I hate to have to make this announcement, some told me just to "make it up today," but I can't. My 365 day attempt has already come to an end. After 4.5 months, I missed a day of riding. Of course, some of my days of "riding" were a bit of a stretch and occasionally consisted of a loop around the backyard, but I had still managed to get on my bike every single day. Yesterday, I didn't. It was the first day of class for my exchange student program, I was out from 7am-8:30pm, came home to a screaming baby, kept forgetting to jump on the bike as I was running around trying to tie up loose ends, then fell blissfully asleep before I remembered. Dang. I knew that it would be very difficult to manage riding during the program but I thought I'd still be able to sneak in a loop somewhere, big or small. The three weeks of the program doesn't always have a set schedule, a bikeable commute (since my/a car needs to be avalialbe for emergencies) and this ONE day is always insane.
So what did I do today? Give up and finally take a biking rest?
Nope!
Piled three teenagers from China, my hubby, the two kiddos, and myself and rode a short distance to the farmer's market.
So what did I do today? Give up and finally take a biking rest?
Nope!
Piled three teenagers from China, my hubby, the two kiddos, and myself and rode a short distance to the farmer's market.
Little ducklings! They were great once they learned that they were to stay on the right side of the road.
Welcome, Kaixiang!
Hello, Tony!
Then, after our initial test ride, we went back home to meet up with more friends. Our favorite biking family, who also happens to be one of my favorite host families (thanks!) brought their student--Lluis, kids, and grandpa to go for another biking adventure. Nine bikes, 13 people, 1 trailer, two baby seats, and 14 miles equals a pretty epic journey.
This takes time to organize.
Look at us, obeying traffic laws!
We rode down T st., over the R st. bridge, into Old Town, onto the American River Parkway, all the way to Discovery Park.
Discovery Park.
Not the prettiest beach (or photo) but Big Brother makes me laugh.
Iit was really, really cold. That didn't stop most of us from hopping in and cooling down. I'm surprised that no one got any flats from the numerous thistles that covered the ground. We had a great lunch of tamales from the market and other goodies. We decided to ride home the other way, continuing down the American River Parkway.
Love the trail, want Lluis to put his hands back on the handlebars.
Cheese!
Hey, Randy!
Luxury ride!
Cool riders rocking their helmets without complaint.
A touch of excitement close to home when we had to turn around due to an armed stand-off with the police a few blocks ahead. The cars coming down were frantically waving us back and telling us to turn around. So we did. Unfortunately, while we were making our legal left turn (since the location of the stand-off didn't give us many options for an alternate route), a woman in a blue Beetle decided to bear down on us at a red light. As we were making the turn, she kept revving up behind me, really close so I yelled back to her to wait. She screamed back, gunned around us, still screaming "get on the sidewalk." I managed to let her know that that was illegal, but I'm pretty sure that point of reason was beyond her comprehension. Bit of a downer to end an otherwise amazing afternoon ride.
A good time was had by all!
Later, the boys and I headed out to a BBQ at Jennifer and Randy's house on the Mundo. We don't have enough car space for all of us with our "extras" and the students were too beat for another ride (look an extra ride to cover for yesterday...). Strangely enough, while making another legal left turn, I was (albeit calmly) told that I *should* be on the sidewalk. I informed this gentleman in the giant SUV in the inside turn lane that it's not legal. He was shocked and told me that it still would be *safer* to which I said "no, it wouldn't." He then crept forward so as not to have to talk with me again.
I always seem to have the most trouble with drivers when I am making left turns or riding out in the street for whatever appropriate reason I am doing so. I assume that this is because I am finally visible to them and they perceive that I am slowing them down. Really, if anything, they could be delayed a few seconds by going farther around me or waiting for a clear time to pass (if they give us that courtesy). So many lives would be saved if drivers could somehow understand that we have a legal right to the road. They yell at us for not obeying traffic laws and then yell at us again for doing so. Focusing on the 1000 positive comments to every 1 or 2 negative ones really helps keep me calm during these moments of confrontation. Keep those thumbs-up coming!
I always seem to have the most trouble with drivers when I am making left turns or riding out in the street for whatever appropriate reason I am doing so. I assume that this is because I am finally visible to them and they perceive that I am slowing them down. Really, if anything, they could be delayed a few seconds by going farther around me or waiting for a clear time to pass (if they give us that courtesy). So many lives would be saved if drivers could somehow understand that we have a legal right to the road. They yell at us for not obeying traffic laws and then yell at us again for doing so. Focusing on the 1000 positive comments to every 1 or 2 negative ones really helps keep me calm during these moments of confrontation. Keep those thumbs-up coming!
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