We started the day off with an awesome smoothie- parsley, carrot, banana, apple & spinach, so yummy! I added lots of water too so I'd be hydrated. There is no way I'd eat a salad for breakfast any other way.
I really looked forward to today's ride, I wasn't deterred in the slightest by the rain, in fact I was excited for another element to overcome. Jack was very helpful with his little cart and as it was a lot quieter today he didn't even come close to ramming anyone else.
Andy's Market has Peanut, Almond and Cashew Butter Machines, where you can grind your own and buy by the pound- that is what he's excited about in this picture, he wants a sample!
Jack loaded the Go-Getter today and got lots of "oh, he's so cute" comments from various elderly people doing the shopping. Here he can be seen waving at a nice old Gentleman who took the cart inside for us.
I thought this was a lucky shot, taken on the way home.
The only "blight" on the whole experience was actually when I was taking a left turn on the main road and someone driving a truck buzzed by me at speed, despite the fact that he was literally the only truck on the road and had plenty of time to stop and wait for me to turn. I wouldn't have been worried, but he had about 18 feet of space left to move through and decided instead to come within a few feet of us. It stressed me out a bit and made me reconsider turning at that spot in the future as it's on an incline and therefore makes it hard for me to pull away fast.
Overall, I'd say today was a good day, a positive experience, that reinforced my belief that I have made the right choice with this challenge. I wasn't sure what the general public would think today, when I unloaded a small child in the rain off of a bicycle (remember, I live in a small conservative town), but every comment (and there were many) was positive and encouraging. One woman even seemed to instantly see the value in our lifestyle and stopped in her tracks and watched, then said "you are teaching him a valuable lesson" as she walked off. So, it was nice, positive and refreshing day in more ways than one, and I didn't even get that soaked really!
Hi, Lindsay. Found your blog through #30daysofbiking, and so glad I did :) What an exciting change you are making for your family. In fact, it's one we are considering for ourselves. this 30 day challenge is our way of testing it out, seeing if we can really make it work. Aside from committing to bike each day, we've retired our car for the duration of the month. I admire you for your year long commitment, and can't wait to watch where this takes you!
ReplyDeleteHey Karena- Glad you found us! It's such a great thing the 30 days of biking- more community, more inspiration! I'm excited for you guys too, when I consider this is day 4- its feeling pretty good so far! Cheers and thanks for your comment;)
Delete"One thing I have discovered is trips with a purpose and a destination add a sense of accomplishment that a cruise doesn't yet provide for me." These are key words for me, because sometimes, when I go for bicycle joyrides, I feel that the experience is lacking a certain something. However, when I have a definite purpose in mind, I find that vocation and avocation become unified in a way that is entirely satisfactory, and although the ride is to accomplish a definite purpose, I serendipitously discover that I also enjoy the ride a whole lot more.
ReplyDeleteHeliopolister- I couldn't have said it better myself- I don't know what it is, but I think it's key to new cyclists or people who want to try this to have a purpose to start with, even if they have to create one.
DeleteI've found that I can turn simple things into destination rides, and that like you I need that. Yesterday's was "get closer to Mt. Tabor" and I didn't succeed, but it was a goal that got me out.
ReplyDeleteToday we have thunderstorms predicted. While riding in the rain is something I actually enjoy, the thought of lightning has me spooked. Not sure that we're going to go far today.
Hey Kath- the point is to promote health...getting hit by a bolt of lightening wouldn't do that! My brother was driving a long some years back and saw a guy get hit by lightening- very scary (he was fine). But maybe keep it short! I miss Portland's rolling thunder storms, we used to live up on Overlook so we got some great views.
DeleteLindsay
AWESOME!!!! (that's all that needs to be said,LOL :P)
ReplyDeleteThe Disabled Cyclist
Thank YOU!!!!
DeleteLindsay
Great. I'm glad you didn't let the weather over come the ride! I have to say just Make sure that the rain cover has good ventilation for the little one. Don't let the yahoo in the truck bother you...get out there and ride! Here in Texas we have plenty of trucks that don'e move over for you and some honk as they speed passed feet away from you. But honestly I just blow it off as jealously that they know we don't have their huge gas bill. I'm looking forward to day 5! I wish I knew about this project sooner and I might have joined you but would need to work out some logistics for riding to work.
ReplyDeleteMatthew- They do this event every year, I just found out myself, but will be doing it next year too! I guess this is the 3rd year so far.
DeleteThe rain cover is the kind they sell for strollers, people have been using them for years, lots of ventilation at the edges and holes on the sides for air, so I'm not worried about it. It's very thick plastic, bot the kind that could be breathed in to the mouth either. But, you can never be to careful!
Yeah, I was re-thinking my route and not sure how to alter it to make it better, either way I'm moving slow in that area because of a hill.
Thanks for your comments!
Lindsay,
ReplyDeleteAs one who also left Portland and found more "conservative" people in my midst, I can understand your trepidation. It is funny though, because I have found that everyone loves bikes. Everyone reacts to bike usage like they are 7 or 8 years old- before "idealism" or "politics" or "reality" or all these "isms" became the only way we labeled things. They usually see the inherent financial conservatism in biking. They usually see the physical work with reward that they so find so endearing *think the boot strap metaphor* It is amazing to me as I am back in the midwest, how big the home gardening movement, land conservation, biking and exercise movements are- and I am reminded that "conservative" is such a big spectrum and a purely political ideology- but human is universal and we all got to get our groceries, go to work, raise families, put on our pants regardless of who and what we vote for. So, I guess I am rambling to tell you, I understand what you feel like in your town on occassion, and I also understand the sense of global harmony when you meet someone you would assume is COMPLETELY opposite of you but totally intune to your actions.
Hoorah!
Tricia Duffin
Tricia-
DeleteYes, I bet you guys have had a similar experience moving home. I always wonder if I might get observed as "another person who can't afford a car", in this area as some people seem to think that "poor people ride mass transit and bikes", unless its the weekend and you are "exercising". It doesn't seem like many people would think along the lines of just hopping on a bike to grab something.
I'm not sure that I've ever mentioned this on my blog, but the town we live in has a Seventh-Day Adventist College so the majority of people are associated with that religion. It makes for an interesting dynamic and a very quiet town in school holidays! As a whole, SDA's are the group of Americans that out live the rest of us. Research has been done on this and they say its because of their focus on vegetarian eating and exercise. Anyway, pretty interesting stuff. It's a very strange place to move to after living in "Weird" Portland :)
Thanks for being such a great support!
Lindsay
Good for you!!! And that smoothie sounds delicious! We drink a lot of green juice and smoothies to power our bikes too ;) And this is inspiring bc I have yet to do a rainy day ride with the kids, but I know I will.
ReplyDeleteMegan- I woke up this morning craving one, so yummy! Do you add any super foods to yours? That's my next area of research. Riding in the rain was fun actually- Jack loved it too!
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