My last post, 2 days ago was a tale of woe. I’d been wasted all week with the plague weakness and I was resigned to another 18 month bout of long covid, like last time. That was Saturday. As I was blogging I got wiped out again.
I was dreading stripping the VFR in the morning, but I had to replace the starter motor before it failed again and I got stranded at work. I woke up suspiciously OK, and got to work. I needed an oil filter and oil to do to the job. Halfords said they no longer stock bike oil filters but I found a motorbike shop in Warrington that said online they had some. They lied. I had to get oil anyway so I went to Halfords on the way back, they had a handful of old stock oil filters they hadn’t yet got rid of, I googled and one of them was an equivalent! Unexpected bonus.
I got the fairings off easily, dropped the oil, removed the filter, to gain access to the starter motor. I had a moment because it was secured by 8mm bolts, one of which was very tight. Such a small bolt I was scared I was going to strip the head or snap the bolt. It came free. Huzzah! It was a bit of struggle getting the new starter to line up with bolt holes. Worrying as I wasn’t 100% sure the starter was for my model. I got it done and all is peachy. It starts on the button, no whirring, no drama.
When I stopped rushing about I started feeling weak again. I had an early tea to give me energy. After a while the weakness passed and I felt fine again. My brain was fizzing and I was even starting to get frantic. Brilliant! I’ve so missed being me. I had a cup of tea to give my tea time to settle, then went for a run. 8 miles at 8 m/m average pace. For right now, that’s pretty OK.
Today I was still feeling fine, mentally. I went the shop, improvised, adapted and overcomed a problem with our mop, checked the oil level and the starter motor on the VFR again, then got into the shed.
I pulled the gearbox out of the Harley so it’s ready when my replacement part arrives. I pulled the carb off, adjusted the enrichment screw and replaced the carb seal rubber, put it all back on. I was feeling cold and like I wanted to stop but I pushed on. I removed the standard exhaust (not the simple job you’d think) and built and mocked up the fitting of the new, upgraded, 2 into 1 exhaust. The endcan to 2 into 1 piece is as tight as Tory charity, but the downpipes to 2 into 1 are a bit slack so I’ve had to order some exhaust gasket sealant before I fit it properly.
It looks the business though!
The fact that it’s 22.30 and I am excited looking at that is such a good sign. My brain has been so depressed. Not sad, depressed as in not elevated, flatlining.
It was about 15.00 by then and I was feeling really sleepy tired, but I wanted a run before it got dark. It got dark anyway, but I managed a Half at 7.48 m/m pace. 1.42:19. Nothing to write home about, but given where I am, and the fact that I was clinging on to the pace for the last bunch of miles, going all in, I’ll take it.
Two good days, loads achieved, and I’ve not triggered any long covid backlash. Yet. Last post I was resigned to 18 months of weakness, tiredness and brain fog. This one I’m daring to hope it’s just a slow recovery. Or at worst intermittent bouts. Now we need Wendy well again.
Later,
Buck
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