Dusted off "PJ" and started the long road to cycle legs. Amazing how fast the winter went by and how quickly June 11 is approaching. Difficult to hold back the miles when it is so nice outside. I feel like I could ride 50 miles now, but don't want to risk sore knees, etc, so keeping the milage to 20 miles per day. Got in 106 miles this week, but certainly will need to more than double/triple  that by the end of May to be ready. Keep being reminded of the many things around the house needing done before I leave. Amazing how many things a person's life involves.  
Settled my camp stove issue with a "pop can stove". Made out of two pop cans and the thing works better than my $70 stove. It took 20 minutes to make and uses rubbing alcohol,  HEET,  and many other inexpensive easy to buy fuels. It's light weight, easy to use, and cheap. Great combination!
Berms are sand covered , left over after the winter snows making the riding a bit testy.  Best thing is the absence of road kill that litters the highway in the spring and summer. Being an animal lover makes it hard to ride past the many animals that get killed along the highway during the warmer months. In a car you drive by so fast you get no sense of the suffering or pain caused by automobiles. However, when riding at 10 miles an hour and within a few feet you can't help but be aware of the mangled bodies and suffering of the innocent little creatures.
It is so nice to see the sun and the grass! I looked in the front yard the other day and saw grass for the first time in a month! Now that's something to celebrate!! The girls and boys are starting softball and baseball practices and it is time to roll the bike tires down the road. Soon the flowers will be blooming, the robins will be singing, and the grass will need mowing .............. oh no, not that again!
More later!!

" The only true unsinkable ship is freindship! "  mod