14 November 2020

I wish I had this for my skateboarding

I was walking the trail when I spotted what looked like a very odd looking small turtle crossing the concrete surface. As I came within a spitting distance, I realized that it was indeed a turtle. It had a leaf stuck on the outer side of the shell – which made it look odd. It had completely withdrawn itself inside the shell when it saw me approach.

I stood there, determined to win the game of patience and see what it would do once it realized that it was approaching a steep fall. You see the ground on the other side of the concrete trail had eroded thanks to the sharp flowing waters after the recent rains. The turtle’s only option would be to turn back or keep walking along the the edge till it could smoothly transition back into the ground.

Eventually, the turtle got out of its shell, under the mistaken notion that I was a permanent fixture. And kept plodding to the aforementioned edge of the concrete surface.

You have to watch the video to see what it did. Of course, it immediately stopped in its stride moment the left front foot found no ground under it. It took a second to think, stuck out the same foot again and tested out the air in the missing ground.

Convinced now that there is a big hole – it did a remarkable thing. No coming back. No walking along. It simply somersaulted and took a tumble. You will note how it safely landed on its hard shell at the end and then turned over and nonchalantly kept walking like nothing had happened.

I need a shell like that for my skateboarding!!!

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14 November 2020

Two interesting charts on Covid

This is data on Covid spread in India. Fascinating data.
1. 70% of Covid patients did not spread the virus to ANYBODY. On the other hand, 10% of Covid patients caused 60% of the spread of virus.

2. The second one is even more fascinating. It is the young adults who are spreading the virus most (I assume that is because they tend to be more social and gather in groups?). And people tend to spread to other people of similar age as their own (I assume because people tend to congregate with folks of similar age group)

(Source: The Economist)

12 November 2020

And this is where the trail stopped….

Since I cannot run with the calf injury still nagging me, went for a walk instead. In about half a mile, I face a choice of wading thru really muddy waters or turning back and doing a pendulum-esque simple harmonic motion between the starting point and water’s edge till I reached three miles. Pendulum it was!!

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11 November 2020

A successful re-mount!

After taking the tumble, cursory testing by pressing and prodding ruled out any possibility of broken bones. Just that the right hand was a little painful. I was more afraid that if I packed up and went home, I will have an insurmountable fear of coming back.

After a couple of minutes of rest, went back to the spot and kept trying. Obviously I was inordinately afraid and focused on not falling again. The first three attempts, I aborted before re-mounting. Succeeded with the fourth one eventually.

Here is the first successful re-mount.

11 November 2020

Took a tumble :-(

Let this be a warning to all 54 year olds trying to learn how to skateboard!
Tried practicing how to mount off, push with left leg and mount on again (and keep repeating). Within five minutes took a fall. Front foot was too far forward – the board pivoted on front wheels and swung – throwing me off the board.

Scraped some skin and the right palm and middle finger hurt for some time (the right arm hit the concrete first) – but after a few hours, I was okay.

Fortunately, I had chosen a time when nobody was there to laugh at me.

Need to go back there soon and try again…