My biking routine got messed up by a flat tire I discovered at the start of last week’s would-be ride. This past Saturday afternoon I pumped up the tire again and cautiously took a lap around the parking garage. Seemed okay. I let it rest overnight. Seemed okay. I did a cautious ride yesterday to make sure I was not too far from home to push my bike back if need be....

After returning from Iași on July 8th, my fitness regimen was hindered by a few different things: weather (it’s been pretty hot!), and intense work stuff (which is why I scheduled the business trip the way I did), but mostly mein innerer Schweinehund I wanted to set off this morning on a bike ride, but I found a flat tire waiting for me. So I took a stroll instead....

I’m in Iași for a couple weeks and just hit the half-way point. I’ve been visiting this city on business a few times per year since 2006, but usually just for part of a week. As near as I can tell, this is only the third or fourth time I’ve been over a weekend, and only the third time not during the winter. And I’m staying in a new (to me) hotel quite close to the office....

I was running low on Earl Grey, organic and packaging free, so I grabbed an empty, cleaned-out pickle jar or something and hustled up to Quantum Satis to refill on that, and green cardamom pods, and star anise. They were out of star anise, and they won’t be restocking it: sadly, they’re shuttering for good on July 31st, 2022. The owner told me the economic situation of their store is just not sustainable....

The universe does not want to make it easy for me to get to Adlersberg on my bike. I tried the same route as last time, getting this further this time before hitting the rain, and a detour for construction on the bike path forced me up a much steeper hill. I sought refuge in a bus shelter outside the monastery / brewery before continuing on an abbreviated route back home....