First Back Tyre Flat

 On Thursday 28th March in the afternoon I went to go for a ride just to do a few things. I backed out of the shed and after a while heard a little squishing noise in my right ear. I looked down to my wheels before I turned onto the street's footpath from my place. I noticed my back left tyre was down a little. Didn't think it was too bad so went up as far as the train line. Once I got there I decided I wouldn't go any further, so came back home that day. It was not down as much when my front tyre went down, when I had them fully down while sitting on my scooter probably because of holes in the tubes. 
Anyway I had a good friend ring the RAA up for me to come have a look at it. After having a good look they decided it most likely had a very slow leak because they pumped it right up and checked for holes. Couldn't hear anything. See any changes and even took it off and put in water to try find where the leak was and couldn't see any bubbles. So far I have been to four different places and back home and my tyre is still up. Hopefully it will be tomorrow morning as I haven't used it since Sunday, 31st March now.

After 2 Months

Today was my first trip to the Unley Corps in over two months. I had already had a tyre changed last January and in November last year I had another flat - same front side. I was told it may have been because I needed my wheels aligned. So I sent it away to have it fixed. I also had a broken tiller, the part at the front that can be moved in. Steering seems really good but I am worried about something that seems to be rubbing underneath. May be nothing. After paying the full fee (I didn't ask if I could pay half, I just wanted it back) and getting it back Tuesday 2nd February, I naturally went for a quick ride around the block and put it away.

First Hole

Driving home from work 2 weeks ago I noticed a tyre was flat - half way home. Came the rest of the way home on a flat. Next door neighbour fixed the hole in my tube enough to get me back to an appointment up to King William road and down to the garage on East Avenue to get my tyres pumped up properly where I was informed that the tyre was still deflating. So after 2 1/2 years I am up for new front tyres.

May be time for New Batteries again!

I just have to have them seen to, ordered, bought and fitted. Have already talked to Rebekah about getting new ones and I will hopefully hear from her tomorrow so we can talk about them more. However, although they are getting me from A - B still I don't think they are as healthy as they should be. At the moment I can only get to Unley (it seems) one way now. When I could do there and back a couple times when the batteries were new. I even need to make sure the batteries are fully charged before going anywhere now. I can't even trust that will get me a short distance and back now as seems to drop suddenly from 9 now.

It's July! Mid Winter.

Was able to take the scooter up to Unley last Friday. Even though it is very cold it was dry during the day. Battery is still getting me in one direction to Unley - Might do back and forth but I don't want to take the chance that it will run down before I get home (Seems to run down quickly from 8 now) so I charged it up before leaving last Friday. If I take it tomorrow I will have to do the same thing.

Winter Rides

Weather is so weird. It is cold but dry. I was able to ride up to Unley and then back home on Friday just past. I had the charger on all night so was fully charged Friday morning. I got back home Friday with it just on 9. Today, (Saturday) the sun was out so decided to go out for a ride and to run my battery down before I charged it again. I wanted to see how I would be able to get across the train line that crosses Goodwood road. The main part of the road actually goes underneath the train line and it is rather busy and too thin to take my scooter down there but I thought there may be pedestrian gates|_| on the road that goes on the same level as the train line and I was right. Anyway only found out because I asked someone near there as I was down to 7 already (levels drop suddenly from 8) and thought I'd better go home. Well battery lights were flashing when I got home. I got it into the shed and the bars went back up to five. Am not sure of the guage at all now. I could have gone up the street if I wanted instead and probably would have got home with just as much to spare.
I try to take my scooter when I go to Medi Pedi and probably will unless it is very wet or I do need new batteries. Only takes about 20 mins to get up there from my place. Was able last time.
I also went to Coffee Notes on Leader, Monday 4th July and it only took me about 5 - 10 minutes to get there.

Been a While

 Well it's been a while since my last post and I have only had to have the tech out once since October. Apart from not being able to do a lot of scooting because of the dreadful Summer weather we had over the past couple months, all has gone reasonable well.
Although I think I am going to have to save up for a new battery again. The batteries seem to be only lasting a year. :( Mentioned in my last post that I can go up to Unley and back on a full charge but even on seven I cannot get home with some to spare. Left home on Friday on 9, Got to work on 7 so had to recharge for a couple hours. Last time I left the Corps on 7 I ran out of power just as I parked.

Did some but not alot/every day riding because the weather was not like Summer at all. It was a very wet and cold season.

Noticed

 Have sort of worked out what they mean by a battery will go so far on a full charge.
I have never gone the distance in one ride or even in a couple. So, I assume when it says a battery will do 40km or 60km it means that it will do that distance before a new battery is required?

Battery seems to keep it's charge longer when it is new. After only a couple months it loses it quickly.
Also it seems to stay on full charge for some distance but once it comes down from 6 bars it loses power quickly. I would have at least gone up to Unley on 5 bars when the battery was new but now I wont.  From my place to Goodwood road it drops dramatically and going over to Unley is at least 3 times the distance.

So it starts....again

 I have been up to Unley again four times now since I got my scooter back and thank God have got there and back safely. 

I will not say though that I have not had a few near misses with cars. God has kept me safe all this time by giving road users patience and a sharp eye. I hope and pray that He will continue to help me look out for other people too. 

Although I do not use the road all the time I  do cross sometimes and also need to watch driveways for cars exiting especially. I will need to charge my batteries again before I go up to Unley again - Hopefully for next Wednesday - Looks like Sunday is going to be wet.

Finally got myself a pair of sunglasses that go over glasses. Turns out they are too dark and I cannot wear them - Until I can get a lighter pair I will just have to use a hat and hope the brim shades my eyes so I can see properly in the sunny weather.
With 'dark' sunglasses they are ok in the sun while I am riding in the sun but when I am in the shade I cannot see the ground and I need to see the shape of the terrain.

Service

 Put my Afi in for a service since it is over a year that I have had it now. Put it in on Friday the 27th August and got it back on Tuesday the 31st August. Looked like they may have charged it a little so I didn't again before taking it up to Unley on Wednesday. Hopefully they gave it the once over so my tyres may not need looking at for a week or so too. I do not know what actually happens in a service and would like an email or piece of paper to say what was looked at. I still haven't received any mention of a bill but that may come tomorrow. Just incase I am going to keep some money aside for it if it is not covered by warranty.

Monday afternoon I got a call to ask how it was going, if it was going well, then I was given bill details and I paid it straight away

Time

 Still need to time myself properly.
What I know so far is it takes me approx 10 minutes to get from Goodwood Road to King William Road.
Most days going up to Unley it takes me 45 minutes. I think I have worked out but will need to check.
If I go up straight to the corps it may only take me 35 minutes plus if I stop at Woolworths it's an extra 10.
I always forget the time I actually leave home and get to the corps. I will have to do another time check.

7th July
 Travelled up to Unley and back today because the weather allowed. The air was frosty cold this morning and it was nice this afternoon. only thing is I got to get sunglasses or tinted glasses - probably better  to get them since I cannot see when the sun is in my eyes and I would hate to put anyone or myself even in a bad position because of this.
Checked the time just after leaving my place this morning (In my street) and it was about 8:53am and again when I got to the Unley Shopping centre and it was about 9:14am so, that only took about 20 minutes. Maybe 5, 10 at the most at Woolies and another 10 to get to the corps. Will have to check again properly next time I go over on the scooter.

30th July
Coming home this afternoon only took me approx. 35 minutes coming straight home. I gave myself a few minutes to shut down and get out when I signed out but didn't look at the time after I had shut the gate before I left the building.

10th September
Left my flat about 8am
This morning I checked my time as I left my gateway and it was 8.08. When I got up to Unley Shopping Centre it was about 8:36 (I stopped for a bit and got some shopping then continued on), and I signed in for the day at the Salvation Army at  9.05 so I am sure now it only takes me about half an hour to get up to Unley - The Shopping Centre at least. Tonight when I came home it was approx 5pm when I left and 5:28pm when I got home, 5:40 pm when I had parked, locked up and come inside.

October 6th
Came straight home this evening and only took me 30 minutes. 

Furtherest Yet

 Went up to Unley road, Hyde Park today with the intention of getting some shoes - well that didn't happen! I went about the same distance as I would, going to my volunteer work but all at once today. Usually I would do it in the morning, then in the afternoon. Almost got there and someone had blocked the footpath with their car - don't know if it was broken down or not. Car had hazard lights on but was parked half on the road/footpath on a yellow line. I had to back, back into a driveway and cross the road, then cross at the lights on Unley Rd to get to where I wanted to go. Even though I looked up the address of where I wanted to go I couldn't find the place.

After I went home for a pitstop I went back up to IGA to get some things I didn't get at Drakes yesterday.

New Batteries - Dates Charged, 19th May - 5th October

 I don't do a lot of riding - yet. Apparently some people use their scooters a lot more than I do.
Any way after my first charge 19th May I didn't have to charge again until a week later.
I had done a few small trips around the neighbourhood, on the next Friday I spent the whole day at the Arkaba on Friday 21st May, Red Shield collecting so didn't use it then either. On Wednesday 26th May, with 5 bars I went up to the corps & I got home with 2 bars flashing (20% charge left). So charged it  - second charge, (Thursday 27th May) before I took it out again. My son in law mentioned to keep it between 80 and 20 % Not to let it fall below 20

Margaret took me to church on Sunday and I thought it was going to rain Wednesday so didn't go up the corps. Got a taxi instead. Thursday 3rd June I went up to the Unley Shopping Centre  and got home with 3 bars/30% charge left - Had 7 when I left in the morning.
3rd charge overnight before I used it Friday 4th June. Got a fright this morning - when I turned it on it only showed 3 bars at first but soon went to 10. Because of that I took the charger with me today just incase. So I went up to the corps today and came home with 10 most of the way home but only 9 bars left when I parked.
4th & 5th charges, church on Sunday 20th June then Monday 28th June. After doing two runs up to Unley Road and back plus going to Goodwood road a couple times and back I put the charger on for the 6th time Thursday 1st July. 

I will probably be charging it more when the warmer weather comes around (at the moment I am lucky to be charging once a month) as I am not using it all the time because of wet weather. Not that it is always raining here in Adelaide but I don't want to be caught out in the rain again while doing a longer trip especially.

 I went to Drakes at Wayville with it on 4 bars to start. When I nearly was home it was the first time I saw it down to 1 bar. I charged the batteries for the 7th time that evening on Saturday 10th July. I haven't used it much this month because of wet weather and now lockdown again I have probably been out on the scooter only a couple times. I went up to IGA on Wednesday 21st July because I 'had' to get something. Then again on Monday 26th Julyto go to IGA, the bank ATM and the chemist to get a script filled

On Thursday 29th July I went down to T&M motors at Clarence Park and back. Had 7 bars to begin but only 6 this morning

Went up to Unley today Friday 30th July. Battery had 6 bars charge when I left home and was on 2 when I got there. (I assume because going to Unley means going uphill even though a slight grade it may still use more power. Charged it (for the 8th time) while at the corps today. Was on full charge when I got home this afternoon.

After doing a run up to Goodwood road and around the Forestville reserve I charged the batteries for a couple hours  - 85% (ON the charger) 10 bars on the screen. 9th charge, 
14th August. Didn't let it go all night as it was still on 6 bars - Charger only said 30%.

After getting my scooter back from Lifestyle (31st August) where it had it's first yearly service, I noticed the charge was a little higher than when I had last seen it. 

5th September I went up to Goodwood road today - was on 5 bars when I left home but only got as far as Goodwood road and it went down to 2 already so didn't do anything that I was going to do. Turned around and came straight back home. So, I put the charger on for a bit under 2 hours (10th charge)  Then went back up to Goodwood Road. Should keep me going for the next couple of days, I shouldn't have to give it a full charge until Tuesday night.

Went down to Drakes and back yesterday 6th September. Started at 5 bars and when I got home was on 2 flashing, so I charged it today - Tuesday 7th September 80% 11th charge. After doing a couple runs up to Unley and back plus Goodwood road and back I gave the battery it's 12th charge overnight from Tuesday 14th September pm - Wednesday 15th September am.  100% charge in the morning. When I got home from Unley tonight was on 9 bars. On Thursday went to Clarence Park then went up to Unley again on Friday. 13th Charge is on Tuesday 21st pm - 22nd September am
Went up to Unley and back on Wednesday 22nd September, Thursday 23rd September I did 2 trips to Goodwood road and then did Unley and back again on Friday 24th September. Going up to King William Road today so have put on for a couple hours Saturday, 25th September 14th charge After charge  I have since done King William road and back. I went up to Unley on Sunday and back and today (Monday) I went up to Goodwood IGA and back.
Took the Afi out for a ride today, Saturday 2nd October - too cold inside and it was sunny outside. Anyway I only went over to the park went around the closest carpark, came home and it used up one bar  already so I decided to give it just over an hour's charge. Took it up to IGA then -said 50% charge on the charger, 6 bars left when I came home, down from 10? This was the 15 charge. 
On Tuesday 5th October I gave it another small charge  approx 1-2 hours before (16th) I went up to Goodwood Road twice -   then charged overnight before I took it up to Unley again (17th)