It is ASTOUNDING, SHOCKING, AMAZING what an 'upgrade in technology'
can do for you, in many realms....
I'd recently upgraded my Mac OS "X" laptop, from one that was six
years old, and the newer technology was DEFINITELY worth the price on
many areas, though I have to admit I'm severely disappointed in the
battery-life. YES the newer technology is DEFINITELY BETTER - but
it is still not what I 'expected' (in other words my "expectations" have
NOT been exceeded...
(this picture is of my
new
Cabrinha control-bar - not a trivial price, I might add, and -
yeah,
I know, I know, I know it's definitely NOT MUCH TO LOOK AT, but YES it
is BETTER!
(Newer Technology) and though complicated, it WORKS VERY VERY WELL!!!)
I've also upgraded a couple of my Kite - Board - Kites, to the newerest
designs AND control bar(see picture just above), and though the price of
Kite Board Kites has definitely skyrocketed (I remember when it was
(considerably) less than $400 to buy a kite (and bag), it is now well
over $1,200 for a similar item. I think that the proliferation of
graphics (none of which, I might say, make the kite fly any better), as
well as more complex designs (aerodynamically (which DEFINITELY make the
kite fly better)) has caused this increase in retail pricing...
the 'One-Pump' system is definitely a LOT better than the old system,
now that I've had a couple of days to try it out... - I'm still not 100%
sold on the idea of the unique-way they have to hook the lines to the
kite, nor in how a number of joints depend, mostly, on 2-3-4 stitches on
a sewing machine, but I'm told the stitches won't break...
After my Friday's attempt to approach mach-one and then crashing
severely (and nearly separating my right bicep into two pieces with the
board's sharp-edged-skegs), I can say that these new kites have more
POWER, are better able to go UPWIND, and they are MUCH easier to RIG and
DEFLATE than the old kites were... I THINK I might just buy a couple
more - but the 11 meter (I flew on Thursday), and the 8 meter (I flew on
Friday) are certainly EXCELLENT replacements for previous
versions. It may be, also, that with the new kites and new bar, I
may be able to use these in my preferred wind-ranges, and NOT NEED other
kites. - Only time will tell
All that has NOTHING to do with the fact that there are a LOT MORE
PEOPLE in the market, now...
ANYWAY - VERY SATISFIED! and VERY HAPPY (probably go again, this
afternoon...!!!)
and YES - after a couple weeks away, the YARD needed MOWING and the CAR
needed WASHING, now if I could just figure out how to mow the car and
wash the yard, think of what I could accomplish. -
OH - but the bunny-rabbits are visiting us FREQUENTLY, now.
SOME of the mangoes have fallen off the tree, but no other four-legged
creatures seem to be interested at this point, so we have no
'competition' at this point for our tasty-fruit. AND we had
'oodles' (that's a technical term) of mini-tomatoes for our salad the
other day - all those tomatoes from our own growing-episode, just one
more thing we find it almost impossible to kill. (Like the Star-Fruit
tree we have that we ignore (mostly) and it just keeps growing and keeps
producing star-fruit...
Bicycle route signs in North
Carolina:
North Carolina's "Department of Transportation" web-site
/ URL - documentation on 'Route 2' (a 700 mile long trail if you
ride the whole thing!)
Mr. Bill tried to ride, again (yes - Saturday), today, and - well - the
riding was there - at least I didn't have to deal with too much TRAFFIC,
but I was TRYING (I really REALLY WAS) - trying to follow these signs, -
but as you can see SOME are obvious - SOME are 100 yards beyond the
intersection, some are BEHIND YOU (facing THIS WAY) - some BEHIND YOU
(facing the OTHER way) - well - bottom line I saw a LOT of countryside
today, just not the country-side I'd thought I'd see...
On the other hand - I DID follow the 'North Carolina Bicycle Route # 2)
for 'some distance, but there was a sign-out
(down, stolen, run-over, who knows?) at a place called "Daddysville
Road" (don't ask!) - but at that point I didn't really
care, since I 'THOUGHT' I knew the way (to get to the next sign) - ... -
here's the track-log-image - the lower-left track indicates the "lost"
part - the upper-right part indicates my return along the designated
route, as originally intended, and this is NOT Saturday, 10th's ride but
another day along a similar route...
AND - here's a picture of the "Neuse River Trail" - on the eastern-side
of Raleigh. - this trail is nearly 30 miles long, one way, I rode
a significant portion of it on Friday, and NEVER crossed an automobile
street (went underneath a number of them)... - This trail is less than 3
years old (if the name-plate(s)) on the bridges are to be believed -
SOME of them small suspension bridges. - This trail runs along (You
guessed it!) _ the "Neuse River" -and it is VERY LOW - like if the water
comes up a couple of feet, the trail will be flooded... - however, the
wildlife, birds, squirrels, house-cats, etc. etc. and the scenery is
awesome... - it being - basically along the swampy-part of the river. -
EXCELLENT TRAIL!
AND - if you're interested in this fun, scenic, beautiful state's other
riding adventures, you can sign-up-for the '
Cycle
North Carolina' ride - which is 'about' 450 miles in 7 days,
and a different route each year. (
in
2014 it will be 27 September through 4 October).
Ms. May and I have completed this ride a couple of times and it is
EXCELLENT! - Be forewarned, though, that
the
longest days CAN be 80 miles - the shortest days are usually 30-40
miles - it is not for the faint-of-heart. THOUGH it is a
RIDE, not a RACE, one still has to complete the days alloted miles in
the daylight?!
Web-site
/ URL / information / sign-up - click_here .
We are in North Carolina, for a few days of this, that, and the other...
- the above picture is a 'typical' sunrise in this part of the world...
It's also been RAINing a LOT here, so not much
cycling...
more to come as it develops...!!!
Mr. Panda-Bear's web-page:
http://www.vikingasia.org/BeachWeb/PandaBear/PB.html
