Remembering Lockerbie

Saturday, 21-December-2013 - Veghel - It's the shortest day of the year.  Today's news reminded me that twenty five years ago Lawanda Thomas was on her way to Michigan to be with her mother on Christmas, and to proudly show off her two-month old son Jonathan. They were in seat 32K on Pan Am Flight 103.  We had met only two weeks earlier.

New Shirts for De Toren Skaters

Thursday, 7-November-2013 - Dinther - We gathered at Cafe De Toren for a group photo (taken by Job de Wert) in our new shirts (thanks Jeroen), and for a great meal.  Hieke was on hand to interview us for the local newspaper de Mooi Bernhezer Krant.  pics (18)

Omni Mountain Biking

Sunday, 3-November-2013 - Biezenmortel - Chris and I joined 60 Omni skaters for a 25km mountain bike ride around the Loonse en Drunense Duinen (Loonse and Drunense Dunes) National Park. Six Fun-on-Wheels skaters chose to hike.  Thanks to everyone for making this a great day to remember!  pics (70)

route with video

http://www.mtbroutes.nl/route/1006/Drunen

Remembering When Kennedy Was Shot

Friday, 22-November-1963 - Bay City – It was shortly after 13:30 PM in 5th-hour biology class with Mr McKinney.  I was a 13-year-old freshman (photo) at T.L. Handy High School in Bay City, Michigan.  I was an A-student, the oldest of six children.  I was a county boy and enjoyed farm work.  We had unexpectedly lost our healthy mother two years earlier, two weeks after routine surgery.  This made me grow up in a hurry.  I was working hard to become the starting catcher on my baseball team; and at school, I was on my way to becoming an engineer.  My future was bright, despite threat of nuclear war.  We had a president who successfully stood up to Soviet aggressors. Our school principal Mr Noell came on the public address system with an announcement:  "President Kennedy has just been shot in Dallas."  We were all in shock.  Mr Mckinney dropped his jaw and held his cheek with one hand, immobilized.  We then listened in disbelief and denial to the live radio broadcast.  He was buried three days later, on my birthday.

Note:  I wrote this after reading in the newspaper this morning that the Brabants Dagblad is looking for readers who will share their memories.

Skate Bearing Cleaning, Again

Friday, 26-July-2013 - Ronald had a tightened wheel he couldn't get loose, so I took it home to see what I could do.  We skated on some wet pavement last night, so I also needed at least to clean off the sand on the outside.  The wheels weren't peeping last night, so I didn't pull the bearings out right away.  This morning when I saw all the sand on the wheels (photo), and after hearing some rumbles, I wanted to see how the bearings looked inside.  pics (52)
spin test--pre-clean (2:04)
removing and installing bearings in wheel (2:36)
installing wheels in skate frame and spin test--post-clean and lube (6:38)
left skate spin test--post-clean and lube (2:27)

Toren Skaters Go Herperduin

Thursday, 25-July-2013 - Nistelrode - On my way to Dinther, I saw some isolated rain clouds. Ronald was putting on his gear as I pulled in to park.. We carpooled to Nistelrode, the starting point of this evenings skate tour.  We headed for the Herperduin Nature Area. The pavement was wet so we took it easy.  We took a coffeebreak at the Heische Tip. The way back took us throught the Maashorst Nature Reserve (photo).  It was 25 Deg C when we got back to the Toren. 11 skaters--good for 30 km. pics (81)  gps-tracked-route part 2
de toren skaters (0:23)
heische tip music evening (0:20)

New Life for "Non-serviceable" Type Skate Bearings

Wednesday, 24-July-2013 - Veghel - I wasn't satisfied with my bearing cleaning job yesterday--a lot of grit was still trapped in the bearings.  After some research, I came up with a method to get my "non-serviceable" bearings (see note) clean using a 10 percent-solution of the  limonene-based degreaser Dasty in water.  This is a temporary method until I have my own supply of environment-friendly home-made citrus cleaner.  I first had to remove the second bearing shield. I then installed serviceable bearing shields from another set of bearings on one side of my cleaned bearings. Before I got started on the bearings, I finished cutting the grass (I had started yesterday evening after skating--I was expecting rain today).  The mower blade had loosened up a bit, causing a distressing knocking sound, like the piston getting ready to break through the engine head. I then cleaned the dried sand from my skates and gave my wheels a bath.  Later in the afternoon, I stopped by 't Vincentje Re-cycling Thrift Shop and De-Wit Sporting Goods, before installing my freshly-cleaned bearings. pics (58)

Note 1:  Many bearings have metallic shields, which are not made to be removed.
New Life for Non-serviceable Type Skate Bearings (1:21)
serviceable type bearing shield removal  (1:33)
non-serviceable type bearing shield removal (2:45)
bearing shield and seal removal_ratvision (2:09)
bearing cleaning_ratvision (7:36)
home-made citrus cleaner 

Tuesday Evening Inline Skating with Sam

Tuesday, 23-July-2013 - Boekel - Sam, marathon ice skater with STG Hoorn,  joined us this evening.  He's on vacation with his grandparents.  Our tour got cut short due to unexpected rain. Had to clean my bearings when I got home. Seven skaters--good for 20 km pics (48)
gps-tracked route part 2

Uden Kermis is Tops

Monday, 22-July-2013 - Uden -Joke picked us up at 2000 and we headed to the Uden Kermis (fun fair). We walked around enjoying the activity, music, and lights, and the people having fun.  We sat down at a terrace next to wonderful salsa music dancing and thrilling rides.  As it got darker, the lights reminded me of Las Vegas (photo). pics (124)
salsa dancing (0:23)
riding the booster (7:14)
riding the transformer (3:00)
flying jump (3:45)
spinning coaster (0:15)
mouse village (0:26)

Toren Skaters Return to Dunes

Thursday, 18-July-2013 - We once again headed for the Rustende Jager to start our evening tour through the dunes. The route took us through Kaatsheuvel (photo). Nice warm weather.  Eight skaters--good for 30 km. pics (76)
gps-tracked route