The beginning of the journey

Jack's new t-shirt from Joe Bike

Today I finally got the pleasure of stopping by Joe Bikes in Portland and picking up my shiny new Yuba Boda Boda! It is just as stunningly beautiful as I had imagined, and I can't wait to take it for its first spin in England. I also picked up a t-shirt for Jack so he can share this great motto with our new peeps in Bristol. I wouldn't say the reality of moving to England has 100% set in yet, but it is certainly getting close now. Tomorrow morning bright and early, we leave Portland and head for Seattle where we will fly to Iceland, and then on to England. It's Monday as I write this and we won't actually finish our journey until early evening on Wednesday, it seems like an awfully long journey when you consider drive time, lay overs and flying. I haven't slept good in weeks at this point, I'm suffering from nerve pinches in my legs and have an achy back that complains at every step. It will be fabulous to get settled in to life in Bristol really soon!

Sidewalk shopping

Inside Joe Bikes

It's a Bodaful Life

The Boda Boda in my brother's truck, ready to be taken home for packing with the Mundo.

Our stack of luggage is huge now- we have two massive boxes of bike, 6 suitcases, 3 carry on bags, a stroller, a toddler car-seat and a few handbags, oh and a toddler! Did I mention we're flying for 13 hours with a TODDLER! I have had trouble finding a way to transport us and our luggage from Heathrow to our new abode, but managed to secure a driver and van just today. The price is surprisingly reasonable and they offer door to door service for only a little more than the cost of a van rental, except this way we can relax and enjoy the view, rather than contend with the traffic and congestion we will probably run into. They also offer assistance with loading and unloading which is certainly worth a few extra pounds to someone like myself.

Cool sign for someone who peddles their wares

Leaving our families and Beatrix behind has proved to be immensely hard on us, much harder than I expected. I have cried so many tears in the last few days as good friends have been left behind, it has been emotionally draining and left me numb, and yet I know nothing will compare to when we arrive at Seatac and have to bid goodbye to my brother and his family (and Beatrix, who is coming to say goodbye too).

Ahead of us is an uncertain and scary journey that we are calling an "Adventure". Life is so short and whilst the goodbyes have and will continue to be heart-wrenching, the truth is we have wanted this dream for so long and it's finally becoming a reality, it's time for new adventures, new thrills, new goals and new challenges.

Regretably Offered For Sale - Yuba Mundo

There will always be things you part with along the way that beat you up, as our journey continues the things I part with that will truly hurt will include this bike. It's been a life changer, a steady reliable friend and I honestly love it, I will cry when we part.

With that being said, I know that I have a new bike arriving in the next few weeks and that it encompasses everything I need and want in a bike, but this steed pictured here, has served me well, it has altered the path of my life and in doing so has made it necessary for us to part. I don't think we'd even be moving right now if I hadn't gotten the boost in confidence this bike has given me.


There are numerous reasons that make it impractical for the Mundo to stay in our family, but in the end it all comes back to finances. We can't afford to keep it because it adds too much to our travel costs, and our budget is literally so tight that I can't justify the extra costs of keeping it and not freeing up a little cash instead, and trust me I have tried, and tried, and tried. It's not even that the money we receive from the sale will provide a cushion for survival, I'm not sure we'd be able to move without selling it, we literally need every penny.

We've decided to sell it as a complete set-up, I'm going to buy another child's seat the other end and recreate the sun-shade / rain cover on the Boda Boda (which will NEVER leave my company). I thought about taking the seat and canopy with me, but I felt like it would be a shame to dismantle such an amazing vehicle for change. I would love nothing more than to see another parent and child/children enjoy this bike and let it take them to new places, I want to share the love of the Yuba Mundo! 

Yuba Mundo
Running Boards (not pictured, brand new, never installed)
Go-Getter Pannier Bag
Stand Alone Kick Stand
Peanut Shell Seat with Sun Shade set-up and Rain Cover
Cateye Computer
Original tires with thorn proof liners
With original saddle (not pictured)


$1250

Contact me at youaintgotjack(at)yahoo(dot)com for more details.
Shipping costs are not covered in this price.

(STOP- read this post to see an update on the Yuba Mundo >> UPDATE)

Clicking my mouse on "publish" for this post is painful.

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.

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."

Getting Groceries on the Yuba

Grocery hauling, balanced well, it was an easy ride home despite the strong wind gusts.

Today I made a trip for groceries, it was a lot warmer, but the wind was gusty and it was pretty exhausting. We made it up that silly little hill that always leaves me breathless and this time I just kept cycling at the top, very slowly, gasping for air and wobbling all over the place. I recovered and kept pushing forward, but arrived at the grocery store feeling light headed and nauseous. According to Endomondo, I burnt over 1000 calories today on my ride, 1400 on yesterday's ride and 997 the day before, I don't think I know how to fuel myself properly for these type of excursions. This weekend I intend to do a little research and get myself more organized with healthy fuels.

Jack beaming and full of energy and spunk!

Jack had a great time however, and managed to stay awake the entire ride. We hauled home just under 50lb of groceries (yes, I weighed them lol), plus Jack (38lb) and his seat (about 14lb), plus diapers, bags, bottles of water, and of course me- Let's just say the Mundo hauled over 400lb today- and so did my legs! I feel pretty good now that I've had some lunch and surprisingly I think I have enough energy to clean my house before the weekend.

He's obviously exhausted from the ride home...oh wait that's me!

My Brother and his family are joining us this weekend, we can't wait to see them! Also, tomorrow we're hosting our 2nd family ride here in College Place. The following weekend I'm taking part in a Cargo Bike Round-Up in Walla Walla, I love having all these bikey things in the forecast!

Nothing budged on the way home.

Bike To Work Day - Celebrating in a stay-at-home mum kinda way!

For bike to work day we celebrated with a ride to the local coffee shop and bakery, and then rode on to Kyle's work to deliver him and his coworkers some donuts. It's an absolutely stunning day, warm and sunny with a nice breeze, and certainly a great day to celebrate the bicycle in all it's wonders, even if you don't necessarily ride to work!

There's no doubt that it's hard to afford to be a one income household these days, we do however make what some might call sacrifices, for me they include; having a cell phone that just makes phone calls (odd concept, I know), not getting my hair cut every 6 weeks, shopping at thrift stores for clothing and other household items, being thrifty with name brand grocery products and using my bike as transportation. With the exception of bike riding, I did all those things before Jack came along. Now they are necessary and I'm happy to keep it up, the time spent caring for Jack is priceless and I firmly believe in these critical developmental years it is a priority, far above fancy clothes and vacations.

Speaking of fancy clothes, I picked out Jack's cycling jersey that we won courtesy of the  30 days of biking and Bike2Power- we got to pick out our choice from Kanu Bike and decided on this one HERE. We will look forward to seeing Jack sport it on in a few hundred photos sure to come soon!

Day 29 of 30 days of biking - All good things must come to an end

With the end of the 30 days of biking staring me in my face, I'm fully aware of how much I'm going to miss this experience. Of course there is nothing to stop me from riding daily regardless of challenges, personal or otherwise, but the 30 days of biking brought some excellent support people into my life and provided me with a perfect introduction into daily riding. Sure, I'd been riding for a few months by the time April rolled around, but nothing prior to this had cemented my new life quite like this challenge has done.

Today for our ride we visited the local grocery store and picked up a little picnic of pre-made sandwiches, veggie chips and a few oranges. I also picked up some probiotics and natural thyroid support supplement that I had wanted to try. We then cycled on to the park where we planned to find a shady bench and enjoy our lunch. I'm glad we took plenty of water because it was pretty hot out and I had to keep stopping for sips along the way.

We cycled just barely under 6 miles today and although it had some tough spots (on small hills), it was a superior ride. Our sandwiches were surprisingly delicious, it was very relaxing and we made a little diversion through the wetlands trail on the way home.

I added a new sign to the back of my bicycle this morning, it's subtle but hopefully people get the message.

Tonight the weather still remains warm, we're going to light a fire in our new pit and have a BBQ. Tomorrow we're hoping the weather stays nice and we can ride to the bike shop so the Yuba can get it's first tuneup, it would be the longest ride we've done, so hopefully its not as windy and rainy as is predicted.  

Day 24 of 30 days of biking - Building momentum on a slow ride

Day 24 of 30 and a short ride turned out a little longer than we expected, just under 5 miles. Nothing for so many people, but for me, it's slowly building in distance that makes me feel accomplished, and tonight I feel very accomplished. Knee pain is at an all time low, hills are getting a little easier and recovery time doesn't leave me feeling 100% drained of energy.

We enjoyed more magnificent weather today, warm breezes and clear skies. I haven't checked milage, but I think tonight may be our longest mid-week ride, and I sense it's becoming habitual for both Kyle and I at this point. I also sense it's going to be a really good year for all of us, we look forward to these rides together as the highlight of our days.

Considering the next part of my journey, I find myself drawn to the idea of riding first thing in the morning and then again in the evenings with Kyle. I think the more you ride, the more you realize the power of the bicycle...it can change you, change your family, change your community and really where does it end? When people see me they might not see these changes, I still don't look anything like what one imagines a cyclist to look like, but I can feel like I'm gaining momentum now, slowly.

Day 23 of 30 days of biking - we've come so far

With a departure shot like this, it had to be a good ride! My crazy husband was ready to go ride as soon as he got home from work today, we got out on the driveway, took this picture and then he say's "want to trade bikes tonight?" I considered it and thought it would be a nice change, why not...so we adjust the saddles and set off. Over the last few months many people have suggested I take Kyle's bike out to give myself a little change of pace and to be honest I was a little apprehensive about the idea. What if I liked Kyle's bike more then mine? What if it was so much easier I no longer wanted to ride the Yuba Mundo? Oh I should have done it a long time ago! I was so uncomfortable, so awkward and out of balance that I only made it a about a mile before I was begging for my Mundo back...and kyle? Well, he wanted to keep it. Now obviously this is nothing against Kyle's bike, its more that my Mundo is so incredibly smooth, comfortable and chilled.

So it's official- we need to add another bike to the fleet. We're hoping a little later in the year we will get a third bike- something similar to my Mundo but not necessarily as beefy. These relaxed-ride bikes just suit our lifestyle a little better and honestly, whats not to love about my big orange bike?
















The ride today was pretty short, just over 3 miles.  I could have rode for longer but Kyle suspects there may be something amiss with his bike, so we headed home. I was glad we had the sun canopy for Jack today, because we almost hit the 90's and even at around 6pm it was still very hot.  It really got me thinking about the struggles this year still has planned for me, like when summer really rolls around and we start getting high temperatures everyday.  Right now, outside, we are having the most brilliant display of lightening and the rain is warm, a perfect end to a really nice day.

Day 22 of 30 days of biking - and a short video of yesterday's ride

When I signed up for the 30 days of biking I thought it would help me to ride more, I anticipated I'd ride maybe 20 out of 30 days, I never expected to ride every single day. As we approach the end of the month, I now know for sure that I won't miss a day. It's getting to be just life, I get up, I eat, I change diapers, I shower (if I'm lucky) and I ride my bike. Just part of life and that's exactly what I'd hoped for.

The boy and I headed out towards the end of day, it had been a busy one and we'd done lots of yard work so energy was lagging.

We planted all of our spinach seedlings today and some giant sunflowers, which are one of my favorites. These are our raised bed boxes, they are recycled crates from the wind turbines, extremely well made from non treated wood.  Behind Kyle you can see our new compost box and to the left you can see the stake for our sugar snap peas, we planted them last week and they are doing great.

Okay, now back to tonight's ride...What can I say? It was lovely, of course! Jack and I rode solo, which wasn't as fun as a family ride, but Kyle still needed to fix his flat and was exhausted from digging a new veggie bed we're working on.

Jack literally chatted the entire ride, non-stop jibber jabbering; pointing out flowers, buckets, dogs, birds and saying "hello" to everyone we pass...he loves it!

 

A long shadow, courtesy of the setting sun and below, the same onion field I took a picture of last month, now with much taller Walla Walla Sweets.

It is hard to believe there are only 8 more days in this month. It's also hard to believe I was worried about this challenge, as I was painting myself into another corner. I'm so glad that cycling is becoming normal to me now.

Here's a short video we took yesterday on our way home from the races. I did a rough edit, but due to the nature of our unsteady camera, it's a little jumpy. This trail is beautiful, it cuts through a little wetland area that has been reserved. I hope you enjoy it!