I'm sitting on top of the world...

 

If you said, "Written by Ray Henderson (music) and lyrics by Sam M. Lewis and Joe Young, published in 1925, made popular by Al Jolson, also done by Les Paul (yes, that Les Paul) and Mary Ford in 1953, and Dean Martin in 1973," you get a bazillion bonus points.  If you had to look it up on Google, you get minus 12 bonus points.  Thanks for playing.  On, and if you want to play that song, it is in the public domain.

I took both bikes out for a run this morning; the CTX because it's what I do.  The Xmax, because it has been sitting for a while and I like to exercise it.  It was hot, humid (sun glasses fogged over the moment I stepped outside), sunny, but not windy.  One in a row.

This description will likely piss off some riders, but with the floorboards and the Corbin seat, it reminds me of one of the Harley dressers I had in the 90s - you sit in the bike.  The Xmax has a more sporting seating position, but still very scooter-like.  The seat is about 3 inches taller than the CTX, but you definitely feel like you are "sitting tall in the saddle," more on the bike than in it.  Still comfortable (Yamaha did a great job with the seat on this bike), but you notice the height difference.

When I took the Xmax across the causeway, I was enjoying the views, the pep of the bike, checking out the wind flow over the windshield... then looked down and I was going 65 mph.  This scoot gets right with the program.

A traffic bubble...

 

You mean like a protective bubble around you?  That would be nice, but, no.

Out on the CTX this morning, after my bicycle ride.  It is less windy out, no grit in the air; still hot and humid... which is the forecast for the next 4 months.   Our departure time for heading north is about 10 days out.

Weekdays are pretty quiet right now.  With the higher temps, there will be an influx of people from the Valley, even on weekdays; but, early is good for getting out.  Coming across the causeway, there was no traffic until I got close to the SPI side... and then traffic was bunched up in both lanes.  Seems that most folks come off the causway about 20 mph over the 30 mph speed limit on the island.  At least a dozen cars in both lanes in front of me, moving at about 15 mph.  I was caught in this "bubble."  I turned off the main drag at the first available side street... riding along Gulf Blvd with no traffic.

Of course, I ran past the Whaling Wall, then went into the parking lot to practice slow speed maneuvers.  I surprised myself when heading home: I didn't even look at the gas prices.  I guess I had my head into just enjoying the ride.

On the scooter forum where I participate, one of the posters suggested an app called Scenic.  It is a navigation app designed for motorcyclists: you can pick a destination and ask for different routing, such as "curvy roads."  It will also track your ride...

Not like I can get lost on this "loop."  It may come in handy, however, when riding in new areas.

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A fine meal this evening: steak tips on the griddle.  Joan made a tasty marinade for the steak to soak in and made mac and cheese and cheese bread to go with the steak tips.  First I've tried steak tips on the griddle, and I have to say I like that better than grilling steaks.  Faster to make, as well.

While sitting down after cleaning up the griddle, I pulled up Facebook: a memory from 8 years ago.  I don't usually post those memories here, but this was a truly outstanding day...

The link in that image isn't live, so here it is

https://captnjim.blogspot.com/2014/06/a-fine-day-for-orcas.html

Reading and remembering that makes me smile.  Another thing that makes me smile: young love.  Well, attempted young love.  While cleaning up the griddle, a golf cart went by with the stereo blaring... driven by a young man.  It went by several times (the definition of cruising).  Not long after, a teenage girl went by in a golf cart with the stereo blaring.  They passed each other at the intersection I can see from our deck.  Neither one even waved.  An opportunity missed.  Shortly after, the girl left that street (after one lap up and down), and (of course) the boy was coming back at the same time.  Same intersection.  No one made any attempt at a wave or a "Hi!"  Yep, definitely a missed opportunity.  Oh well, it's early in the summer season.  ;-)

This...

 

 I got out for a ride this morning.  I get that a lot of what I post here revolves around the weather... seems that a lot of the things we enjoy doing are weather-dependent.  As usual, hot, humid, and windy again today.  It was 82º, humid, and wind was blowing 16 out of the south when I rode off before 8:00.  The ride was pleasant enough - no one tried to run into me, and my timing was darn near perfect for hitting what few stop lights I encounter.

But, coming back over the causeway, I knew I was in for a handful: my watch said that the wind was now blowing at 22 mph out of the south.  As I rolled up onto the causeway, I could see whitecaps quickly building on the water... the wind may be sustained at 22, but it was definitely gusting significantly higher.  The CTX handles the wind, but car traffic ahead of me was slowed to about 40 mph as they approached the raised part of the causeway... yep, that is ugly gusty.  You can try to plan for it, but it is always squirrelly around the high part when it is gusting.  No wonder the birds have trouble flying in this area.  Mother Nature gave me a slap to the left, another left, and then a right.  Inertia likes to keep a bike upright, but when you are leaned into the wind, and then an abrupt 180º wind change whacks you, you get some extra grip on the seat as your ass puckers.  I was slowed down to 36 mph, keeping a close watch on my mirrors to make sure no one was coming up behind me fast.  They weren't.

Then, off the causeway, got through the light on the yellow, which gave me the green light on that next light... and no one running the red light.  Yeah, I'd call this a good day.

Well, except I noticed that gas went up about 25¢ per gallon over the weekend.

Back home, Joan had gone to the store early and had donuts waiting for me.  Yep, a good day.

Here's a look at that high part of the causeway...

A weekend off...

 

It has been a while since I took a weekend off from posting.

Mostly just staying away from the crowds.  Cooking, cocooning, binge-watching, cat snuggling, some guitar playing.  I did get a motorcycle ride in early Saturday - wanted to try out the newly "fitted" gloves; it seemed to work pretty well, certainly a more comfortable fit than before the process.

We are getting out as much as we care to, mostly bicycle rides and cat walking.  There was a golf cart poker run yesterday here in the resort - I was griddling chicken and fried rice while the carts buzzed around here like a swarm of mosquitoes.  A fund-raising event with the best hand getting half the pot...  $5 per hand with the opportunity to "buy" one more card at the end for another $5.

82º here right now, with a "feels like" temperature of 99º.  So, yeah, a bit humid.

When I was young...

 

Yes, it was a long time ago.  I was told,  "You know you are competent at a task when you can do it while wearing boxing gloves."

I didn't say it was good advice.

A few days ago, I got some new motorcycle gloves.  From Amazon.  No chance to try them on before buying, but Joan has the women's version, so I had some idea of what to expect.  To be fair: Joan can go into any store and find jeans, shoes, or gloves that fit.  I don't have that same experience.  Apparently I have neanderthal hands and feet.

Today, I am "sizing" these gloves.  They are tight through the palm and thumbs.  Soaked them in warm water, then put on rubber gloves, then put the motorcycle gloves over the rubber gloves.  I dried them as much as possible with a towel, then went on with my day.  It is a giant pain in the ass to do anything except ride a motorcycle with these gloves on.  Yes, you are supposed to leave them on 'till they dry with this process.  In fact, I am typing this with the gloves on.  Slowly.  They have touch screen capacitive pads on the index finger tip and thumb.  You can run your phone without taking the gloves off.

 I made breakfast on the griddle while wearing them.  Ate breakfast while wearing them.  Really, you are supposed to leave them on until they dry.  In our humidity, even in air conditioned comfort, this may take a long time.  If I feel a stomach twinge come on, these gloves are coming off, dry or not!

TMI?

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After taking the gloves off, I had the fingers "pre-curved" so they will fit the handlebar grips.  Then, to stretch the wrist portion out a bit, Joan recommended pulled them over a plastic bottle...

I think they're going to be good.

Two firsts...

 

Not talking about first gear on the CTX - there is just one first gear, even though the Dual Clutch Transmission technology has the bike in first and second gear at the same time, with the dual clutch ready to shift in a heartbeat.  Oops, I digressed again.  But, did I mention how smooth that transmission is as I pull away from a stop?  Seriously smooth.  Really.

Each time I ride the bike is a pleasure, even in the heat and humidity.  Around here, I don't generally go far - just enough of a ride to hold me over until we can get to some good riding.  I am so looking forward to that.  My morning rides provide another benefit: getting used to the bike; keeping my butt and reflexes in shape.

This morning, I experienced two firsts, neither good.  One was a close encounter with a seagull as I was riding across the causeway.  In a discussion on a scooter forum, where I mentioned the "brush" with the turkey vulture, one of the participants there told about hitting a seagull once.  Despite living in a sub-tropical climate along the coast, where seagulls are as thick as rats in New York City, I have never hit a seagull.  Until this morning.

The Queen Isabela Causeway creates air disturbances for flying birds.  There are flashing lights at either end of the causeway alerting motorists to a 45mph speed limit (as opposed to the 55mph speed limit that many ignore) if conditions are right that it would create a problem for pelicans flying around the causeway.  You can see it as they glide beyond the side railing on the causeway, then drop a couple feet.  I hadn't noticed it so much with seagulls until today.  One of them brushed my helmet - not a thump, but I felt it.  And, yes, I did check my helmet when I got home to see if that encounter "scared the shit" out of the seagull... no.  It did make my ass pucker as I ducked as much as one can while riding.

The other first: a woman on an electric stand-up scooter blew through a stop sign.  We both hit our brakes, with the closing distance between us winding up being closer than I cared to see.  There was a car at the stop sign on the side street, and this woman - not a kid, a grown ass woman - went around it to run the stop sign.  I didn't see her until she got beyond the front of the car.  Just another example of people leaving their brains at home when they come to the beach.

Other than that, a lovely ride.  Warm and humid, but very light breeze... I make my own breeze on the bike.

'Tis the season...

 

Fa la la la la la la la la.  What?  No, not that season.  The local weather weasels are giddy - June 1st is the start of hurricane season.  Different TV stations are running half hour programs on how to prepare for a potential hurricane.

The hurricane season runs from June 1 to Nov. 30. With 70% confidence, NOAA is forecasting a range of 14 to 21 named storms. Six to 10 of those could become hurricanes, including three to six category 3, 4 or 5 hurricanes.

It's an odds game.  August and September are the most hurricane active months.  According to the Weather Prediction Center, a tropical cyclone makes landfall along the coastline about three times every four years, and on any 50 mi (80 km) segment of the coastline a hurricane makes landfall about once every six years.  Historically, our area has experienced a direct hit once every 28 years.  Of course, that doesn't mean it can't happen back to back - Mother Nature doesn't operate on a schedule.  The last direct hit to Port Isabel/South Padre Island was in 2008.

From border cities like Brownsville to northern hubs like Port Arthur, any area along the Texas coast is vulnerable to hurricanes. But the cities of Galveston and Houston have experienced by far the most severe hurricane damage of any Texas city over the last century.  Last year (2021) was the third most active hurricane season on record.  In 2020, Hurricane Hanna made landfall north of us, then turned southwest, dropping huge amounts of rain further up the Rio Grande Valley.  The wind is an issue; the rain amounts can be even more devastating to low lying areas like the Valley; some parts of the Valley were flooded for weeks.

We'll be heading to some good motorcycle/scooter riding in a couple weeks.  The house will be locked down tight, hurricane shutters rolled down, nothing that could become "a missle" in the wind left outside... and hopes that the season won't be as active as predicted.

Warm water across the Atlantic and in the Gulf of Mexico can cause more activity...