Early Biking-for-Grocery Memories

As we've been working on the house reno project, we've spent many (too many) hours in local home improvement stores. One day in particular, we were on a hunt for a couple of items that were alluding us and we managed to find ourselves out east of our city. We used to live out that direction and often found ourselves biking the roads in that area. We were amazed at how quickly things have changed in the last several years and how many new retail stores have popped up.

One of the things that popped into my mind though as we wandered through was the memory of my first rides to the grocery store on a bike while living in that area. I couldn't help but smile to myself as I recalled my first attempt at grocery shopping on a bicycle. I recall wandering through the market, grabbing items as if I had unlimited storage on my two wheels. When everything was bagged, I suddenly realized that I had no means of getting it all home in one trip. I recall telling the individual at the checkstand that I'd have to return for many of the items.

The look I received was one of great confusion. When I explained that I was on my bicycle, she nodded knowingly and said, "I have an uncle who can't drive right now because of too many DUIs." I didn't even bother to explain that my riding a bicycle was not due to the fact that I couldn't drive, but was rather a choice I'd made.

Regardless, I knew I couldn't carry all of the goods and had to make a return trip to pick up the rest of my items at a later time. I learned a lot in that trip though and from then on made a conscious effort to buy only what I knew I could carry, even if it meant making more trips in a week.

Several years later, I now have a trailer with which to pull many more items on the bicycle than I did with only a front basket, but I like using that memory when picking items up at the grocery store. I see nothing wrong with buying in bulk when the items can be stored or used over time, but when it comes to fresh items, I actually enjoy making a few trips a week to help ensure that we can have fresher produce. This time of year it seems a little more challenging to find the beautiful produce we see in spring and summer, but it's still a wonderful thing to not have food rotting on the counter or in the fridge.

Do you ever have moments that remind you of early bicycling moments? Is there anything you do differently now than you did when first riding a bike for transportation?

Thankful: An Update on Life

It's been quiet here for a bit, and I feel the need to apologize. While I realize I don't owe anyone an explanation, I do seem to share so much of what's taking place in life here, that it only seems fitting to fill readers in on at least some of the details. Life has been in a bit of turmoil (I don't want to be overly dramatic because nothing that has happened is as life-altering as some have had to experience) but writing here has just had to take a back seat. After Sam returned from his mini-adventure with the new job in California, and we realized that we were staying in Colorado after all, we attempted to get out of the sale of our home, but unfortunately, there were a lot of circumstances that were simply out of our control.  The buyer wanted to carry through with purchasing the house, and we were left to wait things out. The theme for my mental state over the last few weeks has been kind of a que sera sera attitude.

Que sera sera
*Image found here

As stated in a former post, we couldn't exactly start looking for another home because there was always the possibility that the buyer could back out, or that the house wouldn't appraise. Surely (as my thought process seemed to go), our house was in no way worth what this individual was going to pay for it. Please don't misunderstand. I love our house and we've worked hard to change and add and do all the things that make it feel like home, but it's a small place that has limited potential. Although I didn't want to live in a fantasy world, I thought that the odds were likely in our favor, and that the appraiser just wouldn't see the value in the house - particularly as his job is to assess the home on facts, not emotion - and I was certain that this would be our means of staying right where we were.

But life, well, life had other plans for us. Six days from closing we got a message from our Realtor that the house had appraised and everything was set to close as scheduled. As we were told, we needed to find another place to go. Before this day arrived, we had started looking for rentals and homes for sale. Unfortunately, both are scarce in this area at the moment and there are individuals battling it out for places that normally would sit for some time. Small homes are renting for hundreds more than they should be, and purchases are no different in that they have escalated to levels we haven't seen since before the crash of several years ago. We were amazed to discover that we were one of 50 applicants at the first rental we saw. Yes, fifty. I couldn't help but believe that there was no way on earth we were going to find a place to go in less than a week, knowing that we have pets and were up against so many others who had probably been searching for weeks or even months.

In all of this, we had a friend offer to allow us to stay in his home until we secured a place to live. It was quite a relief to know that we'd have at least a temporary place to go until something came along. Unfortunately, things quickly became strained and before we even started moving any items in, the plan quickly disintegrated. I won't get into the details of this piece of things because it is a long tale all its own, but suffice to say we were completely unsure of what to do at this juncture. Sam has family to the north east part of the state, but it would be an incredibly long/difficult drive every day for an undetermined amount of time, and they have no extra space (although they very graciously offered to take us in, and we were seriously considering this as an option for a short time).

The timing of all of this couldn't have been worse and only added to the immense stress that was permeating life. Not only were we going to be homeless in a matter of days, but as quickly as we'd spot a potential home possibility, we'd quickly realize that there were dozens of applicants within a matter of a day in each instance. I was coming to understand that we were very soon going to be without a home, perhaps living in our vehicle with all of our things in storage. Having experienced homelessness first hand in the past, I was mentally preparing for what was to come. At the same time, the "whatever will be, will be" thought remained in my mind. I kept singing the songs' chorus in my head when I'd find myself ready to have a break down.... "Que sera, sera... whatever will be will be... the future's not ours to see. Que sera, sera." It has been a mantra of sorts to get me through the tough moments, hours and days.

I was trying to keep everything in perspective. No one was dead, the world was not coming to an end, and in the grand scheme of things, all of the happenings were very minor. I have to say, it's amazing what hope does for a person in times like these though. Any little possibility or small seedling of chance would bring my mood up tremendously. I continued to have people tell me that I "seemed to be handling things so well." What most didn't realize is that I was actually feeling quite fragile and alone. Some would ask why we had put the house up for sale so soon, others wondered why Sam hadn't stayed at the job for a bit longer. In my mind, all of the questions were moot because all we could do was deal with what was happening now. No one can change the past and the only choice was to use those little slivers of hope to believe that something was meant to come our way. I tried desperately to stay positive, but it was easier to say the words than it was to actually believe them.

A few days before our house was to close, Sam spotted a house for rent on Craigslist that seemed to have been miscategorized. He called to see if the house was still available, and set up a time for me to go and take a look. When I arrived, I was informed by the property manager that she'd just sold a house for another couple and had promised them first dibs at this place as they also only had a few days to find a home. She said it would be a downsize for them so they may not be interested, but I wasn't holding my breath, fully expecting that we'd get a call stating that they were going to take the house. With the market the way it is presently, how could anyone turn down any opportunity? I knew that the house would work well for our needs, but knowing that we were dealing with competition, I just couldn't let myself believe that it was even possible we'd end up with this house. To my amazement, within 24-hours we received word that the couple had passed on it. Later I would learn that they had merely missed the time cut off she'd given to them and moved on to us. Thank goodness for little favors.

I cannot express enough the relief felt when we found out that we would have a place to move. It was as if a huge weight had been removed and it seemed that we could finally move forward - particularly because we now were down to a day before we had to start moving. I spoke in my last post about the realization that I would miss sitting in our front room watching the squirrels, cyclists and walkers as they meandered by, but I have to say, I have an even better spot for such things in our new home. I feel fortunate that despite all of the feelings of sickness or being ill-at-ease with the situation, I think we've managed to land on our feet somehow.

Our "mini-city" hill. We had a bit of a haze on this particular eve.

The move has been interesting. Even though we have only been here a few days and are only about a mile from our old home, it feels almost like a different world. I have nicknamed it "mini San Francisco" because the house is on a fairly steep hill that has a decent amount of motorized traffic, as well as cyclists, dog walkers, and the convenience of almost anything we could need within walking distance. Our old street was inordinately quiet, whereas this house almost always has some sort of background noise. Some might not like it, but we were looking for a shake up, a change of sorts, and even though we are virtually in the same location, it really does feel completely different. We are still adjusting to the traffic noise, particularly at night, but we think that this will be a great spot for us to recover from the admittedly mostly self-inflicted stresses of the last month and focus on the things we enjoy once again.

We were so fortunate to have help from friends and family when it came time to move. Truly, I don't know what we would've done without them. I thought I would have a difficult time saying goodbye to our old house, but as things came down from the walls, books came off the shelves, and nick knacks were put into boxes, I realized that it wasn't home anymore. Through it all, I knew that it was merely a "thing," and that a house is not a home, but rather home is what, where, and with whom we choose to make it. The box itself is of little consequence. I was a little sad to say goodbye to my studio, the garden, and our newly finished kitchen, but again, I realize these are just things - and all things that can be replaced in time and in another location.

A little piece of the yard. I think it will be even better as the foliage begins to come in next month.

When I walked into the new place on moving day, with two friends at my side, they were excited about our new space. I couldn't help but think they were merely appeasing me as the house smelled musty, surfaces were dirty, and I had a sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach about all of it (not because of the house, but simply because of all that had transpired so quickly). When we entered the backyard, one stated that she knew where the summer BBQ parties are going to be held this year, and commented on very much liking the yard... Which, frankly, just made me smile - both outside and in. Whether known to them or not, those little encouraging comments throughout all of this have made all of it so much easier. When I had minor breakdowns about the very real possibility of having to give up one (or more) of our dogs, they offered hugs and suggestions - or just listened to me cry about giving up part of the family (as a side note, I am happy to report that all pets have and will remain with us).

As we finished taking all of our things from one house to the other, it seemed fitting that the last load to transfer was done by bicycle. My trusty Hillborne was loaded up with his trailer and I carried over the last remaining items - two of which just so happened to be our dog waste bucket and shovel. It's funny the looks one gets when riding down the road with what seems like non-typically transported-by-bike items. I wondered what others thought I was doing as the combination of items could easily be construed as being up to no good. I couldn't help but giggle a bit as I rode down the road, poop bucket strapped to the top of my trailer, and severe head winds blasting me, leaving (I'm certain) a trail of stench for anyone coming behind me. "That's right," I thought as I pedaled toward our new home, "leave all the shit behind you because you're on to better things."  I arrived feeling grateful, blessed, and loved by those around us, and I don't think I would've wanted the last trip to be any other way.

Life is starting to settle in now. It's amazing that so much transpired in a matter of less than two weeks. Hours often felt like days and days moved forward like weeks, especially with so much left to the unknown. As quickly as the stress and madness entered, it seems to have dissipated just as quickly, and for that I am beyond thankful. Who knows what is coming down the road, but for the time being we are grateful to have a place to lay our heads, our family together, and a reminder that even though we can't always control every little moment or situation, life is what we make of it. If this is the most difficult time of 2014, I will happily accept it and move on to what awaits us on the other side of this event.

A Box Bicycle as a City Bike Replacement?

First off this morning, I wanted to share a quick reminder about the Team World Bicycle Relief fundraiser started by Barb Chamberlain of Bike Style Spokane. While we haven't seen a ton of support for this particular team, I just want to say that anything you can donate is beneficial - from $1 to whatever amount is affordable for you and your family. If you can donate by December 31, 2011, your contribution will be doubled, which is absolutely amazing. So, truly, if this is something you've been considering, please do take the time to share what you can. You can donate anonymously, or using your name, and feel free to use my page linked above, or the main team page - whatever makes you comfortable. Thank you in advance for your generosity!
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While it seems a bit strange to go from donations to wants/desires, I suppose it is a part of how my brain works. I absolutely love to give, but I also have the side of my brain that gets attached to something and then has a difficult time giving up on it. While my hunt for the elusive "perfect" city bicycle continues, I've added a new obsession to the list: a box bicycle. At first, I just thought they were interesting to look at, but never thought they were something I would actually want or need, but lately, I've been pondering the possibility that it might not be such a bad idea to have this type of bike. I've even thought that perhaps I could combine my need for a city bike into my want of a box bike. Could this actually be possible?

Image from My Dutch Bike

I should start by saying I have never in my life taken a box bike out for a test spin (though I sense this is in my near future), and I might completely dislike the way they ride; however, the idea of this bike absolutely fascinates me and I think it could be quite practical. My first thought is that 90% of the time when I am riding a city bicycle, it is to fetch something from the market, other stores, or to haul something, so having the space to pick up groceries, dog food and other various sundries seems to make sense. Currently, I don't have a bike that I can haul a 40lb bag of dog food home on (at least not without having a near death experience), so I find myself driving the 3 miles (6 round trip) to pick it up, which makes me crazy. With groceries, I tend to buy far less when on the bike, or forget things, and while I don't mind making multiple trips in a week, there are simply times when we need to buy more food in a single trip (such as during the holidays, for parties, etc).

Image from Christiana Bikes

While I do realize most people purchase this type of bicycle to take their small children with them, because I do not have two legged kids, I also thought it could be a means to haul around my four legged, furry kiddos. I'm not sure that the box is actually large enough to hold all three of them, but from what I've read, there are some that can hold up to 220 pounds of cargo (such as the Christiana above), which would certainly be enough for my 175 pounds of dog (plus their water, balls for fetching, leashes, etc). Getting them to stay put in such a device might be a challenge as they (particularly the Labrador) are very fidgety animals, but I think it could be worthwhile to be able to avoid the car for trips to the dog park for exercise.

Image from Avenir

I do realize that getting a removable cargo carrier of some sort probably seems more practical, but I have yet to find one that can hold the weight that it would need to in order to be practical for all purposes in my mind. Thus, I am finding the idea of this box bike more and more appealing. Have I completely lost my senses? Perhaps. What do you think? Has anyone out there thought about a box bike for purposes other than transporting children? Perhaps you currently use yours as a hauler of goods rather than people? I know there are many people using these now in the States, so I'd love to know more about personal daily use in areas that aren't necessarily flat. One of these days I will make it to the bike shop to actually try these out, but in the mean time, my mind has been wandering and the idea doesn't seem as far-fetched as I once thought it to be. Feel free to tell me I'm crazy (I assure you, it won't be the first time I've heard this statement), or to add your thoughts on the matter.

Updated to add:
Reader LuckyChow99 sent in a photo of an ingenious dog carrying device he made last year. I know I'm not the only one who struggles with how to carry larger dogs, so I thought this information could be helpful to others. Here is what he had to say about the construction.

"Here is a cart I made from an old childs trailer. I used the frame and placed 1/2 inch plywood over it and then covered it with a rubber sheet. I put tie downs around the perimeter so the crate can be clipped in on the corners with simple snap hooks. This keeps it on the trailer, no matter what. I simply put a 36" crate on top and away we go. I'm pulling it with an electric bike I previously owned. Savannah is very comfortable in a crate, as that's how she travels in the motorhome. She loved it!"

Thanks so much for the information. I think this is a very interesting creation that seems to work well... and of course, now I want to try it out for myself. :O)