Day 140 – Jim’s Trek – 20.6 Miles – A Good Day For Housework and Cycling and Quilting and Piano and Eating

Good Day,

This morning housework first, then my Trek, and then into the swimming pool. I completed 20.6 miles and I am now located, still on the Lord Selkirk Highway at Ste. Agathe, Manitoba, in Canada. I am still headed north, on my Schwinn 150, to my next Interlake address goal.

Ste Agathe is a diked village of about 500, on the banks of the Red River… is always prone to flood damage. The inserted image, to the left is circa 1915.  Today, in Sainte Agathe, it is -1°C and feels like -3°C. (Translated - 30°F and feels like 27°F.) And I was just in the swimming pool in my backyard.

My stats -

Total Direct Miles to Seattle	To Date	TD Miles Remaining	% TD Miles Completed	Interlake Miles to Seattle	Weight (lbs)
3,301.0	2,476.6	1,556.0	75.03%	4,032.6	167.8

Today is World Book Day, organized by UNESCO… to promote reading, publishing and copyright. And this is Independence Day for the Conch Republic of Key West, Florida.

My Trek entertainment was the second half of the 1986 movie The Canterville Ghost. I think I appreciated it more after I read the Wikipedia write-up and learned a wee bit of the intent of Oscar Wilde’s study in contrasts.

Today is a great day…according to my Biorhythms. Mind you, my pockets are empty.

Be healthy and enjoy,

Jim

Day 139 – Jim’s Trek – 21.4 Miles – From This Valley They Say You are Trekking…

Good Day,

The day begins. Out of bed, the Pack goes out, there is a cacophony of five canines demanding their repast, the barking, the howling, the growling, the bowls are filled and placed on the floor, the noisy slurping and chomping of kibbles and bits, the meds apportioned, the testing for sugar levels, a quiet hush falls over the house. Computers are turned on. My Trek begins.

This morning I completed 21.4 miles on my Schwinn 150 Trek and I burned 602 calories. I am currently located on the Lord Selkirk Highway just south of Morris, Manitoba. The highway seems to parallel the Red River. I have now completed 2,456.0 miles of my Tampa to Seattle Trek. And since I began this journey I am now averaging 17.9 miles each day that I get on my Schwinn 150. I haven’t given out, nor have I given up.

Finished the last part of Soul Kitchen… all the complications worked out. Typical “nice” German movie with English subtitles of a main character wanting to succeed, experiencing every type of physical, relationship and business-type problem…dann all Ende gut.

I next tuned in the Sir John Gielgud’s 1986 made-for-TV version of Oscar Wilde’s The Canterville Ghost. I watched the first half. Fair…but I really prefer the original 1944 version.

Cosmos’ Moon just left Salina, Kansas this morning as EssbeeCon just arrived in Doraville, Georgia. Our three – Coral Steps, Colored Windows II, and MEM911 are in preparation from Illinois to Ireland. And construction on our new Equality quilt continues. Check out Quilts SB for our updates and progress.

And no, it is not me on the banjo... Nor the fiddle.

Be healthy and enjoy,

Jim

Day 138 – Jim’s Trek – 22.5 Miles – O Canada

Good Day,

Today I cycled 22.5 miles and I crossed the border from North Dakota, United States into Manitoba, Canada. O Canada…and I am now north of the town of Altona, “The Sunflower Capital of Canada”… And the temperature in Altona is 0°C (32°F)… It is somewhat cool in Tampa. Right now 68°F (20°C).

And you say that my compass on my Schwinn 150 must be a wee bit on the fritz? I'm on MB-30 N. Yes I am headed north, and yes I am still on my way to Seattle…but I have just discovered another Interlake address point, and of course I have to add to my list of sub-goals of my Trek.

As of today I have cycled 2,434.6 miles on my Trek from Tampa to Seattle, with a few tangents and detours.

Abu Ye! Abu Ye Abu ye! Abu ye! Don’t get your feet wet on this holy Grounation Day.

Why is today also Kindergarten Day? It is a Sunday… and are not the ankle-biters are at home?

Supper last night – Camarones Rancheros and Spicy Thai Cucumber Salad. A mixing of cultures but the fusion plate really tasted good together.

This morning for my viewing pleasure I watched the first two-thirds of a German movie, subtitled in English, about a young Greek man trying to succeed as the owner of a restaurant in a warehouse in Hamburg. The movie, Soul Kitchen, kept me enthralled as I read the sub-titles that I kept on cycling for a total hour and 20 minutes. A fair movie but this definitely says something about driving and reading the electronic billboards on the side of roads while paying attention to traffic.

And so today I cover a sound culture of many: American, Canadian, German, Greek, Jamaican, Ethiopian, Mexican, and Thai. What can I say? I enjoy myself. My weight just went up one pound but my waist is still measuring at 36 inches. I've lost eight inches on my waist and am secretly trying for another four inches. We’ll see.

Be healthy, and enjoy,

Jim

Day 137 – Jim’s Trek – 20.4 Miles – The Tudors Finale

Good Day,

The young man is now in custody.

This morning I seemed to be a wee bit more enthusiastic regarding my cycling on my Schwinn 150. I burned 601 calories and completed 20.4 miles. To date I have now clocked 2,412.1 miles. My time is now 1 hour and just under 6 minutes. My weight is remaining stable at 167.6 lbs.

Today I cycled by Cavalier, North Dakota and I am located on ND 18 N just north of 96th Street NE. Cavalier’s apparent claim to fame; it was founded in 1877 and its zip code is 58220. I now have 146 miles to reach my next Interlake address goal and I have 1,609 miles remaining in my Trek to my ultimate Seattle goal.

I missed noting that yesterday was DNA Day… and now I understand why I received so many unsolicited emails inciting me to have my DNA tested. And today is somewhere lost in the past. It is Record Store Day. With digital music, iTunes, and Amazon, I suppose I could bring out my old vinyl albums and decorate for this evening’s supper.

And today, on my Schwinn 150, I watched the final episode of The Tudors. Charles of Suffolk passes away. Henry prepares for his own death. Holbein is commissioned to capture an ultimate portrait of His Majesty. Now I must find a new visual and mental stimulus to preoccupy me while I am exercising on my Schwinn 150. The second season of Continuum begins tomorrow. I was thinking about working with Warehouse 13 and with Mad Men. My secret to working my exercise is to ensure that there are no commercial breaks included in what I am watching. It works for me.

Our EssbeeCon quilt is on route to the Denver National Quilt Festival VIII. Work continues now on the borders for our new Equality quilt. And Cosmo’s Moon arrived in Jacksonville, Florida this morning on its trip to the Home Machine Quilt Show in Salt Lake City.

Be healthy and enjoy,

Jim

Day 136 – Jim’s Trek – 20.8 Miles – Cycling in the Hinterland of North Dakota

Good Day,

My thoughts are that there be no more tragic incidents in the current pursuit of the Boston Marathon violence suspect. And is the media ever doing the job by dragging out every question and response to the nth degree, especially when “a couple of cars are beginning to move…” and “…a couple of cars moved in, and a couple of cars pulled out…”

I completed my daily cycling on my Schwinn 150 Trek. I finished 20.8 miles and burned 601 calories. I am still headed north on North Dakota 18 N, also known as 140th Avenue NE. I have just crossed over 80th Street NE. The roadway scenery has not changed, fields and woods and road as far as my eye can see.

Hoople, nicknamed “Tatertown”, North Dakota is just southwest, a short distance from where I am. The 2010 population of this Tatertown was about 242. Hoople is best known for the location of the University of Southern North Dakota… a fictional university created by the comedic musician and composer Peter Schickele, aka P.D.Q. Bach. Okay…



Peter Schickele, in the above YouTube video is the commentator who spends Christmas at his part-time job.

And it is now 28°F in the area near and around where I’m at. I did pass by a couple of modern-style homesteads built for the region.

The Tudors – Penultimate episode of The Tudors. Henry is old. Henry is moving slowly. Henry believes that everyone is out to get into position. Increased angst between the Roman Catholics and the Protestants... the Reformation is confused.

All 81 9-inch block of our new Equality quilt have been joined together. Now the corners and the border are in progress. We are thrilled at the combination of the fabric colors. I am currently working on the quilting pattern. Check our status and progress on Quilts SB.

Be healthy and enjoy,

Jim

Day 135 – Jim’s Trek – 20.8 Miles – iPhone Diagnosis

Good Day,


This morning I truly did not want to get on my Schwinn 150 and continue with my Trek… but I pulled myself up on the cycle and I completed 20.8 miles. I burned 602 calories. I endure, and so bloody glad that I did. I kept repeating to myself: I have to do this, I have to do this, I have to do this. Total mileage completed to date is 2,370.9.

I am headed north on ND 18 N and just about at 59th Street NE.

According to an interpretation of my Physical Biorhythm is that I am recharging in my low period. I am moving upwards into my positive range and should move into the “better” half of the cycle within the next couple of days. Today I am at, according to my biorhythm, at a “Physical low phase”. I need to “rest, regenerate powers, accumulate energy.”

The graph is from MultiBiorhythm.

And I do like the quote of the day attributed to Albert Einstein –

If you can’t explain it simply, you don’t understand it well enough.

Thank you PC for sending me the following about Dr. Eric Topol and the technology of the future of medicine. Check it out http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=r13uYs7jglg Amazing!!!

The Tudors episode update – England takes Bologne. Henry’s getting old. The Catholics are plotting to burn the heretics, and the beat goes on.

Be healthy, and enjoy,

Jim

Day 134 – Jim’s Trek – 20.5 Miles - And I Love to Cook

Good Day,

This morning I cycled on my Schwinn 150 through Larimore, North Dakota. My 20.5 miles today has me now located, headed north on 37th Street NE and just north of 20th Avenue NE. I am now approximately 209 miles from my next Interlake address goal. Stay tuned to see if I make this 20th Goal.

My numbers are stable and constant, this morning. I have completed 71.2% of my original Tampa to Seattle Trek. I am now beginning to add some extra miles and more Interlake address goals.

Supper, last night, was Vietnamese Stir-Fried Scallops on Rice noodles. Damn, I really do love to cook… especially when I too enjoy the meal. I love to experiment with food… and always dare myself to try something new.

The Tudors – Henry and England goes to war against France. Queen Catherine is left in charge… Obviously this war dragged out for some time as the episode ends with Henry surveying the battlefield and the ramparts of Boulogne.

Be healthy and enjoy,

Jim

Day 133 – Jim’s Trek – 20.9 Miles – 19th Interlake Goal Achieved

Good Day,

I completed my Trek miles today and then I spent the remainder of the morning and early afternoon babysitting my Grandson. Play time, lunch fed and play time again, Grandpa is certainly due for a nap. The Kid was out like a light. And now I am seated writing up my Schwinn 150 Trek.

I burned, pre-Kid, 601 calories and I cycled 20.9 miles. I reached my 19th Interlake address goal this morning. From my starting point I first cycled on my Schwinn 150 13.7 miles to Interlake Road in Hatton, North Dakota. I had to back track to County Highway 8 for the remainder of my morning miles. I have now completed a total of 2,329.6 miles. I am now located and headed north on County Highway 8.

I'm somewhere in the west of North Dakota. I am southwest of the City of Grand Forks, ND.

Henry VIII obviously had something for women who had the name Catherine. He, in this episode of The Tudors meets, soon to be widow, Catherine Parr. The Catholics in power are trying to stamp any shred of Protestantism. I don’t know if there was some dramatic license, but I never realized the amount of torture that may have been used during the period of the English Reformation.

Red fabric arrived, washed and the blocks for our Equality quilt are in process. Minor changes to the original design have been made, specifically to create interesting corners. The design for our new quilt Waterfall is well on the way.

Scallops for dinner tonight.

Be healthy, and enjoy.

Jim

Day 132 – Jim’s Trek – 20.2 Miles – 69.94% Completed On My Schwinn 150

Good Day,

This morning on Day 132 of my Schwinn 150 Trek I burned off 600 calories; translated 20.2 miles. I am located at N Dakota 18 N/N Dakota 200 W, northwest of Portland, North Dakota. My Google image doesn’t show much white on the ground. The temperature at Portland is now 31°F and there is a 90% chance of snow. One thing positive about the white stuff, the pollen count is 1 out of 12… On the other hand, the pollen count in Tampa is 8.5 out of 12. Bless you.

I think the weather reporting at Wunderground is a bit screwy. It is reporting that the temperature right now at my home in Tampa is 96.3°F. I think that someone incorrectly entered the external thermometer.

This morning I have now hit 69.94% of my original Tampa to Seattle goal. My total miles clocked to date are 2,308.7. I will probably hit my 19th Interlake address goal tomorrow.

Yesterday I was playing songs for CK on my iPhone… As soon as Bob Marley’s Buffalo Soldiers began, CK was smiling and bouncing… and he appeared to be singing each time the chorus began “Woy, yoy, yoy…”


The Tudors – Scratch off Dereham, Culpeper, Lady Northrup, and Catherine Howard.  Chopped off heads, hangings, and quartering.  That was this episode. New season of The Borgias began... Somewhat confusing, more people dying and being killed. I also started watching the new PBS miniseries Mr. Selfridge about the creation of a new-type of department store in 1908 London. And Game of Thrones, Season 3 and Episode 3 is confusing. Some much information, so little time. And did someone say I was NOT into series?

Waiting for red fabric for our Equality quilt. To be delivered today. First draft of Waterfall quilt completed. Cosmo’s Moon quilt wall hanging is now undergoing our final examine before shipping. To date 2,923 people have tuned in and checked out our Cosmo’s Moon on Quilts SB Facebook. I need to examine the status of all our quilts and wall hangings in progress. Tune in to Quilts SB.

I am now examining a remake of my A Genealogy Hunt site. This will take some time as I have already posted 1,063 Posts. Thank you Bernard and Kathrine. I will definitely take suggestions.

Be healthy and enjoy,

Jim

Day 131 – Jim’s Trek – 20.1 Miles – No Icebergs

Good Day,

I’m watching for icebergs, maybe ice flows, today on the 101st anniversary of the disaster of the Titanic. And of course, today, where I am at on the road, there is a strong prediction of snow. It is mostly cloudy and feels like 20°F. And call this happenstance or what? Just after I wrote my previous sentences about the 101st I then checked today’s news and encounter the headline from USA Today “1 Missing in Avalanches East of Seattle.” Coincidental? On the other hand it feels like 72°F in Tampa. Hurray for my Schwinn 150.

This morning, after my first day off, I completed my goal of burning 602 calories; translated 20.1 miles in 1 hour and 5 minutes. I am now located just on the northern edge of the Township of Blanchard, North Dakota. I think that this is the smallest town that I have cycled through so far. The 2010 population was 26. I’m just about at the junction of North Dakota State Highway 18 and ND State Highway 200. I have now completed 2,288.5 miles on my Trek from Tampa to Seattle.

Blanchard’s claim to fame… Just about 6 miles away is the tallest man-made structure in the western hemisphere, the KVLY-TV mast.

Queen Catherine’s earlier paramour, Francis Dereham, appears on the scene in today’s episode of The Tudors. He blackmails his way into the Royal service, and his drunken bouts may speed up his downfall. Charles, much to his chagrin, keeps encountering the ghost of Jean Valjean aka Lord Darcy.

Blue and yellow blocks and rows completed for Equality quilt. Red fabric should arrive tomorrow. Stay tuned for updates and our progress at Quilts SB. A new design, Waterfall, is now in the works, a combination between traditional and contemporary. I think this will be a simple but classic looking quilt. We’re trying to increase of Likes on Quilts SB Facebook to hit a 500 goal.

Be healthy and enjoy,

Jim

Day 130 1/2 - Jim's Trek - Today I Rest - Yeah, Right!

Good Day,

Today is Day 130 1/2 on my Schwinn 150 Trek from Tampa to Seattle. Out of the blue, I decided that I would just take the day off from my cycling. I also decided that after the next 130 days I would take another day off.

It is time to examine my Trek and search for more Interlake address stops and goals for the remainder of my trip. There is also only 2 days left to the Tax filing deadline.

"B" marks my current location in North Dakota. I have completed 18 Interlake address goals. I have been able to find six more from this point before I actually reach my final destination in Seattle. I'm searching for a few more.

Be healthy and enjoy,

Jim

Day 130 – Jim’s Trek – 20.8 Miles and 603 Calories – North Dakota

Good Day,

This morning’s ride on my Schwinn 150 racked up another 20.8 miles. My total Trek mileage – 2,268.4. I am headed north on highway N Dakota 18. I have just crossed over 25 Street SE, and about halfway to 24th Street SE. Fields as far as I can see, to all my directions: north, south, east, west.

My waist measurement is keeping constant. After 130 days I wonder what will happen at Day 150.

Today is Grilled Cheese Sandwich Day. Check out The Chive for their presentation of 40 unique grilled cheese sandwich recipes. And while I complete all my paperwork I might be munching on a good grilled cheese sandwich.

Supper last night – Irish Boiled Dinner but I substituted chicken for the beef brisket. Garlic, onions, carrots, red potatoes, turnip, green cabbage, beer, chicken broth, Bay leaves, peppercorns, olive oil, butter… Excellent and filling supper.

It appears that no keyhole in any doorway to the Royal bedchambers is sacrosanct. The Tudors present a number of interesting twists in the lives of Henry, Queen Catherine Howard, Lady Anne of Cleves, and Thomas Culpeper. Historically correct? Certainly would be thought-provoking to find out.

Be healthy and enjoy,

Jim

Day 129 – Jim’s Trek – 20.3 Miles – I’m in North Dakota

Good Day,

Today I burned 601 calories on my Schwinn 150 Trek and clocked in 20.3 miles. This morning I passed through Dilworth, Minnesota to Fargo, North Dakota. And I did so very quickly with my feet high on my pedals. I am on 36th SE Street between 165th Ave SE and 164th Ave SE in North Dakota.


My total mileage today equals now 2,247.6. I am approximately 75.0 miles from my next goal.

The Tudors – Henry’s leg injury is getting worse and Queen Catherine is acting as a spoiled brat and teenager. There does not seem to be any great underlined alliances in the work, excepting it appears that everyone is just looking out for her/him-self.

Still waiting on the red fabric for our Equality quilt. The blue and yellow blocks are well on the way.

Tonight's supper - Chicken, turnips, carrots, and greens.

Be healthy and enjoy,

Jim