Deeds

Living in South Dakota, most of the motorcyclists around here don't really get their bikes and trikes out until May. However, as one that likes to ride all year around, I'm in full swing by the start of April. Yesterday with the temperatures in the 50s, I decided to take a solo ride to knock the winter dust off my Can-Am Spyder. I had no destination in mind beyond finding some county roads I've never ridden on before.

My catch phrase when riding is that "Random roads take me to random places. I like it!". In this case the South Dakota roads took me to Parker, Monroe, Lake Vermillion, and Montrose. From Montrose I took Highway 38 back to more familiar well-ridden territory of Humboldt, Hartford, and of course Sioux Falls. 

Since 2008, I've been collecting weather observations in my backyard with a Davis Instruments Vantage Pro2 Wireless Weather Station. Beyond routine maintenance and an occasional replacement or addition of parts, the weather station has been rock solid.

With today's winter storm bringing 6 to 10 inches of snow across the area, I decided to start snow blowing before the snow even ended. I'll do cleanup Saturday morning.

Below is just a quick video from the security camera of snow blowing with my EGO Single-Stage Snowblower.

As some of you already know, I ride a Can-Am Spyder which is a motorcycle that is a inverse trike (two wheels in front, one wheel in back). Unfortunately, I live in South Dakota where the climate around here isn't too favorable for riding from November through March. By this time of year it's not too uncommon to see snow on the roads or temperatures well below freezing.

The normal high temperature for Sioux Falls this time of year is 37 deg F. But yesterday was a different story as afternoon temperatures on December 1, 2021 reached to a high of 61 deg F. I took advantage of these warmer temperatures by riding my Spyder at the end of my workday through downtown Sioux Falls and Falls Park as sunset approached.

With snow on the ground and long stretches of subzero temperatures, I wasn't sure I was going to get in a motorcycle ride for the month of February. Then on the second to last day of this short month, the temperatures rose to the lower-mid 40s and the roads were mainly dry. That was good enough for me as I took my 2017 Spyder RT out for a 20 mile ride from home to downtown Sioux Falls. 

As I write this blog entry, I just completed shoveling a couple inches of snow from my driveway. The streets and the lawns are covered with a new fresh layer of white snow from our latest winter storm. Earlier last week, knowing that new snow and colder temperatures were fast approaching, I decided to take my Can-Am Spyder for a spin on Inauguration Day, January 20, 2021. The trip was short with only 18 miles for the round trip to and from work but I was all smiles the entire time I rode my three-wheeler.

So my 15 minutes of fame for 2021 has already happened. I was interviewed by Dakota News Now at the end of 2020 which aired on KSFY and KDLT the first day of this year.

My son asked me why the local news was doing the interview. The short answer, I'm getting old.

Out of boredom, I decided to post this video of our cat Maya.

For whatever reason, our cat prefers to watch people in the kitchen from the bar stool with paws over the counter. If she had a beer in hand I'd call her Norm (from Cheers).

So without any additional introduction, here is a video to enjoy or waste three minutes of your time.

In the final hours of the Great Cycle Challenge, I completed my goal of riding 160 miles in the month of September. Not bad for a guy in his early 50's but I'm sure 20-something me would have been able to reach this total in half the time it took. But the truth is I probably worked harder for these miles than anytime in my life given my current weight and all the windy days I rode.

The middle of September brought unfriendly bicycle weather to South Dakota with winds the primary foe for any bicyclist. Even as I write with only a few days of the challenge left, we're seeing winds at 30 MPH gusting to 45 MPH. For weeks 3 and 4 of my challenge, I was only able to get three rides completed. With only a few days left of the month, I've ridden just 120 miles of my 160 mile goal. Cross your fingers that I get 40 miles of additional riding done before this challenge is over.