21st April saw me do something i haven't done in over 10 years, ride a bike. I bought a Jamis X-Trail 3.0 for about $540. Was looking for a Scott but the disc brake and low price combo was not a reality. But when I saw the jamis and I had time to research online about the brand, I found out that it's an American brand that's well used in the US. So I bought it.

Last night, Edward, lawrence, Russell and myself went out to the tampines trail to test the bike out. It handles real well. Front suspension soaking up the bumps. Rear tyre never bottomed out once. But since it's been 10 years since I've been cycling, the ride from home to the trail just winded me. The trail ride was great! mind you we started around 2345. headlamps shining we rode into the night. lawrence had the mother of all headlamps. bought from our trusted friend in seragoon road. It practically lit the whole trail. Out shone (pun intended) the rest. The trail was mostly gravel covered. about a metre and a half wide. twisty at some points. some areas the trail is raised off the ground about a foot (the sides of the trail drops off). When we got to the far end where the jungle trail starts, we stopped and rested. that's where we celebrated edward's 36th birthday. one white candle sitting on a small stone (we didn't have cake). The 3 of us shared in getting edward a Zippo Blu which I got for a reasonable price off ebay. We then mead our way into the jungle trail bit on foot, just to show me what it's like in there. i believe a night ride in there would be suicide cos just as you get in there's this drop off. And according to Lawrence it's the smallest of the 2 in here. making our way back tothe bikes, we U-turned and back tracked out way out.

We then made our way to the prata shop near alison's place. After that ride, i was grateful to sit on a proper chair. My butt was aching. Muscles I forgot existed were aching. I was pespiring in places I had forgotten about too. And the last time these muscles ached and places perspired, i was in the army!

After a prata and 100plus, they had their meals too, we went our seperate ways and headed home. I'm pleased with my bike, Low Rider, but I NEED A NEW SADDLE!!!!

Below are maps of our route.

Obituary


The Yellow Byrd

Hatched - unknown
Died - 15th April 2009

This here bird was taken into our care on
the 14th of April, last Tuesday (please read
previous post for details). It spent the day
in our house before it decided to leave us. It
left us peacefully, I hope, on Wednesday evening
in the care of my Mother. And it may have only
lived with us for 1 day, I do miss it's constant
chirping whenever it was hungry. I do not
know if it would have matured to full
adulthood in our care but I do think we
allowed it to live for an extra day.

The Byrd

Yesterday whilst coming back from the 107 coffee shop after lunch with U. David n mum, we walked by the playground between 108 n 109. U. David saw something in the grass and thought it was just yellow leaves. But you know me, being curious n all, went in for a closer look. It was a bird! A fledgling to be exact. Not just skin but with feathers. It looked like it tried to fly the coop early and the only direction it went was down. What we believe to be the parents were circling above together with some crows. Now, I know the parents were looking for their chick but I also knew that when they found it they wouldn't be able to bring it back up to the nest. And me thinks the crows were hungry too. It was screwed!

So, we brought it home. It new nest is a shallow box lined with paper towels. Mum feeds it a concoction of rice n water, a kinda watery porridge. I suggested egg yolk. It now takes to feeding from a plastic spoon although i think a dropper or syringe (without the needle of course) would work better.

Fed it twice yesterday and so far once this morning. I don't know much about keeping birds and have been fervently looking for ideas online. Any help from you guys n gals out there would be deeply appreciated. Also, it either a Black naped Oriole or Golden Oriole.

But I must say, it makes for a damn good model.