Livin' the life,
BagLady
Facebook: Kathryn Mossbrook Zimmerman
Wednesday, September 24, 2014
Pictures
I've learned that portrait photos are causing the upload problem. I have to resize them. Let's see if I can upload some.
Livin' the life,
BagLady
Facebook: Kathryn Mossbrook Zimmerman
Livin' the life,
BagLady
Facebook: Kathryn Mossbrook Zimmerman
Life's Getting Crazy
September 24, 2014
Lapalisse, France
This has been one crazy week and it's wearing me out. Maybe I'm too old to be touring alone. It's terribly stressful at times. But, as always, the kindness of strangers pulls me through.
Now let's see if I can remember all that's happened. You know about the tire then the broken frame.
Sunday came and I wasn't ready with food shopping so I scraped the bottom of the pannier. The next day around midday I got to a village and parked in front of a small grocery store. I needed to write my bike shop because Blaze is running like a crab. Her boom is tilted. When I looked up, it was CLOSED! For 2.5 hours! I felt at the breaking point and just wanted to cry. This life is not as easy as it sounds. There's so many unknowns every day. I cycled through town and found a patisserie and got a bread and a flan. Then I looked and my solar panel was missing! Oh no! It must have dropped off when I left the grocery store. I'm lost without it. LOST! POWERLESS! I race back looking along the pavement. It's not there. Oh no! This can't be happening. Check everywhere! ...there it is, tucked away...ahhhh. You should try living with me!! This brain is frightening and so forgetful these days. That doesn't help.
So on I go. Down the sweetest back country roads. Learning more about letting go. I don't itch that bad. I have a second warmer bag to use. I have enough food for the night. PB & J is always there. I'm okay. And I'm in France! And it's a beautiful day. Getting near camping time. Time to find some water. I look for people outside. Or listen. Look. There's a couple. Of course, they're staring at me:). J'ai besoin de l'eau. My standard phrase. It's a farm family. Mom, dad, and daughter. Yes. Of course. Then I ask if perhaps they have a place I could camp. And I end up in the garden:). Wonderful people. Got to watch mom milk 35 head of cows. I'll never take dairy for granted again. It took 1.5 hours to put them in their stantion ( 8 at a time), scrub teats, apply milking machine, treat teats after, and release them...then sterilize equipment while next 8 ladies load. Quite an operation and it's done twice a day, EVERY day. Whew!
They had gardens and chickens, turkeys, geese, a pig and "les enfants" (calves). All ages. They're separated from mom right away. A couple were a week old. It's a business...but Edith knew the name of every cow! Invited in for dinner too, so that solved my food problem. Amazing family. Such fun! And I'm so grateful. See you on Facebook, Monica!
Last night it was getting quite late and I wasn't finding a spot. I heard a woman trying to quiet her dog do I turned around and went back. I'd seen a grassy spot a couple of houses away and was hoping she'd know if I could use it. She and her husband offered they're yard. Yea! And in the morning coffee and conversation....and red peach jam and apples for the road. Thank you Chantelle and Christian.
Tonight a campground, wifi, power, and a shower. Living it up!! Both families offered a room indoors but I do prefer my tent!
Oh and another challenge is finding my way. I like Google Maps to give me a route. Much easier. But it doesn't know that I want paved roads so it gives me this
Or this
Or worse yet, this
I ended up carrying her across the deep water and squishy sand. Then 3 trips to get all my gear across! And those back roads are so much slower, but sure beat 20 kms on a road with no shoulder and big trucks going both ways like I did today. Glad to be here. Now I'm going to enjoy it. Shower!!
Livin' the life,
BagLady
Facebook: Kathryn Mossbrook Zimmerman
Lapalisse, France
This has been one crazy week and it's wearing me out. Maybe I'm too old to be touring alone. It's terribly stressful at times. But, as always, the kindness of strangers pulls me through.
Now let's see if I can remember all that's happened. You know about the tire then the broken frame.
Sunday came and I wasn't ready with food shopping so I scraped the bottom of the pannier. The next day around midday I got to a village and parked in front of a small grocery store. I needed to write my bike shop because Blaze is running like a crab. Her boom is tilted. When I looked up, it was CLOSED! For 2.5 hours! I felt at the breaking point and just wanted to cry. This life is not as easy as it sounds. There's so many unknowns every day. I cycled through town and found a patisserie and got a bread and a flan. Then I looked and my solar panel was missing! Oh no! It must have dropped off when I left the grocery store. I'm lost without it. LOST! POWERLESS! I race back looking along the pavement. It's not there. Oh no! This can't be happening. Check everywhere! ...there it is, tucked away...ahhhh. You should try living with me!! This brain is frightening and so forgetful these days. That doesn't help.
So on I go. Down the sweetest back country roads. Learning more about letting go. I don't itch that bad. I have a second warmer bag to use. I have enough food for the night. PB & J is always there. I'm okay. And I'm in France! And it's a beautiful day. Getting near camping time. Time to find some water. I look for people outside. Or listen. Look. There's a couple. Of course, they're staring at me:). J'ai besoin de l'eau. My standard phrase. It's a farm family. Mom, dad, and daughter. Yes. Of course. Then I ask if perhaps they have a place I could camp. And I end up in the garden:). Wonderful people. Got to watch mom milk 35 head of cows. I'll never take dairy for granted again. It took 1.5 hours to put them in their stantion ( 8 at a time), scrub teats, apply milking machine, treat teats after, and release them...then sterilize equipment while next 8 ladies load. Quite an operation and it's done twice a day, EVERY day. Whew!
They had gardens and chickens, turkeys, geese, a pig and "les enfants" (calves). All ages. They're separated from mom right away. A couple were a week old. It's a business...but Edith knew the name of every cow! Invited in for dinner too, so that solved my food problem. Amazing family. Such fun! And I'm so grateful. See you on Facebook, Monica!
Last night it was getting quite late and I wasn't finding a spot. I heard a woman trying to quiet her dog do I turned around and went back. I'd seen a grassy spot a couple of houses away and was hoping she'd know if I could use it. She and her husband offered they're yard. Yea! And in the morning coffee and conversation....and red peach jam and apples for the road. Thank you Chantelle and Christian.
Tonight a campground, wifi, power, and a shower. Living it up!! Both families offered a room indoors but I do prefer my tent!
Oh and another challenge is finding my way. I like Google Maps to give me a route. Much easier. But it doesn't know that I want paved roads so it gives me this
Or this
Or worse yet, this
I ended up carrying her across the deep water and squishy sand. Then 3 trips to get all my gear across! And those back roads are so much slower, but sure beat 20 kms on a road with no shoulder and big trucks going both ways like I did today. Glad to be here. Now I'm going to enjoy it. Shower!!
Livin' the life,
BagLady
Facebook: Kathryn Mossbrook Zimmerman
My What Broke???
September 19, 2014
Niherne, France
Why am I riding so low? I think my feet are pointing up more. What's happening here? Not good thoughts to have when Google Maps has again taken me down a remote farm road. I like being away from traffic, especially late in the day when I'm looking for a place to camp for the night. But not when I examine my trike to see what's the matter and see a gaping crack in the frame at the point that takes all the stress. Half of the frame has pulled away. SHIT! This is not good. I'm miles from any town. No cars go by here. I'm in a bit of a pickle.
DELETED PHOTO OF BREAK
First, do not get back on that bike. Not until it's fixed. You need it to carry your 60 lbs of stuff. If it breaks completely, you are totally SOL.
Next, find a place to camp for the night. I needed to give myself time to think about what to do.
Then, add reinforcement to the crack to prevent it from opening further. I have lots of Velcro. Wrap it well...that stuff is strong!
Now get some sleep. Like Scarlett, I'll think about this tomorrow:).
But of course I did work it all night. Oh and I emailed my bike shop to ask about repairing it with a weld. He said no, but forwarded my email on to the manufacturer, Inspired Cycle Engineers.
Ok, if I can't weld it, then I need to get to Lyon, 300 kms away, to get to an ICE dealer to get this fixed. Guess I'll need some help with getting there...or getting to a town with public transportation.
When I feel a bit overwhelmed by a situation, like this, I look at just the next step I have to take...and take that. Then figure out the next one. So I knew in the morning I need to push Blaze to a nearby village and get help. First step.
Funny thing this morning, a van went by the tent before I was dressed and I didn't react. Then he went by again, going back, while I was making coffee and again I did nothing. Don't know why I didn't rush out to him. I was focused on walking to town. And I was not packed up. Guess that was why.
So I packed her up and started pushing. Walking a trike is not easy. Steering and brakes are low and up front. Ya gotta push from the rear. It's complicated. Especially on the road on a downhill. How to brake? Used my umbrella with the handle loop around the handle and brake lever. Twist it to tighten the lever and break. Push and pull it to steer. Worked it out.
After about 5 miles we entered a small town and right away I spotted some people outside with trucks and machinery. I am shy. No one believes me. I have to push myself to approach. I wait in the middle of the drive but only one man sees me. He's not responding but you can see he's wondering what's up. Finally I say Bonjour. And walk over. In my very broken French I explain that I have a problem with my bike. The Madame is very gracious and speaks slowly with me. The guys check out the problem. There's much talking that I don't understand. They think it can be repaired OR they can get me to a bus station but they don't think my trike will fit. Worry about that later.
So it's decided that Martin will take me and we'll see if we can get it fixed. Otherwise maybe his wife, who's going to Chateauroux (train town), can take the bike in her small car. It folds! I say. In the next village, after Martin talks to several different men we end up at a job plant where one gets stuff made. They are busy says the receptionist. But the main man looks at it and says "bring it back here" in French. They clear a couple of saw horses and tip Blaze upside down on them. A serious operation!
DELETED PHOTOS OF REPAIR
Twenty minutes later, hotter than heck, she's ready to go. And so are the skies...a storm is approaching. 20€ to the receptionist and we're off to the center of town. I find an overhang for Martin to deposit me, my bike, and my stuff. All before the heavens open. Two cheek kisses thank you, my agreement to write, a quick blurry photo,
and I'm ready to ride!
After all is said and done, I find an email from ICE, the manufacturer that it can't be welded (too late) and they will send a replacement wherever I wish. So I'm headed to Lyon (200 miles) on my "unrepairable" trike where Blaze gets a butt replacement.
Livin' the life,
BagLady
Facebook: Kathryn Mossbrook Zimmerman
Niherne, France
Why am I riding so low? I think my feet are pointing up more. What's happening here? Not good thoughts to have when Google Maps has again taken me down a remote farm road. I like being away from traffic, especially late in the day when I'm looking for a place to camp for the night. But not when I examine my trike to see what's the matter and see a gaping crack in the frame at the point that takes all the stress. Half of the frame has pulled away. SHIT! This is not good. I'm miles from any town. No cars go by here. I'm in a bit of a pickle.
DELETED PHOTO OF BREAK
First, do not get back on that bike. Not until it's fixed. You need it to carry your 60 lbs of stuff. If it breaks completely, you are totally SOL.
Next, find a place to camp for the night. I needed to give myself time to think about what to do.
Then, add reinforcement to the crack to prevent it from opening further. I have lots of Velcro. Wrap it well...that stuff is strong!
Now get some sleep. Like Scarlett, I'll think about this tomorrow:).
But of course I did work it all night. Oh and I emailed my bike shop to ask about repairing it with a weld. He said no, but forwarded my email on to the manufacturer, Inspired Cycle Engineers.
Ok, if I can't weld it, then I need to get to Lyon, 300 kms away, to get to an ICE dealer to get this fixed. Guess I'll need some help with getting there...or getting to a town with public transportation.
When I feel a bit overwhelmed by a situation, like this, I look at just the next step I have to take...and take that. Then figure out the next one. So I knew in the morning I need to push Blaze to a nearby village and get help. First step.
Funny thing this morning, a van went by the tent before I was dressed and I didn't react. Then he went by again, going back, while I was making coffee and again I did nothing. Don't know why I didn't rush out to him. I was focused on walking to town. And I was not packed up. Guess that was why.
So I packed her up and started pushing. Walking a trike is not easy. Steering and brakes are low and up front. Ya gotta push from the rear. It's complicated. Especially on the road on a downhill. How to brake? Used my umbrella with the handle loop around the handle and brake lever. Twist it to tighten the lever and break. Push and pull it to steer. Worked it out.
After about 5 miles we entered a small town and right away I spotted some people outside with trucks and machinery. I am shy. No one believes me. I have to push myself to approach. I wait in the middle of the drive but only one man sees me. He's not responding but you can see he's wondering what's up. Finally I say Bonjour. And walk over. In my very broken French I explain that I have a problem with my bike. The Madame is very gracious and speaks slowly with me. The guys check out the problem. There's much talking that I don't understand. They think it can be repaired OR they can get me to a bus station but they don't think my trike will fit. Worry about that later.
So it's decided that Martin will take me and we'll see if we can get it fixed. Otherwise maybe his wife, who's going to Chateauroux (train town), can take the bike in her small car. It folds! I say. In the next village, after Martin talks to several different men we end up at a job plant where one gets stuff made. They are busy says the receptionist. But the main man looks at it and says "bring it back here" in French. They clear a couple of saw horses and tip Blaze upside down on them. A serious operation!
DELETED PHOTOS OF REPAIR
Twenty minutes later, hotter than heck, she's ready to go. And so are the skies...a storm is approaching. 20€ to the receptionist and we're off to the center of town. I find an overhang for Martin to deposit me, my bike, and my stuff. All before the heavens open. Two cheek kisses thank you, my agreement to write, a quick blurry photo,
and I'm ready to ride!
After all is said and done, I find an email from ICE, the manufacturer that it can't be welded (too late) and they will send a replacement wherever I wish. So I'm headed to Lyon (200 miles) on my "unrepairable" trike where Blaze gets a butt replacement.
Livin' the life,
BagLady
Facebook: Kathryn Mossbrook Zimmerman
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