The flats just keep on coming

On Saturday, I started to fix the flats that I got on Thursday. The front tube had three holes in it so I didn't bother patching it. I did patch the back tube and reinstalled it. Then I went to Maplewood bicycle to buy some replacement tubes. They also gave my some zip ties and help me mount the frame pump to my bike. I had been meaning to do this for a while.

One the way back, I hit a rock and the front tire had a blowout. This was annoying, but at least I had plenty of spare tubes with me. I replaced the tube and as I was pumping it up it blew out again. The blowout was in the same location too. At this point I need something was wrong. I checked to see if there was a spoke poke through the wheel that was causing the problem but didn't find anything. I decide to walk the bike back to Maplewood Bicycle and have them check it out.

As I was telling the story the Greg. He was looking at the problem wheel. He almost immediately noticed a cut in the side of the tire. This is what was causing the blowouts. I'm guessing that this happened at the same time that I got the flats on Thursday. He sold me a new tire, installed it, and I was on my way.

I had no problems with my commute on Monday. On my way home, I did talk to someone else that was bike commuting for the first time. He asked if I had any tips. I told him to watch out for left turning cars. I also should have suggested that he get rid of the headphones. I never listen to music while riding because I want to be able to hear what's going on around me.

Helen to the rescue

I was watching the weather this afternoon at work. The forecast had called for scattered thundershowers and I was hoping to dodge them. I had avoided the rain in the morning and I was hoping my luck would hold. When I left work it looked like the worst of it had passed.

I made it about half way home when I suddenly had a flat. I pulled off the road and saw that the front tire was entirely flat. I called Helen to let her know that I would be a little late. While I was changing the tire it starting raining. Not too bad but it was more than a drizzle. After I removed the piece of glass from the front tire and replaced the tube I was ready to go, or so I thought. Just as I was about to get started, I noticed that the back tire was flat too. And then it started raining hard.

I was only carrying one spare tube. I do carry a patch kit so I could have tried to patch one of the punctured tubes, but this would have been difficult to do in the wet. I decided that discretion was the better part of valor and called Helen to come pick me up. I will probably have Helen drive me to work tomorrow. I don't want to mess with patching the tube tonight.

More Surgery

I saw my hand doctor today and he wants to remove the pins and the plate that he put in my right hand. I was expecting the pins to be removed but he had told me that the plate would be staying in. He thinks that the plate may be irritating the tendons in my hand and causing some of the problems that I have been having. This is why he changed his mind. The surgery is scheduled for next Wednesday. I guess that I won't be giving blood tomorrow.

Best Trip Ever

We went to San Antonio at the end of July. According to Rachel, it was the best trip ever. Here are some of the things that we did:

• Rode on a airplane
• Rachel picked out the rental car

At the lake house

• Went swimming in the lake
• Found shells
• Met some cousins that she never met before (Beca, Mathew, Sarah, and Jacob)
• Saw lots of animals: deer, lizards, ducks, geese, hawks, minnows, fish, a black slug, a bat
• Rode a Jetski
• Went tubing
• Got ice cream from the ice cream truck
• Raised and lowered the flag
• Played Uncle Jim's pinball machine
• Went fishing (but didn't catch anything)
• Caught minnows in the minnow trap
• Rachel caught a baby gecko
• Went on a cave tour

At the San Antonio Children's Museum

• Rachel and A.J. pulled themselves up in a kid powered elevator
• Made puppets
• Made bubbles
• Played at the water table
• Played in the store
• Rode a stationary bike
• Milked an artificial cow
• Flew an airplane

At SeaWorld

• Saw a sea lion show
• Saw a water skiing show and got splashed
• Saw the Shamu show
• Rode on a scary ride
• Rode on the lazy river
• Played in the wave pool

Here are some pictures

lake house pictures