After some meandering I thought I'd go to the grocery store, alas I had left my lock at home, so I asked the checker closest to the door if she would keep an eye on the bike for me and she was happy to oblige. I made sure a few employees overheard me asking, and got positive responses. Of course, its hard to relax and buy your groceries if you are constantly worried about your bike being nabbed, so we, or rather I rushed around, whilst Jack followed me at a snails pace with his mini cart.
When we got back to the checkout and I was informed I wasn't allowed to take the mini cart outside, it's not easy to handle a toddler, a huge bag of apples and oranges and about 6 other bags. As the bag guy didn't seem to intent on helping, I was relieved that Jack took the grocery cart back to the coral with no assistance, I was so proud of him. He really is a helpful little guy.
Fresh strawberries snacked on a bench in the sun, before loading up, turned out to be a fun little break.
Usually I would have headed home, but today I felt like I actually had energy to burn, so we used up some of it with a cruise around town. It was so warm we even shed our long sleeves!
I do believe I'm starting to form a habit and to be honest I can't even remember when I last formed a "good" habit, so really I couldn't be any happier. We filmed the video above while we were out yesterday, another equally beautiful day, let's hope tomorrow is too!
Hooray for another wonderful trip! I'm not sure I'd trust anyone to just watch my bike, as I always have the horrible suspicion that that is precisely what they might do- watch it roll away.
ReplyDeleteI LOVE your last few photos of Jack, they capture his expression perfectly, and that strawberry one above I think would go well in a colorful frame.
I like how you go everywhere on your bike. I just go back and forth to work, which is still nothing to scoff at (after our move to a rental house my commute changed from 3 miles to 4, so now I'm doing 16 miles a day!) but sometimes I want to feel free to just hop on and pedal with no particular destination.
It's really hard to leave a house of people when they can't or won't go with you and puppies get left behind. Hopefully I'll be getting a backpack to be able to take my Jack Russell with me. He made an awesome "jackpack" the one other time I tried it.
Happy Monday
Hello R.E.T.F! I know, I know...I was freaked out the whole time! Luckily my bike is so tall with Jack's sun shade that I could spot it from inside even from the back of the store and I was fully prepared to run and tackle any one that touched it! I can't stress enough what an odd town I live in, its very, very quiet and there is a huge retired population.
DeleteI love his little sticky strawberry face! I used to think children were gross sticky little things and then when I had Jack I can still remember holding him the first time and literally the first thing I thought was "I want another one" haha.
16 miles a day sounds immense to me, how long have you been doing that now? You must be seeing some changes! I think a Jack Pack sounds amazing! I had a Jack Russel foster dog once and he was lovely, I love terriers! We might need a picture of the Jack Pack for the blog!
Lindsay
It does sound immense when you put them all together! But I'm a school bus driver with a huge break between morning and afternoon routes. I go to work, come home, then after a while I do it again. It gets really windy some days (yesterday I fought a direct headwind 3 of the 4 miles but going home was fun though), but even then, it only affects my day 1 out of 4 trips, instead of the whole 16 miles.
DeleteI started the first day of school at the end of August. Each trip felt like torture, I couldn't breathe fast enough, but how fast I was breathing hurt my throat from the dryness. I remember being absolutely resolved to not get off and walk if I possibly could do it. I think I went the whole way in the easiest gear, but I managed my goal- even up the hill at the end. No matter how tired my legs were, it seemed they could still keep turning those pedals, and after a while it even seemed to hurt less- it was the breathing that was the most limiting I think. I got off the bike holding on for dear life, certain I would fall down, but I didn't, and I could walk just fine. I even looked forward to the trip home because I'd had a break to recover while I drove the bus.
After a while I realized that the easiest gear seemed too easy, so I bumped it up to 2. Then 3. Then maybe wrecking in the snow caused my shifter to spontaneously shift it up all the time, and eventually I stopped fighting it and left it in 4. I acted like my bike only had one gear for a while, cause it sort of did. Now that my commute route has changed, I'm back to learning the terrain and shifting a lot (plus with spring it seems windy days will start happening more and more, ugh), but it doesn't concern me as much.
I hope to get something thick and sturdy, maybe a carpet scrap, to put on the fabric floor of my trailer to bring my beagle along too, but he is none too keen on the idea of me on a bike, much less him in a trailer. I don't think he'd run beside me either, plus that might hurt his feet on concrete. Anyway, one thing at a time. I'm off to the bike store sometime today to pick up extra maps- mine is raggedy and one of the boys just got a job and will commute too.
Sorry, I guess I don't know how to keep things short!
R.E.T.F.-
DeleteWhat you said about breathing- that is EXACTLY how I feel going up hills. It's not my legs that can't handle it, it's my breathing...I literally can't catch my breath sometimes for quite a while.
I think after I started using my gears better thinks have gotten so much easier. I've noticed I can sustain a little longer and that I don't take as many brakes now.
I'm not sure if Beatrix (our 75lb dog)would go in the trailer, but I know Kyle wants her too. A thick carpet scrap sounds good. You could try taking the wheels off and making it into a bed spot for your your beagle, throw a few treats in there occasionally until she/he gets used to it. Then put the wheels on and let it sit there for a bit and then when you finally ride it won't be completely unfamiliar.
I'm good at chatting myself lol
Lindsay
I've been there done that before as far as the bicycle lock. So let me share my thoughts. I figure any lock is better than no lock. So I purchased one of those combination locks with braided wire and keep this tucked away in the go getting bag for "emergency use only". I know it's not the best lock but one day i forgot the keyset with the key for my heavy duty u-lock and so I quickly ran in to the store and bought that "emergency lock". You might want to think about adding this to your bicycle tool kit. I'm glad you start to see yourself developing a habit and a good one at that! Thanks I look forward to your next post. Matthew of http://bike4heck.blogspot.com/
ReplyDeleteHello Matthew!
DeleteI was so made, I never remove my lock- it happened when I fell off the bike. When we removed my crate off the back after the fall, the lock was in it and Kyle must have tossed it in the garage. I think you are right, a little extra one would be handy- even for locking panniers and helmets too.
I know it sounds silly but a tool kit is waiting for an open spot in the budget. Any recommendations on a inexpensive one?
Thanks for reading Matthew!
Lindsay
For anyone following this commentary, Matthew was kind enough to make a post about this on his blog. If you are interested in knowing what you should carry on your bike, check it out-
Deletehttp://bike4heck.blogspot.com/2012/04/for-lindsay-of-you-aint-got-jack-basic.html
Lindsay, how great to watch you riding. One sees, it's getting easier for you! Wonderful. And may I say, your streets are paradise for bikers! Thank you for sharing your progress - and I love Jack sleeping in the back. For him it's already normal to be on the bike it seems. Btw. I had my first bike (with pedals) with three years and pedaled alone to the Kindergarden ;-)
ReplyDeleteHave a wonderful, sunny Tuesday.
Juna-
DeleteIt is pretty amazing around here, huge wide streets and no cars...although I think it could make one lazy, so I always watch and listen anyway. Believe it or not it actually gets quieter in the summer when the college kids go home- its like a ghost town! I can't wait to see Jack cycling- I will be so proud!
Cheers Juna!
Lindsay
Sounds like an AWESOME time,my friend! Jack looks SO cute eating the strawberries,LOL! That's times I miss (and sadly...missed for the most part) with both Jamie and Nick at that age. On the good habit,that's even awesomer (that's a word,that's my story and I'm sticking to it :p )
ReplyDeleteThe Disabled Cyclist
Hey T.D.C.- How are you feeling? Hope your back is getting a little better! I do love my strawberry boy! He calls them apples....basically anything red is an apple- so apples, strawberries, red potatoes and tomatoes are all APPLES! haha
Deletetotally awesomer! yep I get it.
That's SOOO cute!!! (the red thing). Nick couldn't say Strawberries at about that age,he called em "stawbers",LOL!
DeleteAh...about the same,but no worse,which means it'll pass sooner rather than later ;),Thanks :)
The DC
This April thing really seems to have gotten you unstuck Lindsay. I sense that going by bike is starting to feel like normal to you. Eventually it will only be people's remarks that remind you that you are " supposed" to be driving.
ReplyDeleteKevbo- You are right, it has gotten me unstuck lol! It is finally feeling normal, daily, habitual...not so much effort for reward gained. Cheers!!
Delete