The day I chose to begin this new blog also happened to be my 35th birthday, and for this semi-significant number (what, I have to say MID-thirties now?!), my family members went together and gave me my first bicycle in 16 (or so) years.
It’s a 1980 Raleigh Sports ladies’ three-speed with coaster brakes. I love it. One of my sisters did all the legwork, locating the bike via Craigslist, adding some extras, and delivering it last Monday evening. I had already guessed what was happening so it wasn’t a huge surprise, but it was still fun and greatly, greatly appreciated. I was nervous getting on a bike for the first time in so long, having never been very confident on one to begin with, but it didn’t take long before I was feeling good about it and even coasting down (yay coaster brakes!) the hill I live on, the one I told my sister there was no way I’d be riding down. The bike is heavy, so I have to push it back up again, but maybe someday that will change.
A few things I learned the first day riding: 1) This is a town bike. Quiet side streets are good; gravel trails, not so good. 2) More people smile at you when you’re on a cute bike than when you are walking. Or maybe it’s the helmet. 3) Despite item one, there is nothing better than cruising comfortably along the South Bay Trail smelling blackberries ripening in the hot sun.
Mina (age 4 1/2 now) was excited enough about my new bike that she agreed to try hers again. We made two very slow trips to the park and back, about two blocks each way, this weekend. She rode (sort of) and I walked (or pushed). The slightest incline frustrates her right now, but I’m confident this will get better for her. Someday, our weekly library and farmer’s market trips can by done by bicycle, and I love that thought.
The weather cooled quite a bit over the week so that weekend baking, which I usually skip during the summer, seemed like a good idea. Saturday night I made chocolate zucchini bread (I think I would skip the cinnamon next time, or at least use a milder one than the Vietnamese variety I had on hand), and on Sunday I finally made my first attempt at this Oatmeal Sandwich Bread that I’ve been daydreaming about. Baking “real” bread was easier than I’d imagined and it turned out fabulously. While it was baking, I made a batch of chai concentrate and practiced some sun salutations, so the apartment smelled amazing and I ended up with sore muscles from the kneading and from being out of practice. I’ve been missing my Ashtanga class all summer, and it seemed like a good thing to do in the gaps while waiting for bread to rise and bake. This may turn into my standard Sunday afternoon, combined with writing on the Sundays Mina isn’t with me. This weekend, since she was here, we painted. Bicycles, bread, yoga, books, and paints. I really can’t think of a better weekend than that.
