For several years we have stored a tandem in the garden shed. This was supposed to be a restoration project, but in all that time I have not had the time to do anything with it.
We decided that it was best to sell it on to someone who had the time to work on it.
Kelli advertised it on Marketplace and eventually someone responded and was prepared to drive for over an hour to take a look at it.
I had just wheeled it into the driveway when the buyer turned up.
He spent a long time looking over it, not usually a good sign, but eventually he reached into his pocket and handed over a fistful of dollars.
It was sad to see it leave, but I could not see a time when I could spend the amount of time needed, so it was good that it went to someone who knew about bicycles.
Then there was another visit to the garden centre for more plants. This time we wanted to brighten up a forgotten area at the side of the house. We never spend less than two hundred bucks at a time there, and this time it came in just under.
Of course when we got back, I had to dig out the patch, which in the high humidity was tiring. I mixed in compost and top soil then it was ready to plant. Afterwards we mulched the entire area, and soaked everything. I hope we don’t forget they are there.
It was an early visit to Gloria’s to finish fitting out her jewellery storage unit. The job was to line out the top section with polished pine, and as I had already pre cut the panels to fit the final assembly was a doddle.
We got another bike ride in, this time to Castle Park a place so exclusive that even the grass did not wave at us. It is an impressive place, with some amazing houses clinging to the hillsides. There is even a Roman style amphitheater set in a valley, gorgeous place.
There were plans to drive to Saugatuck to collect some coffee and side tables that need refinishing, but that was put off for another day. Instead there were the two desk pedestals to work on.
Once we felt we’d done enough, it was pool time, so relaxing, watching the birds flying about, pure indulgence.
After eight months my Anglepoise floor standing lamp arrived. I had almost forgotten about it, but I was finally able to put it together and place it next to the sofa. There was also a forty watt bulb supplied so I didn’t have to scramble about to find one. Now, the only comment from Kelli about one of Sir Kenneth Grange’s finest designs was “ it’s a bit dim”.
“ A bit dim!” I said, “ Not everything is about light output”.
We cycled down to the bike shop, a three mile journey. I wanted to see if they stocked any gel seat covers because both our rear ends needed some comfort.
However I was underwhelmed by what they had, their only suggestion was a new saddle at forty buck each. Now, are we prepared to suffer a bit of discomfort for a bit longer until our buttocks become tough like old leather, or should we wimp out? Grit your teeth Kelli, we’re in for the long haul.
I must to admit that I wasn’t as sore as I have been, so the process maybe working.
I was also interested in some panniers so we could carry stuff around, but the selection they had was not great, so we left the shop empty handed and made our way through the park past the pickle factory.
We did start to re-organise the garage a bit starting at Kelli’s area where the paint was stored.
We used some cabinets that we obtained a while ago, they were stashed in the storage room, the place where things get put when we wish to forget them. Anyway we thought we would use them to make the place less cluttered. The whole garage needs a good clear out especially my area that is littered with old chipboard worksurfaces that we didn’t use, these need to be taken to the dump, then we can move on to phase two of the tidy-up.
The realisation that the days are getting shorter is a little depressing, mainly because we’ve only just started having decent summer weather. The other result is I feel less like working out in the garage, the lure of open road and the cool water of the pool is too strong. Having said that, the water is not cool at all. With the cover on and the sun beating down it only needs a teabag in it for a cuppa.
We had two collections today, just managing to squeeze both of them into the truck, then it was off for a doctors appointment for Kelli.
We then had a short bike ride, just long enough so my bottom hurt, I must get some gel covers.
We did sell the tall dresser to a lady who plans to ship it to California for her daughter’s new home, and we managed to get pictures of a small dresser that we had bought as an unfinished project piece.
It was going to hit 90 degrees today, so a bike ride in the morning, before the heat hit us was our plan.
We rode towards the Heinz pickle factory where there is a raised walkway over the edge of lake Mac. Being a weekday it was almost deserted. The warm weather seems to bring out the best in people. A few that we met along the way wished us well as we glided alone on our assisted rides. This means that we have bike rides everyday since we got them, no wonder my arse glows at night.
We did a bit of furniture work before succumbing to the refreshing charms of the pool. We floated about for an hour, or until our skin became wrinkly.
The day started with a ring on the doorbell, we had just finished breakfast, and Kelli went to answer it. I was still in my bed ware, so I rushed off to get dressed.
When I went outside Kelli was talking to a man who introduced himself as from the city.
Apparently he was investigating a complaint about us spraying dangerous chemicals.
The complaint was registered a couple of weeks ago by someone unknown.
I started to seethe inside, some nosey waste of space had snitched on us.
Kelli explained what we did and the equipment we used were no different than a DIYer would use. The investigator understood that, but stressed that it was his job to check out the complaint.
That left us wondering who might have done that, we thought we knew everyone in the Avenue, but obviously there is a low life here and we don’t know who it is, but we will find out somehow.
After he left, Larry walked over, I thought he wanted to know why the city were talking to us, but no it was far more dramatic.
“I’ve been in hospital “ he said, “I had a heart attack”. Apparently a couple of Sundays ago an ambulance had turned up and rushed him to Zeeland hospital. We were both shocked, we had no idea, we hadn’t seen or heard an ambulance arrive, which was so unusual, because we work directly across the road.
Fortunately he recovered, lived to tell the tail, but he will have to be careful from now on.
After all this we had to take a bike ride to get it all out of our system, my vindictive mind still focused on the complainer. By the time our ride was over, I had calmed down, I had things to get on with.
We managed to get a dip in the pool even though it was not as hot as passed days. We joked that the sad person was probably jealous of us for having a pool and new bikes.
“Bollocks to them” I said as we mixed some paint up to spray another dresser.
It was Father’s day over here, so we took a bike ride to the cemetery to honour Dave.
It’s great to see Kelli so excited about using her bicycle. We stopped off to say hi to some friends, something unheard of just a few months ago.
The other main event was the handing over of the finished bed frame. I would say it was a Labour of love, but in reality it was a pain in the arse. However the customers were ecstatic over it. I had it built on the drive as they pulled up with their massive trailer on the back of their truck. I was relieved, at the response and helped them load it.
I waved it goodbye, next time I will have to revise my prices.
It was time for Kelli’s’ first real bike ride in two years. I wasn’t sure how far she wanted to go, so I suggested going around the block. She looked at me in horror. Did I think that was sufficient? Oh no she wanted to do a much longer run. I could feel the soreness in my buttocks from yesterday’s ride twitch, but I wanted to encourage her.
The machines were wheeled out of the garage, still sparkling new, into the morning sun.
We climbed aboard and set off heading for the big lake.
The air was a bit cool in the shade, but that didn’t deter our adventure. The ECO setting was just right, and we arrived at Point West in good time. Kelli blagged her way past the security gate as she always does, and soon we were heading for the beach, it was fabulous down there.
We parked our bikes, making sure we locked them, it was really to see how they worked.
We sat on the sand and looked out over the Great Lake. There was a lot of activity out there with the jet skis angrily racing about like wasps among the boats.
Kelli had done well, she had wanted to do this for a year, and I was proud of her for taking this giant step.
Now it was time for the return journey. I hadn’t experienced the soreness as much on the way down as I had lowered my seat a couple of inches, but on the way back it resumed, only now it was hurting on the other side. By the time we got back I was suffering from synchronised aching buttocks, not something I would recommend.
I had a lot of work to do to the headboard because we had committed to have it finished tomorrow
We went hunting for E-bikes today. We have two well used and old ones, but we felt it might be fun to join the twenty-first century.
Not really knowing much about the different types other than some are eye wateringly expensive, we settled on the power assisted models. Of course we had to try them out, so we wheeled them outside, and after a quick run through of the controls, we set off. Apart from four modes of assistance there were nine gears most of which are like a conventional bicycle, the mayor difference was the weight.
The machine itself weighed in at fifty pounds, mainly due to the motor and battery pack, although I didn’t really notice it, I guess if it fell on me I would notice. We got back to the shop, and the sales assistant asked us how we got on, she looked shocked when I said that I would have them. You could see the commission light up in her eyes. “A new boat or car?” She was thinking, well not quite, but it was a good sale for her.
The mechanics took them off to check everything was correctly set up as I settled the payment.
Then there was the question of getting them back home. I decided that I would ride my bike back to the house, and load Kelli’s into the back of the truck as she had another errand to run.
Off I went, starting in the ECO mode, the most common, if I felt cocky I would go to SPORT, TOUR and even TURBO if I was really daring. Halfway back I encountered a bit of rough pavement, the chunky tyres handled if fine, but I did notice the display was not showing anything.
It had been a couple of years since I last rode a bike, and the new saddle was playing havoc with my arse. I thought the saddle was set a bit high, more for someone with normal length legs, mine being one up from a dwarf, but with no apparent power assist and relying on the manual mode things were getting a bit sore down there.
Finally I made the last turn and arrived home. Kelli had beaten me, but with my bottom stinging I wasn’t in the mood to complain about the result.
We lifted Kelli’s bike out of the truck and I checked the on/off functions, hers worked perfectly, mine did not.
I opened up the user manual looking for any clue for why there was no power.
Kelli phoned the shop, and the suggestion from them was to try charging the battery pack, which I did, they also said that a mechanic was going to stop by to check it over.
A little time went by, then a little van pulled up and the technician climbed out, he was quite tall and it was a wonder that he managed to fit into the small Japanese vehicle.
He fiddled about then announced that the battery pack was not connected properly, and with a ‘click’ he engaged it in its housing.
Once correctly fitted the display worked perfectly.
We thanked the chap as he folded himself back into the Japanese micro machine and off he went.
There were tremendous thunderstorms last night keeping me awake instead of Kelli. The room lit up like a crazy disco, all I could think of was whether the trees around us would survive.
The thought of a large bough crashing through the roof was frightening.
The morning brought calm back to the neighbourhood, the sun was shining, and as it was rubbish collection day, the bins were gleaming in the morning light.
We sold the dressing table whilst I stripped the finish on yet another dresser top.
Two young girls had driven from Grand Rapids to collect it, and it just fitted in their vehicle.
I continued working on the headboard, I will be really glad when that is done, I’m really bored with it now.
Another Lifetime to go 