TdF: Final Intermediate Sprint

"Hills like this were never really to my liking." (Paul Sherwin whenever asked about a mountain stage by Phil Liggett)

A few days ago I realized that I was not enjoying the pressure of "having" to finish my TdF project. So, with that in mind, I took out my wheel yesterday and went for a nice long spin. Then I balled up the first skein of Tilli Thomas Rock Star Bridgetown Brown (100% spun silk with glass beads) and started in on this shrug for Squidette.Her Bat Mitzvah dress is less modest then it should be so this shrug, designed to cover a halter top, is just what is needed. I've been resisting starting it, knowing that I have to finish my socks, but last night I just dug in and started.

During the Tour I also finished these socks for my only sockless sibling -- but they were "purse" knitting and don't count as interfering in the TdF sock progress.The real hindrance to knitting was the fact that life just took over during the daylight hours and with Little Squid in camp for 1.5 hours less then last year, and with us riding our bikes there most days, there was just less time.

Last, I was working on another project, which will be finished and revealed in all of it's glory tomorrow. parts of it have been worked on in secret from the recipient so no peaks until they see it first.
The second sock. Oh, and did I mention that I lost my squid graph and have to reconstruct it from the first sock ...

And so, I concede the race. no green jersey for me. Oh well, there is always next year.

TdF: Intermediate Sprint #2

The challenge: the ride around your town and share what is special.

[Edited to add: oops, didn't read the instructions carefully enough and missed the deadline!]

The additional challenge: Um ... this is what much of Squid Knits is about. Is my post going to be subject to accusations of doping?

And, yet one more challenge: I am turning this contest entry into a contest itself. Anyone who correctly identifies all of the structures, in photographs labeled with a letter, will be entered into a drawing for some yummy yarn of my choosing and some chocolate that is native to my locale. One caveat, the prize will not be sent out until the cooler weather due to the chocolate content.

Contest closes at midnight, July 31, 2008.



And here we go ...

I live in a small island situated where a fairly famous river meets the Atlantic Ocean.
Over the last several years, my island has become more and more bike friendly and one can ride around the island with roughly half the trip being along, or really close to, the water.Near the southern tip of our island sits a small fort. This fort served as the main immigration intake center until facilities on an island to our west took over.

(A)

My grandfather came through the facilities shown below, which are, alas, not accessible by bicycle.

(B)

Several bridges connect my island with both the mainland

(C)

and another, much larger, island to our east.(D)

At least one of these bridges has been sold by aspiring entrepreneurs the world over. This particular bridge was also the site of my first date with the man who is now my loving husband.

My island was, unfortunately, the target of some horrid attacks almost 7 years ago and the damage is still evident.

But we are also home to the final resting place of a President and his wife.

(E)

This tiny island is home to both very tall and very small structures.

(F)

(G)

Some of them dress up for the holidays.(H)

But my island is home to more than just buildings, we even have areas that are somewhat natural.
And areas that serve to fulfill the most basic needs of my family.
Figured it out yet? Need one more hint? Our local newspaper is published less then a mile from our home.

Chugging up the Mountains: Tour de France Knit Along

I managed to cross the first mountain peek while Mark Cavendish was winning his third stage and started down hill while he was winning his fourth. Hey if he keeps this up, I might just finish the socks!
The second sock is looking much neater then the first. I've taken a different strategy for eliminating the blue/purple from the mix which involves actually cutting the yarn and throwing the shorter pieces in where I only need a short stretch of yarn. I've also taken to hiding some of the ends as I go. Not all, but some. Hey, every little bit counts, right?

The Inside

One of the colors in my contrast yarn is so close to the main color that it disappears. So, for the top of the sock I took it out.Yes, I have lots of ends to hide.

For those of you who guessed, yes the new graph is of a squid. If I remember, I will reverse the direction on the other foot. I'm now past that and just working the chain pattern for the rest of the foot. Provided that there are no complications in my life, I should make some good progress toward the toe while watching the Tour tonight.

Last summer saw Mike and I watching the Tour as it was broadcast live during the day and catching the highlights during the rebroadcast after dinner. This year, however, Squidette is hooked so we are waiting to watch it during the rebroadcast so that we all get the results together. This has the added benefit of keeping Mike from listening to sports on the car radio should we be in the car in that inbetween time.

Tour de France -- Intermediate Sprint

The officials over at the Tour de France Knit Along headquarters have declared a sprint. We cyclists / knitters are supposed to make our case for either: why our project qualifies as related, our cycling history or, our love of France.

My knitting choice is actually obvious. I am knitting short socks for cycling with a bicycle motif on them. And, after my redo, I am definitely sprinting to get them done by the end of the Tour.

As for France ... well, my memories of it are not the greatest so I'll go for the second option and focus on cycling.

Long time readers of this blog might remember when we first became "Squid of Wheels" two years ago. Squidette had just moved from a mountain type kids bike to a small road bike. Little Squid was now riding Squidette's hand-me-down (gee, sounds a lot like this post).

It was then that our kids decided that they like riding, and liked riding distances. I liked seeing my kids challenge themselves and gain pride in their physical accomplishments. We are all over the mental feats around here, but the physical is often left a little on the side.

That first year each mile stone was cause for celebration. The first organized tour, the first trip across the Brooklyn Bridge, and the first loop of Central Park.

That year we rode almost 500 miles, including a season ending finale of 44 in the New York Century.

The next year we rode almost 750 miles, including a season ending 66 with rides in several states, including Kentucky, Ohio and Indiana.

This year? We are already up to 314 ...

We've ridden across the Hudson River as well as the Ohio. We've ridden in Indiana, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Ohio, West Virginia and, of course, New York.

The Brooklyn Bridge is an old friend.

Our favorite stop is for Jaques Torres chocolate though the Brooklyn Fairway's for breakfast and Brooklyn's new Ikea for lunch are in close contention.

I tend to ride at the back of the pack, the Mama Duck position as I like to think of it. From there I get to watch the kids' legs and am the first to realize when it is time to raise a seat. I get to secretly smile with pride at how well they do and revel in the simple joy of being a family doing something we all enjoy. I get to think about how lucky I am ... and then I realize that in all of my wool gathering, they've gotten three blocks ahead of me. And I sprint to catch up.

And so, for my Intermediate Sprint, I remind you all, that we are Squid on Wheels. Tune in again to see where we go!

R i i i p p p

It was while watching today's time trials that I finally came out of a Tour induced stupor and realized that if getting the sock over my heel was a struggle, then I probably was not going to wear the socks. I knit a few more rows after switching to a larger needle and then finally caved in and ripped it back. Time to start over.

Mike and Squidette are at a "all about the Performing Arts High Schools" seminar and Little Squid and I are home enjoying a quiet evening. After I finish this post, I will put on my audiobook and get down to some sprint knitting.

***

No knit finishing today. Instead, we finally managed to get a maintenance worker up to repair our broken towel rod and toilet paper holder. Not their fault. The towel rod has been broken for over a year ... we just never got around to calling to have it fixed. The toilet paper holder fell off the wall last week and broke in two. That was a problem.

Mike and I did take a short walk and spotted this sign. This place apparently makes the best tuna fish sandwiches in the city.

***

KnittyOtter asked when I was going to show off our summer egg creams ... well, they are tricky to photograph since they disappear so fast ... but maybe Thursday. I'll even share the sacrilege of our newest invention, the Ginger enhanced Egg Cream.

***

Lastly ... we passed the 300 mile mark today for family biking. We are putting on 11.5 miles every time the kids agree to ride to camp and have done 3 camp rides so far. Technically, Little Squid does 10.5 and Squidette does 11.5 if he decides to go straight home and not while away the hour between their ending times. However ... Squidette owes the family 22 miles for a couple of rides that we did without her and did not put in the over all totals. So ... we are crediting Little Squid with Squidette's extra mile per day -- which he does sometimes ride. All in all, we figure that it will even out in the long run.

Scarf of the Sixth

And on the sixth day of vacation, I finished a gift scarf.Once again it was an icky sort of day here so we mostly stayed inside. Squidette and I took a walk to get some trendy teen-type clothing (for her) but then returned to the less humid environment of our apartment.

Back at home we were greeted with this sight.And this one. Pretty much how they looked all day as they played with electronics. Little Squid is working his way through an introductory book and managed to light up an LED. He also managed to blow up two LEDs, much to his delight.We ended the day watching the end of the Tour de France rebroadcast and I made some progress on my TdF Knit along project.

Second Day of Vacation

Today was a little different then yesterday, mainly because we wanted to get out of the apartment while Maria cleaned.

So, after taking the kids to camp (via automobile, not bicycle) we came home and, after dropping the car off for service, took to the streets on foot. Walking toward the Bowery, in search of soda syrup, we passed many historical places -- but I only took this photo.The Amato Opera Company on the left and the former CBGBs on the right.

We did not find soda syrup but did stop at the greenmarket on our way home and got lots of yummy vegetables for dinner. Lunch at the diner and some quiet time at home brought us to the end of our afternoon. Mike went to get the kids and I went to get the car.

As I walked uptown, I noticed this view. On the left, the New York Times building with it's ladder like facade and on the right, the Empire State Building. I'm sure that the Empire State Building is taller but at this angle, it actually looks puny.

KnittyOtter asked what my knitting plans were for the summer. To answer simply, finishing.

I have several projects that just need binding off or end hiding or assembly. So, I am going to attempt to finish a project a day for a few days. Today's project: Girly Girl Cycling Socks (not their real name, I can't find the pattern right now).
I also intend to knit these socks as my Tour de France Knit-along project. I figure that since the Tour is all about finishing then these combined with my "finishing" projects should suffice for a Green Jersey. Also in the planning stage, but slated to be finished before the end of the summer, a shrug for Squidette to wear over her too revealing dress on her special day in September.

Yes, Squidette's blanket is in the finishing queue, but only when the weather cools off or I get too cold from the air conditioning.

The Tour is Over!

Well the Tour de France ended this morning and what a tour it was. Scandal, intrigue, strategy, team work, solo accomplishment and excitement galore. By the end, three out of four Squid were totally wrapped up in it and at least one Squid picked up some cycling tips. I found the conclusion satisfying even if one of my favorites was kicked out after being caught blood doping. As to that, all I can say is "eww, gross!"

And now I present my completed Tour de France Knitalong project and bonus project.
(Mike was tired of the same old pose so I gave him something new and he in turn created a picture that is almost impossible to view.)
The Chevron Vest from Knitter's Magazine, Summer 2007. Yarn is my own handspun merino/silk/alpaca blend spun to a sportweight triple ply (navajo plyed). Not completely consistent in grist but mostly.
The vest still needs to be blocked and needs buttons. I do not like the buttons I had so this will wait until I can get to a trimmings store this week.
And matching socks. The cuff uses the stitch pattern from the vest. Socks were knit toe up with a sort row heel. The toe up was done because I was afraid I would run out of yarn. I probably have enough yarn left to make a matching pair of wristlets. In other words, I had enough to make an entire sweater. Figures. The rainbow batt was roughly 9 ounces. Oh, and these socks count for Summer of Socks, too!

Yellow and Green

Today is a rest day for the Tour de France riders but there is no rest for the family Squid for we have walls to paint and floors to uncover.

But first ... look, I do still knit. Undulating Rib Socks from Favorite Socks. Size -- roughly 8. Yarn, Treking XXL sent to me by, I think, KnittyOtter. (The socks are actually quite a bit more purple then they appear and are only baggy because they are being modeled on Squidette's size 7's.)

Silk Scarf. I can't find the pattern information right now but it was from the Knitting Pattern A Day 2005 calendar. Yarn: Homespun on my Minstrel and then Navajo plied on my Journey Wheel. Blocked with my new blocking wires.
And our walls! Thanks, Dave!
Trim, doors and touch-up still have to be done -- as well as one or two special, uniquely squid touches to be added. Sorry for the blurriness, my walls are actually quite sharp. My knees are killing me. While the upper wall was a pain to paint because I had to keep climbing the step ladder to do the cutting in, the bottom half had me crouching / kneeling for the entire stretch -- and there is much more wall then I am showing -- and it all needed 2 coats. Thursday or Friday will see the end of this project and we will order a rug in the next few days. Thank you to all who helped us with your input but especially Dave!

The Last Place You Look

You know why things are always in the last place that you look? Because you stop looking once you've found it!

Yesterday we paused in the painting and instead did some cleaning. First came a couple of kitchen cabinets where we had a moth problem. (What does it say about me, that I was relieved that the moths that I had seen were grain moths?) Then, for me, came Little Squid's room.

Last September we gave him an inexpensive GPS for his birthday. By May it was missing. He claimed to have left it on his desk -- hence kind of blaming Maria. I thought like Maria and searched his desk drawers. Nothing. Then I, garbage bag in hand, searched his closet, his book shelves and then, after taking a break, and in desperation, his clothing drawers. Both Squidlings sleep in Captain's beds with very large drawers below the mattress. Little Squid tends to leave his open -- so things fall in. I searched the drawer at the head of his bed, I searched the drawer at the foot of his bed and then finally, as I was digging through his underwear in the middle drawer ... voila!

Today, the rain has stopped, we can ride to camp again and finish the major painting. Yea! Unfortunately it is also a rest day in the Tour de France so I will have to occupy my paint drying time with some other activity. Yesterday's end of stage was so exciting that it was a good thing I was just knitting a plain sock foot! I am making socks to match my TdFKAL vest as a secondary Tour project. One foot down, and on to the first cuff. Pictures later now that the skies have brightened.

I am Honored!

I was nominated twice for a Rockin' Girl Blogger award. First by Ann and then by Isabelle.


My nominees are: Susan (for rockin' with The Girl), Sprite (for rockin' Kandahar!), Cookie (for her rockin' socks), KnittyOtter (for being my favorite Otter!), and Penny (for rockin' the spindle!).

***

Decorating Update: We have not decided on a rug except to decide to look further. The purchase may very well be made on line. The dining room / entry way / hall way are now taped for ceiling paint and will receive 2 coats of ceiling white tomorrow. Some of the door frames and molding are also taped in anticipation of doing the walls -- some because we ran out of tape. We are going for the two-tone look. Dave suggested olive and gold and we printed paper in the approximate colors and taped them to the wall. I think it will work and Mike is sold.

***

Tour de France Knit Along Update: I should have a finished product to show you tomorrow. Today's tour finish was way exciting! On days when Mike and I are home in the morning we are watching the final few kilometers of the tour. Fun and inspiring!

***

Yesterday's poetry was the result of sleep deprivation after worrying about a kid all night. The kid was just fine in the morning but I was wiped out. We are all better now -- at least I assume. The Squid family is short the shortest Squid who is on an overnight trip with camp. Things are too quiet around here.

Squidette and Papa went to get the next larger violin size for her and wound up not buying a violin. She skipped right over a size and is now playing the full size instrument that we bought for her last year. I swear she has grown 2 inches in the last month. It is entirely possible that she will pass me within the year if she keeps growing at this rate. Tomorrow, she and I are going shopping to up size some of her garments. Eek!

Conquering the Mountains

... or at least the really steep hill leading up from the Little Red Lighthouse to the West Side Highway.

Today's ride took us up the Hudson River Greenway, and past Inspiration Point (sorry, no picture -- it looked too sad to make me think it was our destination so Squidette and I rode right past it). Getting to Inspiration point involved climbing the hill just north of the George Washington Bridge -- this hill involves a climb of 80 feet in altitude over 0.7 miles for the steeper part of the ascent. I'm trying to make sense of the GPS data so this may not be totally accurate. The last part of the climb seems practically vertical and I refuse to ride down it but today I did ride up the entire ascent! And, I didn't even go into my smallest front chain ring!

After riding past Inspiration Point, we continued on the streets over to the East Side where we saw GREAT signage pointing us toward our destination. This city may finally be getting a clue. The last time we attempted this the signage was awful and we were lucky to find our way.

(This actually points in the opposite direction to where we were going but it is in the right place for it's task.)After finding the Harlem River Greenway we found a lovely park called Swindler's Cove. Wonderful plantings, lovely views. Apparently it just opened in April.



We then headed south looking for a shady spot to eat breakfast in. Let me point out that we are now on the east side of Manhattan and it is only 10:00 a.m. There really was no chance of us finding a shady spot but we kept looking ...
I believe that these are the Washington Bridge (not the G.W.), a bridge unnamed on my biking map and High Bridge. It is my intent to get to High Bridge one of these days even though it is currently not open to the public. High Bridge used to be an aqueduct, bringing water into my fair city.

After being pushed from the river due to the end of the Greenway, we rode down St. Nicholas Avenue to Adam Clayton Powell Blvd and then into Central Park. Along the way we passed many lovely buildings such as this one.
Then, into Central Park for an al fresco breakfast along the Harlem Meer followed by some unsuccessful geocaching and a ride home.
Sights along the Hudson River as we walked along looking for a geocache.
These were used to unload railroad cars from barges directly to tracks.

The view looking East from the Hudson River Greenway --

more residential buildings! Thft! Total ride: 23 miles with several hills.

And, for those of you who care, my TdF project. Just a day or so from finishing.