Floortje 1951-2016

Saturday, 20-Februrary-2016 - Uden - Went to the funeral service of Floortje today. We met forty years ago at Marc's Bar 'BQ' where she was a familiar sight as waitress.  She would get Marij and I tickets for Oldies Back on Stage so we could see, among others, her husband Peter, lead singer of Image S5, perform.  My deepest sympathy goes out to her family and friends.  funeral remembrance card  "With great sadness we have to say goodbye..."

Early Flower Frost

Wednesday, 17-Februrary-2016 - Veghel -  Early flowers had frost on them this morning. pics (4)

Valentine Pancakes

Sunday, 14-February-2016 - Veghel - After watching Charlotte's Web on TV, I made pancakes for Valentine's Day.  It worked! pics (7)

Bicycling to Uden and Lumbering in Volkel

Saturday, 13-February-2016 - Uden/Volkel - After Rosan and I got the heater to work, I rode to Volkel to see Koen (photo).     There, he proudly gave me a tour of his workplace--the lumber yard of van Engeland-de Groot. pics (40) gps-tracked route--part 2

National Geographic Skater Crash Investigation Results

Thursday, 20-August-2015 - Veghel - Ronald came by for a visit, and we inspected my skate wheels together.  He had never seen any thing like this before.  This is a report of what we found.
 
History.  Wheels installed three years ago--3000 km of use.  Wheels routinely rotated to even the wear.  Bearing cleaning and was performed as needed.  Along with general condition of skates and brake pad, wheels visually and physically checked for security and roll before every skate ride.

Findings:  One wheel was removed due to failure on 18-August-2015.  Of the seven remaining wheels, five were unserviceable due to cracks (see pics 16).  Bearings turned freely.  

Problem:  Front skate outer wheel broke loose from its bearing hub, causing wheel to lock in frame during operation at 20 km per hour.

Cause:  Wheel spokes cracked during normal use, and not detected prior to a weekly skate ride.  Although the skater performed a visual and physical check of skates before each ride, reading glasses were not used.  A specific inspection for cracks was not performed.

Impact:  Skater incurred bruised ribs, sports activities suspended for six weeks.

Corrective action:  After each ride and using corrective lenses or other magnification if needed, inspect wheels for cracks in spokes and hubs, replacing wheels if necessary before the next ride.

No Broken Ribs

Thursday, 20-August-2015 - Uden - The X-ray this morning showed no broken ribs from last Tuesday's crash.  I went to my family doctor yesterday--it will take six weeks to recover from bruised or broken ribs. No sports for me until then.

National Geographic Skater Crash Investigation Called into Action

Tuesday, 18-August-2015 - Boekel - It was a cool summer evening.  Jan picked me up and we headed to Boekel for the weekly Tuesday evening skate tour.  We were just outside of Boekel, when for no readily apparent reason, I tripped, fell, rotated with legs elongated, and landed hard on my left-side back ribs on the concrete bicycle path.  I wasn't able to roll to break the fall.  I could hardly breathe or talk.  It hurt so much.  I was trying to determine if I had any broken ribs and a punctured lung.  The group huddled around me, checking to see if I was alright.  "Did you black out?" "Can you stand up?" "Maybe it's a good idea to try to continue skate slowly at your own pace so your muscles don't tighten up." Theo stayed behind me.  It was a mystery how it happened, until I tried to skate.  There was something interfering with the wheels on my left skate.  I sat down in the grassy shoulder, and saw that the all of the spokes of my front left wheel had broken free of the outer rim (photo)!  It was time for National Geographic Skater Crash Investigation.  How did this happen?  Could I have prevented this crash?  I needed to find answers before I'd do any more skating after I recovered.  Bart removed the broken wheel and move the second wheel to the front position.  I'd be skating with three wheels on my left frame.  We looked at the right skate.  The right front wheel was also ready to blow, so he moved it to the second position.  We made it to the coffee break at D'n Brabander in Elsendorp, where everyone got to look at my broken wheel.  It was a slow start back to Boekel.  Bart kept the pace slow.  Ten skaters--good for 20 km. (pics 20).

Tonnie Keeps Turning the Wrench

Wednesday, 12-Aug-2015 - Uden - Next month, skater friend and bicycle mechanic Tonnie Smits (photo Udens Weekblad) will officially retire after 47 years of service.  Here link to yesterday's newspaper article.

Summertime Skating Oirschot-Postel-Oirschot--105 km

Saturday, 8-August-2015 - Oirschot - Our first stop was at the Gouden Leeuw in Vessem (photo).  Thanks to our guide Pieter for hosting this wonderful day.  Also, thanks to Jan for helping me catch up to the group when I fell behind.  Twenty-two skaters, two bicyclists, and one moped rider--good for 105 km.  pics (189)
route

European Championship Womens Fast Pitch Softball--Day 7

Saturday, 25-July-2015 - Rosmalen - NL vs CZ.  The rain subsided enough to start (photo). I totally underestimated the ability of the Gryphon's ground crew and the determination of the European Softball Technical Leadership.  I never thought the field would become playable after stopping play in the fourth inning.  I didn't realize that the Dutch and Czech teams went to the locker room.  I thought they went back to their respective hotels.  I thought the tournament was over.  I said goodbye to Rob, Marjo, Charissa, Sabrina, Miquel, and Stefan, before heading home.  At 1830, back in Veghel after a shower, I logged into echw2015.nl  At first, I thought I was looking at a previous game; but then I realized it was live!  It was the 5th inning--play had resumed. Marij came home from work.  We had pizza and watched the grand final NL-IT together.  Italy won the final, the Netherlands won silver.  Respect to all participants and spectators.  pics (191)
Play-by-Play & Stats