Showing posts with label bike. Show all posts
Showing posts with label bike. Show all posts

Sunday, December 5, 2010

Katie's bike ride, a little Christmas decorating

Last weekend I tried out the bike with Katie in the basket.  Unfortunately there's something wrong - I'm going to have to bring the bike to a bike shop or have the man next store look at it for me.  When I put Katie in the basket and walked the bike, there was a rubbing sound.  I couldn't tell where it was coming from, somewhere in the front, and the front tire looked like it had lost a little air.  I think I'll take it down to a bike shop and have everything checked out.

It was really hard to ride - even downhill - so I decided not to risk wrecking the bike and just walked Katie for a couple of blocks.

 Hey, Mom, this is fun!

I have to tell you - Katie was a natural!  She just loved it.  Never even tried to jump out.


When I walked her back up our little hill I parked it and held on the the handlebars to steady the bike to get her out and she wouldn't budge.  Just looked away from me.  So I checked what I could on the front brake, tried to see where the rubbing was coming from, but - nothing obvious to me.

Don't park - let's going again!

Finally I had to MAKE her get out of the basket, and she let me lift her out.  I have no worries that she'll be fine when we're streaming down the roadway.  If I can get in good enough shape to stream anywhere! : )

 Okay, Okay!  Lift me out already!  But I'm not happy.

Today I did a little Christmas decorating.  I put up a lighted wreath on my mantle mirror and hung my Barbie ornaments from it, a couple of outside decorations, wreath on the front door, etc.  Small things here and there. I have scented candles lit and the fireplace going.  It's very cozy here tonight.

 This is an Electric Fireplace, I love it!

Christmas presents all wrapped -  a few more to buy!

I am going to a Christmas show/service at my friend Alice's "other" church.  Alice is in her 80's, as quick, bright, healthy and busy as any 40 year old I know.  MUCH busier than I am.  She married a man a few years her senior around three years ago.  They had the BEST marriage for close to two years, then he died.  He and his family were very active in a different church, so Alice started going to his church with him.  Now that he is not here with her, she is dividing her time between his church and our church here at the lake.  The service tonight is at her late husband's church.

Alice invited me and Jan, from our church here at the Lake.  I haven't seen Jan for a long while, and am looking forward to seeing them both tonight.

That's it for today.  It's been a busy weekend, and now I have to get ready.  Alice is coming by at 6:00 to pick me up.

From Me and My Dog, Katie, have a nice Sunday evening, everyone! : )

Sunday, November 14, 2010

The bike

Good Morning - and WELCOME to our newest follower, Leovi.  I'm so happy to see you've joined us in our adventure which will end in RV full-timing.  Things seem to kind of settle down because we have a ways to go, then I get excited again and the full-time issue comes to the forefront again.  Hope you enjoy reading along.  If you have a blog, let me know - I'd love to read yours, too.

Beautiful weather in San Diego lately.  Right now it's sunny and 74 degrees, very slight breeze.

Just took some shots of my little patio to show you on this beautiful day.  It's a small area, but exactly what I wanted.  A little patio to put potted plants on, a small patch of grass, which as you can see Katie keeps pretty brown, but still grass.  It greens up nicely when we have enough rain. A little tree of my own. It gets sun and shade at the same time, which is nice.  I usually  have lots of color with potted and hanging plants, but not so much right now. 

I just love my patio, it takes so little work, and I get such enjoyment from it.

Things have been pretty quiet around my house lately.  Just the same-ole, same-ole.  I did take the bike out, finally.  About six years ago I took it in for a tune-up and check-up and everything was good to go.  I rode it only once.  I was living with my son and his family at the time, I had just arrived in San Diego and they lived in a hilly area. Too much for me to ride.  So I put it away.  I DID think about it in the last six years - but lazy me, that was all.  I never went any further than that, other than getting the dog basket free at Camping World.

So, yesterday was such a beautiful day, I got it out of my little storage area, the tires needed air and it needed some cleaning.  I had it covered, so the cleaning part wasn't too bad.  I have new neighbors - a wonderful young family moved in a month or so ago.  He's retired from the military and they moved here to San Diego County to be near her mom.  When he saw me out looking at my bike, he came over and offered to help.  He brought my bike into his garage, moved his truck out and got out a machine to pump up my tires. He fixed my light so it worked, adjusted my gears, oiled the chain and tire innards (?).  He knew all the terms for everything and explained exactly what he was doing as he did it.  He tried to fix my speedometer but didn't have the right battery, so took it out and showed me how to open it up to replace it.  What a guy!

3-speed Easy Ride - What a beauty!
But Easy ride?  Not so much - yet. : )
I took it out for a spin, and am happy to report that my balance kicked in just fine, and I did okay.  I couldn't remember the gear thing.  He told me exactly how to use each side, but when I was going down our slightly sloping street, I forgot it all.  In fact, as I was streaming along, I couldn't remember how to stop - it's been that long since I've ridden.  I backpedaled - I'M THAT OLD! - then remembered there are handles on the handlebar for brakes.  Isn't that awful?  I had completely forgotten how to stop the bike.  

I was thinking fast - okay, when I get to the corner, wide turn to the left will slow me down - hopefully no cars coming - not usually any traffic on that street.  Then I remembered where the brakes are.  Whew!  That was a relief.  I felt kind of like when you fall down and look around and realize no one saw you.  I can tell you now, but I would have been really embarrassed at the time to admit I couldn't remember where the brakes are.

This is a perfect area to ride - mostly level streets with some slight inclines, but not much, except on my street.  I rode the bike back up  to my house, almost.  Walked it the rest of the way.  I definitely need some practice and my legs are going to get a workout, which is good. 

When I got back I got Katie's bike basket out and put it on the bike.  I couldn't believe how easy it was.  Simple simple simple.  Today I am going to try it out again, then put Katie in and see what happens.  But first I'm going to Google "bike gears" and make sure I understand how the three speeds work.

Then Katie and I went to Target and I got a new bike helmet.  I know I had one, but couldn't find it, so I got a nice new one, and a headlight, too. A headlight for me, not the bike, the kind with a band around your head with a light attached.  : )  When I put Katie's basket on, the light on the handlebar didn't fit anymore, so I thought the headlight was a good idea.   I wanted one for camping, anyway, and walking at night, so when I saw one I got it, as well as some walking poles.  Been wanting those, too, so I broke the bank and got them all.  I also looked at the camping things, but reined myself in and "walked away."

I'm going to have to get good at this if the bike is going to be my transportation around parks and short distances to stores, etc. when I'm on the road.  I'd love to be able to just jump on it and go like I see kids do. But that is going to take some practice.  LOTS of practice!

I'll let you know how we do.

As soon as I post this I am going to take my coffee into my office and do some wii exercising.  Things that will work my legs.  I might as well start getting in shape now so the bike riding will be a little easier.   I've stopped using my wii and need to get going again.  I've been pretty sedentary lately and it shows and I can feel it.  I need to get back in shape.

Katie was playing with her treat ball while I'm writing - as long as I have the camera out:



From Me and My Dog, have a wonderful Sunday, everyone! : )