I won’t keep you in suspense. I’ve had quite a few questions concerning how the bike got fixed so I thought I would let you know……I did fix the bike myself!!! I just decided that I was going to be stubborn and not give up. I worked for five days on that rear axle, and I managed to put it back together about 19 different ways. It is an amazing invention. I kept getting offers to help, but I just kept saying "not yet.....let me try a bit more."

There was no third trip to the store.

And to give you the whole story…..I did not take that front axle apart to grease it. No telling how many parts that has! At this time, I'm not really motivated to find out anything about that axle. It's turning, and that's good enough for me.

The Happy Biker

It’s been three days since I gave you the bad news that I had not reassembled those 14 pieces of the rear axle correctly. I bet you are wondering what is happening with the bike……probably even losing sleep over the mystery.

In the last three days, I have learned that there are many ways to put 14 pieces back together. Naturally, there is only one correct way. And I found it TODAY!!! I actually rode my bike today! The back wheel turns! The front wheel turns! The new tires have plenty of tread, and the tubes are holding the 55 pounds of air that I put into them. And, the brakes even work!

My last decision was whether or not to take apart the front axle to see what needed greasing. Can you guess what I decided?

The bike is upside down, and the back wheel won’t turn. I guess that gives you an idea of the progress on my bike.

It seems that I put all the pieces back together, but not in the correct manner. I’ve disassembled and reassembled the rear axle twice now. And the bike still isn’t right. It is sitting right outside my door, and I think about it almost constantly. I just can’t picture how some parts on a rear axle will turn and some won’t!

I’ve always wondered how a car’s axle works too.

This could be my problem! I have no general store-house of mechanical knowledge in my brain. I really don’t have much clue as to how wheels, axles, drive shafts, and gears all work together…..or how they are put together.

Of course, identifying the problem does not get the bike in working order. The “word” is out around the Park that I’m having trouble, and I have already received several offers of help. I’m still resisting at this point. I have a couple of more ideas to try, and I need to look at the internet more closely for even more ideas.

I still haven’t made that third trip to the store to get another part. (The thought has crossed my mind that the third trip may be to buy a new back wheel with the axle already in place!)

Ya’ll take care.

I’ve been thinking that I need a bicycle. When I travel, a bicycle would be very handy for tooling around the campground. It would especially be handy for making that quick trip to the campground store for some milk. So, I’ve been thinking that I should get a very plain bike…..just something simple that would be dirt cheap and would be able to navigate a dirt road.

Well, today I got my opportunity! There was my bicycle……sitting in front of a neighbor’s home, and it had a “Free” sign on it. Perfect!

The bike needed new tires. So, I purchased and installed them today. (I said that so calmly, BUT this is so exciting to me! It’s the first time that I have ever changed a tire on a bike!!!!) After getting the tires on the rims, another neighbor came by and said that I really should take apart the axle on the rear wheel and clean and grease everything. I did…..did you know that there are fourteen parts to a rear axle? They all went back together, and they are all properly greased.

Now, since this is a project, that means that three trips to the store are necessary. One trip was done today to get the tires. The trip tomorrow will be for the new tubes that I need. (I don’t yet know what the third trip will be for.)

I’m hoping to ride my bike tomorrow. Ya’ll wish me luck!

I have just discovered the blackberries. I was walking right across from my home, and there was a red blackberry! So, I started looking closer. And I began seeing the little green blackberries. And then finally I saw a black blackberry!

Now these berry patches are pretty scrawny, but I figure that somewhere around here is THE berry patch. You know…..that special patch that goes on and on forever, and the berries there that melt in your hand because they’re so plump. Of course, not too many of those make it into the bucket.

I’m looking for that berry patch, and I’m starting to dream about cobblers and jellies. (I remember jams…..but too many seeds for me!) I’m looking hard for that special patch. I haven’t found it yet, but I will!

Suzanne