Cover
Pump: Serfas Grifter Mini Pump (MP03)
Computer: CatEye CC-VL510
Bike Tool: Topeak ALiEN II
Tail Light: Blackburn Mars 2.0
Gauge: Planet Bike Dial Gauge (1029)
GPS Mount: Garmin mount Part Number: 010-10573-00 (For Rino 530Hcx)
Bar Ends: Profile Designs Boxer

Not shown due to a delay in shipping:

Cages: (2) Topeak Modula Cage EX plus X-15 Adapters
Bottles: (2) Novara Circle N Water Pop Top Bottle – 28 oz. (REI # 724207)

I may change the bottles out as I do not think they will match the bike as well as I had thought.

Well this is what I am going to ride next year for 225+ miles along the Katy Trail. I have some other research to do. I think I might leave the folding panniers in and buy some larger one and mount then on the rear rack. I will skip getting front ones and force myself in to being a minimalist as I am at home.

I have created a Katy Trail Excel file for all of my planning and am working on some other great files for the journey. If you want a copy just let me know. When I am finished I will post them, until then just ask.

Yes I know these do not have much to do with one another but these are the current things going on in my life.

Online dating, the saga continues. Well I have left my profile alone for almost a week and still nothing has changed. I sent a few emails to people of interest and guess what no one responded and one profile was removed. I am guess that was because they weren’t a “real” person. I think I will let this subscription end and be done with it. I think my life would be far simpler by just enjoying my hobbies, watch some porn or go to a strip club, than the effort it takes to meet someone. I have some friends to do things with.

MTB (Mountain Bike), well I have decided to get back into riding my bike and have been going on random rides and some organized Sunday rides. The Katy Trail is a lot of fun. When I moved away 12 years ago the Katy was just opening so I more or less missed the opportunity. Well it’s in my backyard and I am glad to have the easy access to a different kind of highway. I have ridden from St.Charles east to the current of the gravel and west to just past the Page Ave. Extension (Highway 364). I have also ridden up to the 364 bridge and grabbed a geocache (my other hobby).

Well after getting reacquainted with the old bike and the joy of riding again, I have a mission. I want to ride the entire Katy Trail (225+ miles) in the March / April 09 time frame. So far my longest distance is about 11 miles and I had no issues. No pain, discomfort etc. Sure 40-50 miles a day is a lot more and I will increase my distance so I get a better feel for it, but I think I can really do this. I also think it would be a nice accomplishment to have under my belt. I have read that Missouri is working on getting the Katy Trail to Kansas City, that would be a fun ride as well.

Back to my earlier mention of geocaching, I have created a file with all of the geocaches along the Katy Trail. Some of these are in the middle of no where so it will be nice to have these done as well.

I am planning to do the trail in 4 days but leaving an extra day for issue that may come along. I have created an Excel file with all of my planning on it. It contains the equipment for my bike, things to consider taking along, county emergency numbers (Sheriff and Hospitals). I have been reading about racks and bags for my bike and am considering a trailer since Beth and I are going and the only weight on her bike will be her and water. Her recent remission of lung cancer has left her breathless quite easy and besides me being a little overweight I am in very good health.

Well if anything you read sparks a question or you would like to see my planning sheet just subscribe to the blog and ask me.

Enjoy your day and may you dreams come true!
Nite.

Well the saga continues to find a mate. I have had 3 dates with 3 different people. All were very nice, though I did not feel “a spark”. Sure maybe one date is not enough to really know but I think I will know. You look into someones eyes and if you feel something then pursue it, if not enjoy the time with that person, you never know she may have a friend looking too. I have changed my profile a few times and that does not seem to have made a difference. I have broaden my search criteria, no avail. I feel that someone maybe 10 years younger would be the answer as I think we would have some of the same likes and enough differences to make the relationship interesting. So where do you find a 30 something woman without kids who doesn’t want kids and is heterosexual, in St.Louis?

Still on the same topic, I am going to stop sending Icebreakers, it seems like s sophomoric way to connect with someone. I have been sending emails and I feel enough information that they can respond back. Heck even a “not interested” would be fine I am secure enough to take rejection, GEZZZZZ.

Ok the bailout while I had a bunch written before the WiFi crash here I will shorten things quite a bit since now the vote is over and it’s time to take the shaft. This is a very bad idea, let the companies that screwed up fail. I am sorry that the employees have to suffer too, I have been through buyouts, downsizing etc, being out of work BLOWS. Take the CEO salary and give it to the displaced employees, there solved. Maybe it’s time for our economy to slow some, things are out of hand, cars made here cost more then those put on a ship for weeks. The standard of living needs to come back so lower and middle class people can live a more normal life.

Petrol companies need to be bitch-slapped plain and simple. There is no oil shortage at this time, there may be one day but I am sure no on knows. Of the billions they are announcing as profits each quarter go find out how much they are investing in alternative resources. They are investing maybe 1%, that’s a joke. Why not look into moving cars to natural gas, electric. This too is simple, if you live in a city then either take mass transit or get an electric car. If you travel farther to work then get a hydrogen or NG power vehicle. Instead of having a 14 MPG Cadillac, truck etc, think about having “purpose” cars. Just because a car is a “hybrid” doesn’t mean you can’t put big rims on it or have an obnoxious stereo, it’s still a vehicle.

Well I could rant and rave some more but it’s late and I know nobody reads this anyway.

Nite.