A blog about bicycles needs a bike.

At some point you have probably heard that Amsterdam has a lot of bikes, I too had heard this and I'd even perused videos and articles about Amsterdam and it's multitude of bikes, so I thought I had a good idea of what to expect. However, nothing had prepared me for just how many bikes there are, they are literally everywhere you look.

They swarm down the streets, they congregate on the bridges over canals, they have whole parking lots dedicated to them at every train and bus station, they come in all shapes and sizes but are mostly sprayed flat black, they get stolen often and if abandoned they slowly get stripped of their useful parts, they all have bells and most of them have a basket, pannier bags or a baby seat or two, some have all of the above.

If like me, you consider some bikes to be eye candy, then you will love Amsterdam because it's the land of stunning bikes. I have seen bikes that a few months ago would have had me running down the street for a photo opportunity, but now they are completely normal and everyday.

It has taken me about 10 days to stop commenting on each bike as it passes, a habit that couldn't die quick enough for Kyle. There was a point when we were walking down a street in Amsterdam when he turned to me and said "I know, I see them too, they are all lovely, you don't have to keep talking about it!" We had a bit of a chuckle, but I sensed he would have tossed himself in a canal if I hadn't of stopped. 

Of course as I have previously mentioned, we had to sell our bikes to move here. This was somewhat of a tragedy in my mind, especially as I had heard inexpensive bikes are easy to come by here, which they are not. We perused a few bike shops and I began to realize the reasons I loved my Yuba Bikes more and more, I mourned their absence.






About the 7th day of being here we acquired a traditional "Amsterdam" bike- it literally says Amsterdam on it. It had a front mounted bike seat that we squeezed Jack into so we could make it back to the station a little quicker. It's a back pedal brake bike, has a wheel lock like every other bike here and appears to be in decent shape. I like it, but feel like it's very cramped to ride, ultimately not a bike I would be inclined to ride daily.

A few days later I started a little side job to bring in some cash, ironing for an expat family who live in a stunning home facing a canal. I knew they had a nice man's bike for sale (with a toddler seat on the back), but it was out of our price range so I disregarded it, then they messaged me that we could have the bike for free! This experience continues our excellent luck in meeting warm and kind hearted people, even when our other experiences have been less than perfect.



When exploring the streets I had seen a particular bike that I was really drawn to, it looked very sturdy and seemed to more often than not have a few child seats attached to it. We were walking past a bike shop when I noticed a used one for sale, after three attempts at wheeling and dealing we were able to reach an agreement on the price. It's a little beaten up, pretty rusty (like every other bike here), but seems to be in fully functioning condition and will ultimately be a money saver. I got the sense that the shop we purchased it from would have looked at me oddly had I asked to test ride it, they seemed very busy, had happy customers and offered a 3 month warranty covering everything but flats so I just went with it. We bought it, then put Jack in the seat on the back (which they threw in to sweeten the deal), it was kind of bizarre to have my first ride be after the money had traded hands, something I would never have done back in the U.S. or the U.K. We found a street that was a little quieter than the others, I hesitantly mounted the bike, wobbled into the path of a more experienced rider with her two kids on board, apologized profusely whilst she muttered under her breath and then proceeded on for what would become an eye opening bike ride with a sea of other cyclists at rush hour to the Amsterdam central station. I had a few moments of awe, a few of fear, but mostly an overall sense of accomplishment that I was most certainly ticking off a bucket list item.

The bike above is a Batavus Delivery Bike- this is NOT my bike. My bike is green, has a lot of dings, dents and rust, has hand brakes and a child seat, plus a double kickstand. I also paid about 15% of what they go for new! The only changes I need to make- adjust the brakes, toss on some inexpensive panniers (you can buy them for about 10 euro here!) and get a cushy seat because my bum was complaining the whole ride. I also managed to buy the only bell-less bike in Amsterdam, so I will get one of those too. Not having a bike bell here is actually dangerous. What I really love about this bike is I got on it and immediately knew we would be friends, it simply felt like a perfect fit.

One of my first fist-air-pump moments in the Netherlands came when I realized I would have a bike for the 30 days of biking in April, last year it was literally in my top 5 highlights of the year, I absolutely loved it! In fact I'd go as far as to say it was the catalyst that made me realize I had what it took to move to Europe, to pursue so many dreams. I don't think the 30 Days of Biking will be popular in the Netherlands, it seems like they would wonder what all the fuss was about, why celebrate in one month what you do every month anyway? I imagine them reacting the same way the average British person would if there was a 30 Days of Tea event.

Because I could apparently write forever today, I shall force myself to sign off and I ask that you celebrate with me that once again I can state this is a blog about bicycles and other stuff that is written by someone who actually owns a bike!

-L.

Day 6 - All aboard the Strawberry Line

The entrance to the Strawberry Line.

Day six and I finally got to see the Strawberry Line, even today in drab overcast conditions it was a thing of beauty and we had a lovely time. It's part of the National Cycle Network which spans the U.K. with 14,000 miles of pathways selected for cycling and walking routes, it was officially created in 1995 with a grant from a national lottery. Sustrans started right here in Bristol in 1977 and they have a lot of worthwhile projects to encourage cycling, healthy neighbourhoods and green spaces.

Sheep grazing in the fields, it will be especially nice in lambing season to see all the babies playing.

Today we only did a short part of the Strawberry Line, which starts here in Yatton about a block from our front door, I am completely hooked! It was still a little muddy which isn't surprising considering Britain just enjoyed it's second wettest year since records began. In some spots it was very muddy but we made it through without having to get too dirty, I know mud is half the fun for some people, but they probably don't have sleeping toddlers on the back.

As a practical solution to sleeping toddlers in car and bike seats has yet to be invented, I used my shirt to cradle the edge of Jack's helmet so he had some neck support. It actually works surprisingly well and if he wakes up he can lean back and push it off easily, but it eliminates his head from jerking about madly and possibly straining his neck.

There were a lot of other families out enjoying their day today, great to see so many kids cycling and riding on the back of their parent's bikes.

Next weekend I want to get a little further down the line, there are numerous picnic opportunities, coffee shops and villages along the way so it would be nice to make a day of it. We headed back shortly after Jack fell asleep, made a stop at the Strawberry Line Cafe to grab a slice of Victoria Sponge cake I'd seen mention of on Facebook earlier in the day and then headed home for a hot cuppa tea. The Victoria Sponge cake was delicious by the way, if you are local go grab a slice! Glad we had a lovely ride today, hopefully another one is in the near future.

Day 3 of the January Challenge

For today's ride we headed out rather later than usual, took a quick around town and picked up some groceries from the co-op.

Earlier in the day we went to Clevedon and I found a nice woven bag in a charity shop for a few pounds which I thought would work great as a front basket.
Another stop at a army surplus stall in the street market and I had a lovely canvas pannier (1942 army rucksack) for only five pounds. Adding it all up, I managed to sort out all my cargo carrying needs for about ten pounds ($17).

Day 2 - A terrible ride

What a horrible ride! Only yesterday I was saying it's not possible to have a bike ride and not feel better for it, that apparently is not true, so here I am eating my words.

This morning I woke up after a restless night and realized it was Toddler Group today, so I hurried Jack out of bed, showered and generally rushed around to be there as soon as they opened. Jack has been missing his friends back in Washington and constantly talks about wanting to go to Toddler group, every single time we go he gets sick and has to miss the following week, so we only get to go once a fortnight and it is truly the highlight of his life. So with that in mind you can only imagine the joy and elation he felt at getting on the bike and riding to playgroup this morning!

Nothing stopped his enthusiasm, not even the misty sea rain that seems to soak you to the core in a matter of seconds, nor the slight downhill part that left me feeling even colder- no, he just yelled "weeeeeeee" all the way down the hill. So when we arrive and I notice there are no cars in the parking lot I have to optimistically hope that everyone decided to walk there today, but alas another lady waiting for an appointment tells me all the doors are locked. For Jack all this is still unknown, he's waiting for me to get him off the bike and when I turn to him and say "I'm sorry there is no one here" he erupts like a volcano into a screaming, shaking, flushed red terror of little fists pummelling my arm. It only took seconds for me to realize offering my condolences in the form of kisses and cuddles wasn't going to help at that moment, so I took off on the bike with him screaming bloody murder behind me. Passers-by looked on in wide eyed amazement at the sheer volume of his screams and a large dog barked nervously, probably wondering what exactly I had on the back of my bike- lets not forget Jack was wearing his Gruffalo fleece, complete with horns and ears!

Anyway we made it home and I snapped this picture before he dismounted, this was his attempt at smiling! We shuffled back in the house, had a snuggle on the sofa and switched on his favourite cartoon.

Day two is done.

The 31 days of January

One of my favourite parts of 2012 was the 30 day's of biking event in April. It was an amazing, empowering month for me and really made me feel like I was finally a "cyclist"and part of a community that I will always feel so appreciative towards.

This year promises to be full of change and challenge, I'm very excited about it. Kyle and I know it will have many rough spots, but it's hard to not be optimistic when we're starting it off in England finally, I can't express how much I love it here.

In an effort to get us off to a good start we have decided to commit to cycling everyday this month.  Yes, WE have decided- Kyle is joining me.  This might be a bit of a challenge as I have to go to London to pick up my Mum from Heathrow on the 16th, but I'm just going to take it one day at a time. I thought last April would be impossible and it turned out to be easy peasy! Of course we may encounter some less than perfect weather too, but so far this winter it has been very mild.

My favourite things

There really is no way to get off your bike and not be happier than when you got on it, I really don't believe it's possible. We went for a ride, it was slightly sunny, it was wonderful! Riding a bike is so much more than getting from A to B, its just so much fun exploring new paths and muddy corners of the neighbourhood, chatting with the locals and the occasional wandering cat.

Sitting here listening to Adele, drinking a cuppa tea, I am in awe of how far we have made it in this last year and find myself very optimistic that 2013 is going to be a great year, but that might just be the bike ride talking.

Sun shine! Sock-hands in absence of mittens.

Always trust your bike community to have your back. Always.

Always trust your bike community to have your back. Always.

Do bikes just attract decent people? I don't know, but it sure seems like it. Maybe it just comes down to people who like bikes see beyond the surface and notice the details between the lines, much like when we're riding, how we notice the little things beside the road that car drivers would never notice.

Here are the reasons I am selling the Mundo:

• It costs money to fly or ship the bikes and the mundo is a big bike, costing more than average.
• If we sell the Mundo it enables us to have a little more grocery and rent money for the period between paychecks, something we really need.
• Once we've landed, if we fly with our bikes they inhibit our ability to take public transportation.

I have been encouraged by many friends to reach out for help at this time, to not sell the Mundo but rather to ask for help in the costs associated with getting it to England. Would you help us?

If we could keep our bikes not only would they obviously improve our lives just by their very existence, but also they would enable us to have an easier time finding work, getting Jack to school, getting healthier, even aiding us in earning money, but mostly this journey is far from finished and this doesn't feel like how things should end.

Of course, taking the Mundo means we won't free up that extra money towards living expenses but I am seriously considering doing an art sale or possibly even a car wash to help raise some funds to give us a little more cushion and room to breath.

Ultimately I can't offer much more than my sincere thanks for all that has been given to me here within the cyber pages of my blog, but maybe this time a little hand written note of thanks would be an acceptable sign of my appreciation?

If you feel like you could help us in some way or with a small contribution to the fund,  please send me an email for directions or if you prefer you can use PayPal and our email address, which is youaintgotjack(at)yahoo(dot)com

I would never have dreamed of writing this post had I not been moved to, by my dear friends around the world who encourage me and support me, I have been told I should ask and I will receive, you know who you are. Much love and gratitude that my limited words will never be able to express fully.

Day 12 - Dizzy spell

I have just returned from a bike ride to the grocery store, it seemed like a good day for a ride when I woke up. I'd had a really bad night with Jack (up 4 times for one thing or another), it was really hot in the house and still is, so I thought I'd get the ride over with early, as I wanted to pick up the ingredients for Veggie Burgers. It's 102 degrees outside, no breeze, no clouds. Maybe I should have thought about it, planned a little better, or at the very least eaten some breakfast!

A pic I took prior to today- for mini cart illustrative purposes.

I thought I'd drank enough water, but I clearly wasn't thinking straight and completely spaced having some breakfast, which often happens if I feed Jack earlier than I would want to eat. When I got to the store I was fine, but Jack insisted on pushing one of the tiny carts they have and being in a typical toddler mood, he was rushing here and there, lagging behind and poking things, attempting to mow down fellow shoppers. The problem with the tiny carts, is once your child has discovered them they are not likely to make it past the cart corral without a screaming fit, unless you give in and let them grab one. I knew I wanted him to ride in a cart today, but thought I would let him push one as he's generally really good about it. We made it around half the store, when I spun around to catch him and immediately the room started spinning. I headed to the cold section of the store, grabbed a pre-made vegan sandwich, some coconut water and some bananas and then headed outside to sit and rest, have a snack and hopefully regain my sense of balance. I use the word "rest" in it's lightest sense, because there simply isn't much rest when your two year old is full of zest for life, two year old's and relaxation only go together in child proofed areas, which a parking lot certainly isn't.

Anyway, I sat there for a while on a bench by the front door to the store, contemplated calling Kyle for rescue, but decided I'd just take my time and cruise home, which is mostly downhill from the store. When the guy at the check-out asked me if I was walking he looked worried, when I replied that I was on my bike he looked at all my groceries and looked REALLY worried. Of course the Mundo handled the groceries with complete ease and was nicely balanced, which was obviously more necessary than usual. I must be a glutton for punishment, because it never occurred to me to not buy the 10lb bag of spuds or the mammoth bag of bulk popping corn. When I made it home and unpacked I had to chuckle, even my purse must weigh 10lbs with all the papers, notes, camera, snacks, diapers etc. Really the Mundo is an amazing bike when you consider that it holds me, my child and a weeks worth of groceries and diapers- with ease, without any fuss and honestly I generally don't even give it a second thought any more, it's just my bike.

As I write this Jack has decided a nap is not going to happen (oh glee!), which really is a wonder considering we were up half the night, so Curious George is playing for the billionth time and I'm going to rest and maybe write up a little pre-ride check list for my next adventure.

Days 9, 10 & 11 - laughing out loud

We have no idea where the Harry Potter scar came from...toddlers!

Today has provided me with enough joy to last a while, well, at least 24 hours until my next bike ride. I actually managed to get out of the house before noon, and while it was very hot, it wasn't completely unbearable and the breeze created by cycling was enough to cool me off a little. Alas I forgot to slather on sun-screen to the little ones arms, but I didn't forget to apply a doggy tattoo, which is obviously far more important. (We're sporting a Pit Bull looking tattoo in honor of Lenox, a dog who stole our hearts and was euthanized today based on his appearances. RIP dear boy.)




My plant strong breakfast today came in the form of a lovely spinach, banana and orange smoothie- no one can resist a smoothie like that, Jack even insisted on finishing off mine for me and sported a green mustache all morning. For lunch we're enjoying a Hummus & Veggie sandwich on sprouted bread with a side of leftovers (last night's chunky veggies and spaghetti in homemade sauce.) The food choices have been easy so far, and fully appealing to my senses- honestly I'm loving it and I couldn't be more surprised! You may remember my last entry mentioned an ice cream I ate- well the real story on that was how I felt the next day- AWFUL!

Yesterday night we went to a the lovely Pioneer Park in Walla Walla. The aviary is full of beautiful birds, turtles and some giant bunnies! It was really nice to get to a different park and was the first time Jack has enjoyed feeding ducks in a long time, he'd been asking to go for a week, so we really had fun and walked around for at least an hour.

I'm getting more and more excited about the arrival of my Boda Boda, after deciding which model to get, I had to decide which bike shop would have the "honor" of assembling it for me. It would be far easier to go to a local bike shop, but I'm so impressed by Joe Bike in Portland that I've decided to get it shipped there, then drive down and pick it up. Joe Bike is after-all the largest Yuba dealer in the world, I believe I read that every member of their staff owns a Mundo and I've heard nothing but great reviews of them and their customer service- plus they have a killer website that features a picture of Jack!

I stole Kyle's cap when I couldn't find my own, he probably won't notice;)

This month has been a time of reaffirmation for me in this journey towards a healthier lifestyle, I found myself grinning ear to ear today as a rode down the street. I was smiling for no particular reason, just enjoying life, it seems like we could all do with more of that type of joy, I know I could. I wondered what people thought of the chunky grinning lady on the big orange bike, with the adorable child...then decided I didn't care, and literally laughed out loud.

Days 6, 7 & 8- Chocolate or Cheddar?

I continue to anxiously await the arrival of the Boda Boda. In fact my mind continually wanders back to it and ideas of projects and accessories keep bombarding me.  It reminds me of my days of pre-Mundo wait time, the anticipation is driving me crazy! I have finally decided on which model I want, and this may come as a surprise, but I have decided on the larger green step-over model, rather than the smaller step-through design. The reasons behind this choice are, I would prefer to not feel cramped in my seating position and as I'm right in the middle of the size recommendations for either bike, I think I'd prefer more room, than less. Also, the larger model will be easier to share with Kyle, who will no doubt want to ride with Jack at some point and it's easier to change bikes than move the Peanut Shell. I've been told that my mounting/dismounting issues with the Mundo will be resolved with either bike, and honestly that will be a big relief to my mind. 

The bike in the forefront is my choice- isn't it beautiful?

I've found ways to get lots of exercise lately, but have missed cycling, for some reason walking has been calling me more often...I think maybe because Jack has been joining me in walking and it wears him out so much that I get to enjoy the benefits longer, we've also been walking with friends who are bike-less for now. I walk with Jack until he can't manage another step, put him in the stroller and then he will take a rest or fall asleep- perfect! For a two year old he can walk an amazingly long way too, at least a few miles before he starts to dilly dally and lag behind. The evenings have been our prime walking time as the days are so hot it would be practically unbearable, I love walking after the heat of the day has subsided, taking runs through any sprinkler we can find.

There have been a few small "complications" with the dietary challenge- yesterday whilst shopping at the Grocery Outlet, I saw three varieties of cheese from the homeland, anyone that knows me has heard me rant and rave about my love for British Cheese, you just can't find it here unless you are willing to spend more than we can afford on a regular basis, so when I see it for a deal I generally buy it! But, alas I stuck to my challenge and left the glorious aged cheddar on the shelf and pined after it for some time. Later in the day, with the heat in the triple digits and a heat storm rolling in with lightening streaking across the sky, a moment of weakness found me wanting to indulge in an ice cream. I mentioned it in passing to Kyle, who immediately agreed that it was the best idea I'd had in eons. Before I knew it we'd loaded in the car and driven to a fast food restaurant where I gave in to a over-sized chocolatey concoction that I shared with Jack. I would have thoroughly enjoyed it too, but I felt immensely guilty and to be honest regret, that if I was going to cheat on my challenge- then I could of at least done it with that lovely cheddar!

Other than that moment of indiscretion mentioned above, I have been eating really healthy; lots of vegetables and fruit, whole grains and legumes. Local cherries are in season and my neighbors have been passing out lovely broccoli florets from their massive garden, I've been enjoying watching our tomatoes grow and harvested our pea crop just yesterday. The dietary changes have honestly been far easier than I'd imagined, I enjoy the food and find it very filling. I like not worrying too much about portion sizes, which is a huge benefit of not eating sugar, fat and refined grains.

On one of our walks Jack found these funky sunglasses, I'm hoping they will be a pair that he will actually wear on the bike and not toss off in the road. As you can see, he is thriving on all these veggies and fruits, I think we're all feeling healthier for it!

Reader tips for staying cool while on your bike!

Do you need some advice on staying cool whilst riding your bike this summer? I did, so I asked some friends how they stay cool in the saddle. I didn't intend to share the responses, but they are too good not to!

"I have just been sweating. Trying not to go out when it's unbearable. Drinking a ton. Stopping often in the shade. Making excuses to go into shops with A/C. Eating a lot of ice cream ;) Going out in the early morning...when we can get our act together or late in the evening. I do love it when I get started and the breeze from just the riding movement whispers on my sweaty skin and I think, geeze, what was a sitting around in the heat for?" - Stacy, A Simple Six


"Lots of water and don't over exert yourself. Wear a hat with a brim and something to cover your neck." - Laura, Army Green Mama


"Wicking clothing. Merino wool (summer weight) is great. avoid cotton unless it's seersucker. Also, you can get less expensive technical fabric clones at Target or Wal-Mart." - Bruce


"I recommend a wrap that you can soak on cool water and tie around your neck. I know from experience that no matter how well a biker plans, we end up getting such in the heat. There will not always be a building with AC. I also, after my very last stop on the day soak a light shirt and put it on over the short I have been wearing. The breeze from the ride home helps keep me from overheating..." - Vicki


"I live in So Cal and just started daily riding this Spring. As it's getting warmer, I've been chilling a Takeya leakproof pitcher (Costco has them right now in a 2 pack) of water, then adding ice before I pack it on my Yuba. Don't even notice the weight. Then I just keep refilling my little water bottle as needed." - Melinda


"I started soaking a bandana in cold water and tie it around my neck, which lasts a half hour or more. I kept some ice in a cooler for over an hour yesterday with me on a parade ride. The cubes were refreshing to apply to my shoulders and arms, or to just eat one by one. I also wear the seersucker cotton, flax or linen short sleeve shirts that let the air through. a bunch of coping strategies." - David


As always, I'm impressed with the great friendship and community found within the cycling community. Do you have a tip for dealing with the hot weather you can share?

Days 3, 4 & 5 - Easier than I thought!

Today I find myself one-sixth of the way through my plant strong challenge and the time has flown by, I'm proud to say I have maintained and met my goals so far, with both the dietary changes and finding a way to ride or walk daily. It's actually been easy, really easy....so easy that I keep thinking I must surely be eating something I'm not "supposed" to eat, or else it couldn't be this enjoyable, sustaining or satisfying! I have even found that I like hot cereals, despite the fact that I used to detest them. But yes, a breakfast of oats cooked with dried dates, dried bananas and some frozen peach slices tossed in with a little coconut milk, is not only divine, but far tastier than the toast I would usually have called my breakfast. I had a coffee issue for a few days, as my rice milk wasn't making the cut, but I replaced it with a splash of coconut milk and now I'm enjoying it too. I have taken to popping some corn every night as a night time snack and it is really satisfying. 

Onions - I love the way the whole valley smells of them, really I do.

I've made what amounts to a lot of change in my lifestyle, that I'm barely noticing because it's made up of lots of little changes. Despite the fact that it has only been 5 days, I'm pretty positive this month won't be as hard as I had previously imagined it would. I started the month expecting misery in the food department, but have enjoyed some very tasty meals including a creamy potato curry that we have decided to make at least once a week. The veggie pizza I made was also a big hit and has made it's way onto the "must have that again soon list".

 

 

 

 

Little tomatoes on their way, I will be making lots of sauces for freezing

We have spent a lot of time working on our garden lately and it's coming along really nicely. Although we are a little late in the season, I'm not too worried because our area has long, drawn out summers and I suspect we will still get a good harvest.  It's really important for me to grow my own veggies when I can, because despite the fact that there are many local farms, most of them use pesticides, which we prefer to avoid. I also find it very therapeutic and take great joy in watching Jack learn as he helps us when he can. 

I'm really hoping for success with this month's challenge, I'm working on it with a sense of determination that may have got a little lost in the last few months, but is now at the forefront of my mind in everything I do. I feel like these next few months will be full of many fun times and I want to feel healthier to enjoy them, firstly I have my new bike to look forward to and secondly we have a trip planned in August where we will be meeting up with some fellow cargo bike enthusiasts for the Sunday Parkway's event in S.E. Portland. If you care to join us there is an invitation on my Facebook page. 

Yesterday's bike ride was amazing, lovely warm weather and a nice breeze.  Daily riding has once again proved the only way to go, miss a day and I notice it's tougher to get motivated. Tonight we'll be riding as soon as Kyle gets home from work and then we're off to a baseball game. I plan on eating before we leave because I know I won't find healthy snacks there. Yesterday when we went to the 4th of July celebrations in the park, we managed to find a vendor selling veggie burgers on a wholegrain bun which I thought was pretty amazing. If you think you would benefit from a plant strong lifestyle and are on the fence about it- just do it, so far it has been pretty easy!

Father's Day Ride & BBQ

Father's Day has become so much more meaningful since having a child. It used to be a time when I contemplated my awkward and mostly non-existent relationship with my own Father, but these days it's so much more fun to hang out with my two favorite guys and celebrate their relationship. Kyle and Jack drove to the store, grabbed groceries and had breakfast cooking by the time I was waking up, since this never usually happens, it was a pretty awesome day for me too.

I wish we'd have caught the actual kite in this shot- but you can see the string!

After breakfast we went and flew a kite at the fields near our house, it was Jack's first time flying a kite and he was pretty amazed by the experience. I love seeing his eyes so bright with excitement and wonder, parenthood is so good for me, I love reliving all these childhood pleasures.

Tomatoes and a Zucchini plant gracing the front walk

Earlier in the year I had planted a whole bunch of tomato seeds, we finally transported them into the ground, along with a big zucchini plant that was waiting to get out of the pot. I've never grown all my garden from seed before and feel pretty proud of all my little plants. The string is my old laundry line, I'm hoping it will keep Beatrix off the plants, shes a lazy dog so I don't think the idea of ducking under the line will appeal to her when she could just walk around. Indecently, speaking of the lazy dog, we also gave her a bath in the back yard which might possibly be the highlight of Jack's weekend and the lowest point of Beatrix's. Jack was ecstatic that we were all torturing the dog together, whereas he's usually the one getting told off for sneaking up on her in the yard and dumping water on her back, that he's collected from his water play table.

Beatrix is one of those so called "vicious" breeds, obviously she never got the "bite children" memo...or possibly she was just raised with love!

 
The only part of the day that I didn't get pictures of was our BBQ. Now usually I wouldn't snap a picture of a pork chop and put it on my blog, but this BBQ was so good that I may have considered replacing my blogs header with a picture of my plate. We had roasted corn, grilled veggies and the best pork chop I've ever tasted. EVER. Now, I'm not sure my health coach will be as enthusiastic about my pork chop love, but it was a special occasion. 

The big blue bike got stored in the dining room, and mine is in the utility room. We need a door on our carport!

We followed up the BBQ with an evening ride on the Mundo bikes, and the weather was glorious. The wind had finally subsided and it wasn't so blazing hot. Jack rode in his PJ's and my clothes where so miss-matched Kyle burst into laughter every time he looked at me. I was far from cycle-chic with my purple sweatpants, red t-shirt and big orange bike, but the whole cycle-chic movement is kind of lost on me, I embrace the bike for its power to move people, rather than as a fashion statement. 

Cruising in the campus at dusk

Kyle is in love with the Mundo, he keeps commenting about how comfortable it is, how smooth and relaxed it feels. I finally got my first peek at the new Yuba Boda Boda (visit my Facebook page for pics I found online) and it's so stunningly beautiful. I think the combination of a lower step-through point and a lighter weight frame makes it a shoe-in for me and my lifestyle. Anyone who reads my blog will know I'm a huge fan of Yuba and this new bike has made me even more so! I think if Kyle rides my orange bike and I get a Boda Boda we will be one happy yuberiffic family!

Seeking Simple Solutions to Complicated Questions.

It has surely been a while since we've enjoyed a family ride, but today we did, and it was just as good as I thought it would be. Kyle has been having some tendinitis bought on by too much computer work and hasn't been able to ride his bike, so we borrowed one that has a more relaxed seating position and is overall just more comfortable to ride.

Kyle being goofy before the ride.

A few weeks ago I went to our local grocery store and bumped into someone wanting to sell a Mundo- yes, that really happened, what are the odds? I knew it wasn't in the works for us, but called our friend who has become a bit of a cargo bike collector in the last few months, since he first rode my Mundo. Sure enough we were able to play matchmaker and our friend got a great deal on this beautiful blue Yuba. As I said, he has collected a few bikes and was kind enough to let us borrow this one for the weekend, so we could enjoy a Father's Day bike ride.

The weather was stunning and blazing hot so our ride turned into a 5 miler with a pit stop at the park for playtime and creek paddling.

My camera has a huge black spot in the LCD screen, so from now on I'm shooting blind, which makes me exceptionally happy with this shot, because it came out pretty good. I know I should go get a new camera, but my laptop is on it's last legs too and we still need to solve Kyle's bike issues. I'm pretty excited about the thought of Yuba's new Boda Boda, sure I have no idea what it looks like, but the term "Cargo Cruiser" sounds intriguing.

Apparently everyone thought the creek at the park sounded like a great place to be, because there must have been 20 little kids charging back and forth. The campus on the other hand, has just hosted graduation so the grounds are empty, but impeccably manicured. It was a lovely ride.

Tomorrow we're looking forward to another ride, maybe a long one, depending on how the heat is. It's Father's Day here in the U.S. which means a BBQ of pork chops and a fresh green salad from the garden, which is coming along nicely. I'm feeling very thankful for today, I'm trying to remember to be thankful for everyday of this journey. Jack is getting bigger and stronger, he seems to be gaining more and more of himself with everyday that passes, and I sense his baby-ness disappearing, which is heart wrenching and delightful all at once. I heard him ask for a "burger" the other day and have felt more compelled ever since, to rock this year. I had no idea he even knew what a damned burger was, I was devastated.

Parenthood is such a momentous responsibility it can be overwhelming at times. As I write this I am reminded of a post I shared on my Facebook page yesterday. It said "The bicycle is a simple solution to some of the world's most complicated questions". I'm going to keep that with me now, and consider it my personal mantra "The bicycle is a simple solution to some of parenting's most complicated questions."

Know yourself and plan accordingly

My knees are so sore today, could my saddle height have changed without me knowing? Going to check on that. My throat hurts and my whole body aches. Poor Jack was up a lot in the night, but we slept good between 5am and 7:30am, so maybe we have a small ride in us, but 13 miles? Hmm. 13 miles is what it would take for me to reach my goal of 100 miles this month, a measly goal, which too many days off from riding might now stop me from achieving- lesson learned? Oh my YES!

Honestly I've gotten past the point of beating myself up about messing up on this month, and proceeded to the "shaking my head" in a "what the hell was I thinking" fashion. Note to self and anyone else considering a huge lifestyle change: Know yourself and plan accordingly. All the record keeping, calorie counting and mileage tracking goals actually made me feel like I had failed early in the month because I got sidetracked when Mum had surgery. If I'd have kept it simple and challenged myself to "ride everyday" I would certainly have had more miles, and felt accomplished and re-energized daily. I would no doubt be ending this month with a feeling of accomplishment like I did the one prior.

I would feel slightly depressed about all of this if it wasn't for the fact that I made some major growth this month- I cycled all the way to Walla Walla numerous times and I did so on my own, with no Kyle there to hide my social insecurities behind. I know I haven't touched on those issues much, and honestly it's because I find it such a deep subject that I'm not sure it can be spoken of here, but suffice it to say, I'm prouder of the fact that I rode that far solo, than I would be if I had ridden twice that distance with company. Just yesterday I was riding beside a very professional looking bicyclist and I wandered how we looked in comparison as we crossed the street. Then I realized I shouldn't care what people think; Jack couldn't care less if his Mum doesn't look fit, he still just rode 10 miles on the back of a Yuba Mundo, singing the alphabet song and pointing out "floweries" and that's pretty awesome.

I'm going to take a ride today, it won't be 13 miles, but I will still be proud of myself- I suggest you do the same. Next months goal- cycle every single day!

Jack's Cycling Jersey and another 10 miles on the Yuba

Today we made it just over 10 miles, to downtown Walla Walla, where we met Kyle for lunch and also visited my Mum.

Jack is sick, poor little guy, he was a real trooper as always and happily rode despite the watery eyes and runny nose. I have had a sore throat for a few days now, but I seem to be keeping it at bay and feel fine otherwise. We still have to ride about 14 miles before the end of the month- yikes! Cutting it close for sure, I didn't anticipate getting sick right now so it's thrown me for a loop.
 







Last night we got a package in the mail and look what it contained-
Jack's adorable bicycle jersey, it even has pockets for bottles on the back! He wore it today and seemed pretty comfortable all day. It's a little big for him, but he grows fast!

He is not feeling very well in these pictures, poor little guy!

We only stopped once on the way to downtown today and made it in really good time. I took plenty of little snacks; a few energy bars, a couple of apples and some almonds. It really made a difference, I didn't feel shaky or weak at any point.

The Yuba got lots of comments and about 3 couples with small children stopped to really take a look at it- hopefully they too will get the cargo bike bug! We revisited our new favorite park, I always hope we will run into other little kids as Jack is a very sociable little guy, but today he got to play on his own.

I'm a little concerned about tomorrow and how we will ride if either of us is sicker. I'm going to drink lots of tea and keep the little guy hydrated and see what happens. If he's just the same as today we will still ride because he seemed to enjoy himself, he'd be sneezing and snotty regardless of where we are and he still seems to have plenty of spunk in him!