One last ride, then the long one across country

My favorite ride, ran us to the mountains with my daughter and some friends. Then… I ran into a great friend from the past I hadn’t seen in 20-25 years.

Then Kim and I had the house packed up and we drove across country. The movers loaded up the rest and we met them in NC.

Rick is a great friend of mine and one of the few people who can make me laugh to tears.

Sydney had her friend Kassidy come along, and she rode passenger on my bike.

 

The yard make over and sale

 The cost of putting in artificial turf and water smart plants was the best move. It shows well, uses almost no water, and no mowing.

I bought the turf and had my buddy with a construction company do the installation.

Then we put the house up for sale. California has just gotten to Liberal, and too expensive to live in. We are approaching our retirement years, and need a cheaper cost of living. north Carolina is where my sister lives, and My Daughter is in SC, notfar away.

Next, the bathroom

The tub had to be replaced due to rust, (and a hole that developed), which means everything around it had to be ripped out. 

Plumbing, tile, drywall, paint, light fixture, cabinet floor boards, and floor tile.

We re-drywalled the interior walls, and added the Schluter membrane for water proofing. It goes down onto thin-set, and adheres like wall paper. We had to swap out water valves, and new copper. New spouts, and shower head. Removing the old tub ( that is the same size as the studs, means you have to slide it out) we had to tear out drywall beyond the tub, which means we had to patch the base drywall.

We moved an outlet or two, and put in a new tub.   new mirrors, and a new vanity

My good friend John, and my daughter did most of the dirty work. It turned out pretty good!

 

Decision to move time to update

 We have made the decision to move out of California. The cost of living is too high. The real estate, taxes, insurance, registration, gasoline, groceries, you name it.

So, we started making some changes and upgrades.

It started with painting the house. We did this ourselves by cutting in the paint with brushes, then borrowed a power sprayer and Did it ourselves. It turned out great.

This is when the bad got worse for my health. I was experiencing chest pains while working.

I went to a cardiologist, and Had a stress test done. The doctor knew i had Ischemia. 

He ordered a angiogram, and a week before getting it, The insurance company canceled it saying it was not medically necessary. Those bastards!!!

I was so mad, My blood pressure went through the roof, and I wound up in the ER. The rushed me into surgery, and found a 99% blocked LAD Artery. in my chest. They said if I would have had a heart attack, i had a very small chance of survival. 

They put in a stent, and I felt better.... until the put me on medications. I could not keep my head from being dizzy, heart palpitations, tingling in the hands, and short of breath. I took me a few weeks to realize it was the medication. 

Birthday flight

 For Kim’s birthday,  I asked my good friend John to take her and Sydney on a short flight around San Diego They took off from Gillespie field in formation, flew toward the cost. Went along Mission Beach to La Jolla, the downtown San Diego. Then back the El Cajon. I had to sit this one out due to my hamstring injury.

The girls had a great time and no one got sick!

Boating with an injury

 My good friend eric has a very nice boat and took us to Lake San Vicente for some recreation.

The kids tried wake surfing and did very well. Then, I tried it and blew out a hamstring which ended our day, and really ruined my Summer and maybe more.

Ride, concert, more rides

 Our good friend, Kelly,  is new to motorcycling. She is entering a new and exciting time/ turn in her life. She is full of energy and has always wanted to hit the open road on a Harley. I tried to talk her into a smaller, lighter bike, but she insisted on purchasing her brothers 2nd bike.

We bought the Cardo communication system and we are able to talk, and offer guidance. She had some learning curves, but after being forced to take mostly city Ross’s, she has become s very formidable rider in only a short few months.

My daughter and I have accompanied her through the local Mountains 

Concert: we saw Chris Stapleton and had a great time.

Last couple rides

Wedding day for #1

 The day has finally come. A very nice young man has found his way into my daughters heart in matrimony..

The venue was perfect. An old mill with a pond, and plenty of room for vows, and dancing. Some drove from Ohio, flew in from San Diego, Phoenix. All to attend the festivities in South Carolina.

Sydney Pinyon Mountain trail Dad on Sidwinder

 This trail that Sydney is on is a badge of honor trail. It is pretty intimidating, but she handled it all with no errors. The trail has 3-4 famous features “the squeeze “, “roof rock”, “heart attack hill”, and the waterfall. This is in the Anza Borrego desert. 

My trip was to corral canyon (sidewinder) and that got me a few dings and scrapes underneath. But, My buddy Eric and I had a great time.