James' new Diamondback

We had to replace James' bike. He said it was too small and he kept bumping his knees on the handlebars.  It is an old one.  We got it for him some years ago.

So we got one from a guy selling his on Craigslist.  We got an insight Diamondback, hybrid road bike/ mountain bike.  We paid $140.00.  There was some stuff wrong with it. The brakes didn't work well. It's supposed to be a 14 speed, but there's only 7.   The one gear changer we had didn't work well.

So we took her into Steve's at Altadena for a tuneup and new handles. It set us back $61, but James loves it and we ride it nearly every day.  I can't keep up with him. I may need a motor on mine.

Covid 19 bicycle

James and I have doing 3 rides a day ever since the lock down. A morning ride is about 1 mile, afternoon about 1.5 miles, and evening about 4 miles.  The distance is getting to me; it's the hills.

We decided to retire the Murray. It's a one speed without hand brakes.

We got a 7 speed cruiser at Steve's bike shop in Altadena for $370.00.

I had my first ride on it today.  James is still faster than me, but it's a lot easier getting up the hill.

Pirate Hunters (2015) Robert Kurson

This is an account of the efforts of a couple of divers in 2009 to locate the ruins of a sunken 17th century pirate ship. It's got interesting history in it and it's a good adventure story.

Summer of '49 (1989) David Halberstam

This a book about the American League Pennant race in 1989 by writer great, David Halberstam. James and I read it together. He's taken a liking to golden era of baseball.

Duel in the Sun by John Brant (2006)

A book by Runner's World writer John Brant about the 1982 Boston Marathon.  Alberto Salazar, the Goliath, beat underdog Dick Beardsley by just a couple seconds.  It's interesting story about the profound affect that race had on both of their lives.

Shadow Divers by Robert Kurson (2004)

A book by an investigative journalist about divers who in 1991 discovered a German WWII U-boat at the bottom of the ocean off the New Jersey coast. The story is about the divers and also about those who lost their lives on the U-Boat.  It a well told story about an interesting subject.

Secondhand: Travels in the New Global Garage Sale by Adam Minter 2019

Where does you stuff end up when you donate to Goodwill and no one buys it there?  This book answers that question, along with others. It's a good read for those interested in the subject of stuff.