Monday, December 28, 2009

Bluetiful Monday


Rode Bluetiful twice today, once on a Tour de Starbucks and this afternoon on a trip to Batteries Plus. Also drove the car once, to pick up some food for the kids before they left to go down south.

Score: Bikes - 7, Autos - 3.

Weekend Update


Rode The Roadley twice yesterday, didn't have to drive the car at all. Score: Bikes - 5, Autos - 2.

The kids came up from southern Arizona yesterday, bringing little Keira with them. One of their friends just had her own baby yesterday and they had a lot of newborn diapers and an extra car seat for her.

Sunday, December 27, 2009

Saturday Report


Rode the bike for a second time yesterday, and drove the car twice. Score: Bikes - 3, Autos - 2.

I would have only had to drive the car once, but I didn't have a couple of things on the list. Also, I needed to check out an After Christmas sale on an item which wouldn't have fit on the bike.

Saturday, December 26, 2009

Auto Limited Week?


So, Thanksgiving Auto Free Week was a bust and this long, Christmas through New Years holiday/vacation week is definitely going to require an automobile.

I'll call it an "Auto Limited Week."  I'll try to make sure to collect all the errands requiring a car into as few trips as possible, and use a bike for as many of the others as I can.

Christmas Day I did not use a car at all, rode Bluetiful on a grand tour to find an open Starbucks, and this morning (12/26/09) I rode The Roadley on a Tour de Starbucks.  The current score is Bikes - 2, Autos - 0.

36°F at 6:30 AM!  Felt it in on my ears and fingertips, the BMX gloves just barely work at that temperature.

Friday, December 25, 2009

Happy Holidays!


I've been busy, but I just wanted to drop a note here and wish everybody, especially all you bicyclists, a safe and happy holiday season!

Wednesday, December 9, 2009

December 7th, Memorable for Another Reason


Monday, December 7th, 2009, 11:00 PM, my lovable old Labrador woke me up, wanting to go outside.  Usually, he only does this if he is sick, or I don't get a chance to walk with him before I go to bed, and is in desperate need of a potty break.  This time, he just stood there in the back yard and watched and listened to the brisk wind.

We went back to bed, but he stirred again a few minutes later and started panting; a sure sign he is upset about something.  Once more we went out into the back yard, once more he did nothing other than stand and listen, and once more I convinced him to go back to bed.  The wind seemed much stronger.

Fifteen minutes later, at about 11:20, I awoke to the wind howling around the house.  My Lab was in his bed, but his eyes were open and he raised his head and looked at me when I got up and looked out the bedroom window.  The trees seemed to be squirming around in the air and there was a good, driving rain.

I got up and had the dog follow me out to the entertainment room.  It was so noisy, it sounded like the room was traveling on a freight train.  I made a cup of tea and sat with my Lab until things quieted down about an hour later.

The streets have been a mess and I have been unable to commute for the last two days, even though it only rained Monday night.  It was the most violent storm I can remember in a long time.

Sunday, December 6, 2009

The Grill Next Door


There is a little burger joint about two miles from my place which has all the elements of a perfect exercise ride.

This is a poster in the window:




Here's a picture of Sami, who I believe is the girl in the poster, with Bluetiful:




See what I mean?  All the elements of a perfect exercise ride:  gets your heart rate up, is obviously bike friendly and has great scenery.