Sturdy Steed Came Apart

Rockport, Texas

The morning was less hot than usual so the work on Sturdy Steed was started. The chain ring side crank needed to be removed. Luckily that needed tool was in my collection of bicycle tools from days of olde. However a socket of the right size was needed to get the fastening bolt removed. Before it was found, all three tool boxes had been brought out for the search. The right socket was found and the bolt easily removed. The crank remover was attached and force put on the crank. Ratz a cranky crank. So WD-40 and gentle HAMMER work and the crank came right off.

The chain ring bolts proved to be ornery also. After several applications of gentle? Force, they also came on out. The inner and outer chain rings were set aside for the dumpster. The middle chain ring was cleaned. The installation attempt was a failure. The outer chain ring is needed to space the bolts the correct distance. Oh well. The outer chain ring was reinstalled until some proper sized spacer washers can be fabricated.
After EVERYTHING was lubed with the white Teflon grease, the crank was installed on the bicycle. It all went back together easily.
The front derailleur was removed and junked. The left grip shifter and cables were removed and junked. That way when the parts that did not come in the mail later in the day come in, they can be quickly installed. The handlebar is now ready for the parts whenever they show up.
Earlier in the week some fingernail polish had been purchased to use as touchup paint on the Steed. About twenty minutes were spent cleaning paint worn spots and putting fingernail polish on the worn spots.

All the tools were gathered from all over the place. Then they were cleaned and put into the proper tool boxes. Then the tool boxes went home to their little cubby holes in the Truck and Castle. Now it will be easy to forget again where certain tools are located. It is like an Easter egg hunt when a tool is needed around this place. How can a 21 foot trailer have so many hiding spots??????????????

For the giggle of it, a fishing trip was taken to Goose Island State Park fishing pier this afternoon. Using tip water lures was chosen for the fun of it. The sad part is the fish were there. Several times my lures had “blowups” and they are fun. A blowup is when a fish hit’s the surface lure knocking water all over the place but does not get hooked. A blowup close to you will give your heart a quick rate increase.

As my effort was waning and the path was back toward the Truck, a yakker was noticed coming in from across the bay. When he got to the launch point, it was noticed he had had success catching. His name was Robert and his catch was two nice redfish and two smaller black drum.
My help made it easier for him when loading the yak. Afterward we visited for a long while. He drives down from San Antonio to fish now and then. Today was his fiftieth birthday.

Back at the Castle it was canned chili time and an easy end to a day of trying to have tooooo much fun. TheOFM