From unseasonably warm to below zero!
I went outside yesterday, but it took me until noon to find my
cold-weather gear. Fortunately, I had darned my hand-knit alpaca
tights in late summer, so a pair of skin-tight tights under and
ripstop windpants over kept me cosy. And able to swing my leg over
the top bar. Had to find twill-tape garters and thin large safety
pins to secure the wind pants; they are cow-hitched to the hanger the
wind pants are on now.
Nothing new in the wool jerseys, but I wore all three of them, over a
silk T-shirt and under my wind shirt.
The "short-ride sandals" were, surprise, right where they belong, as
were the tight, loose, and very loose thick socks. I didn't bother
with the newspaper sleeve and knee hose, and didn't regret it.
Probably would have needed a windbreaker on my feet if I'd been out
for hours.
The balaclava was right where I looked for it. I'd forgotten how to
wear it.
My Specialized mirror-support is too small to wear over a balaclava
and scarf.
I looked in the cupboard where I keep the floor pumps, dust pans, and
an expensive folding pannier that I bought by mistake. The Bell Biker
on top of the pile has a Chuck Harris mirror on it; that must be
Dave's Bell Biker underneath it. I grabbed without looking. Wasn't
until I got back that I realized that there had been an Avenir helmet
between the Bell and the Specialized. (And it, too, has a Chuck
Harris mirror. I didn't know that I had so many.)
In addition to the Bell Biker's built-in rocks (which render it counter-productive as protection), the Y straps needed adjusting and
after only forty or fifty years of neglect, had siezed up in the
sliders and wouldn't move; the hat kept sliding into my field of
vision. (And pushing the edge of the balaclava down where I could
feel it in the process.) Also I broke a solder joint in the mirror
when I bumped a doorway, and didn't notice until I got back.
Not terribly happy from the neck up. I'd given my face a few quick
swipes with a sunscreen stick instead of a proper greasing.
But everyone was exceedingly pleasant at all three stops, and no
astonishment that I'd left the house.
It was particularly nice to be announced by name at the Trailhouse.
Such a pleasant change from getting that treatment at emergency rooms!
(My go bag is still by the door, but, knock wood, it looks as though
I'll use it only on trips that are planned well in advance.)
--
Joy Beeson
joy beeson at centurylink dot net
http://wlweather.net/PAGEJOY/
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