Bike Camping!

Well now that summer is gone, like way gone, and the tricks and treats has happened, it is well past time that I commit this to virtual paper lest I forget it ever happened.  Borrowing from the example set by the Reverend at the Church of the Sweet Ride I've been pushing to get at the good times and encounter the adventures in life that are available to me  now...aaannd to involve the young-in's in that paradigm. So it was with the threat of the end of summer and the beginning of the kid's school year that i rallied us to strike out on our first bike camping trip.  Truthfully this is not just the first family bike camping trip but my first camping trip upon the bike cycle too.
Preparations began a week ahead of time with the construction of some bucket paniers for the kids.  I was turned onto them by the Hipples and found instructions here.  Inevitably there was last minute scrambling and adjustments but eventually we got everything packed and away we rode.

Only to turn around before we got 2 blocks away so we could tighten Ry's rack which started to list to one side.  Then we were off again and within 4 blocks we stopped 3 times to adjust this or re-tighten that, but then we were really off and we didn't stop until we got to Charlie's Boat House for ice cream.  Then we followed the bike path to the causeway which we followed until we hit the cut.  There we needed to take the bike ferry, "Thanks Local Motion"

From there we rode the back roads of South Hero Island.  As we encountered our first hills the whining and complaining began to creep into  the collective conciousness. So I started spewing my best dadisms, such as: "Whining won't make it any easier.  It will only make me want to leave you behind."  and "Doing hard things is hard." Just as we were reaching meltdown we found a little wayside to distract us.

Nothing like ice cream, swings, and petting some goats and horses to set one's spirit right!

From there we had the finial stretch which was difficult for a couple of reasons.  First was we shifted from a relative quiet back road to the main thoroughfare of Route 2. There was a nice 6foot shoulder and the kids are confident riders but the constant traffic and higher speeds had everybody on edge and I couldn't wait to see the park sign that let us know we had reached our destination.

We reached the park and when we did it was all good times and smiles. The tenseness of the last stretch soon forgotten.

Boy was it windy.  The wind howled all night as it pushed up the waves on the mighty Lake Champlain and we passed the night cozy in a lean-to with the sounds of wind and waves in our ears.  Then we woke up had coffee and were on our way.  We had ridden 24 miles to the campsite and were facing a 20 mph headwind on the way back so I made the executive decision to call in support and have my lovely better half pick us up at the other side of the lake shortening the ride to 14 miles.   I thought that if I can keep the troops happy they will be more willing to set out with me again.  It was a good call as the previous day's miles and the headwind really made this a challenge for the 7 and 9 year old.  I had my own bit of suffering to do too.  See I borrowed a friend's Extra-cycle for the trip so I could haul the extra stuff that the kids weren't able to haul.  Little did I know that the seatpost was stuck too low and the saddle fit me in a way that left me calling it the ass-hatchet.  Needless to say we were happy when we saw the swagger-wagon waiting for us.

However when asked the kids both independently verified that they will be doing this again.  Good times!

Reporting from the Ether

Well between throwing my back out, having an infant daughter, and  I've not been able to find time to check in with myself on this here forum.  But here I am now, so that will have to do.  It's been on the tips of everyone's tongues so I might as well say it, the weather has been absolutely fantastic. To celebrate I spent the weekend tackling yard work and home based chores. Then to reward myself with some "me-time" I went for a bikecycle ride.

I put some liquid refreshment in some carefully scouted secret spots for enjoyment at a later time,

and I brought one to enjoy immediately and to accompany a glorious sunset.

Then it was time to turn tail and head home.

Today's office listening (Friday tunes)

Circles and cycles or Happy Birthday Ivy!

Here's to the marking of one trip around the sun for a special human baby child, whom is so cute that she triggers, in me, a very irrational desire to eat her.  Maybe that is why I have such a strong instinct to protect her from all manner of dangers, both real and imagined.  It is remarkable how being a parent comes with an incredible ability to create, exaggerate, and replay the most horrible, improbable, and convoluted scenarios for harm to befall the little ones in your care. It's enough to make you want to hide in a corner if you let it, or you can dive in an teach them the skills necessary to navigate life's adventures while avoiding harm.  In either case I'm excited to see this adventure through with my spawnlings.  Here's to you Bean! Now eat your cake and enjoy your youth, damn-it!

The Ramble

It's a yearly community gathering that involves a number of events/activities/parties that everyone is in town is invited to.  Folks wander or ramble from site to site and it's a beautiful event that showcases why this is an amazing place to live.  It starts each year with Field  Days events (tug-o-war, long jump, three legged races, etc.) and includes a block party, the fabled 127 hill climb, an epic bike ride/parade, and a wrap up party.

In the past you may have seen me showcased in some photos of the epic bike ride?

No? O.K. then....Moving on.

This year I helped our kids school host a bike wash/fix-it station and helped kick off the epic bike ride. It was awesome but I know how we can make it awesomer next year.  Fo Sho!

Besides this, this year's wrap-up party was the tops.  James Kochalka Superstar killed it and sent more than a few parent's heads spinning when he kicked off his set with a song about his dick. 

I'm also using my new found knowledge to help us be a part of Burlington's first Open Streets event on September 21.  It's gonna rock your socks off.

Summer so far

Busy livin'.

Way back in June I took A__'s on a bike trip to the beach.  It was fun. We built fairy houses. There was a tiger.

We've been to many a baseball game.

I visited Philly without kids.

I've worked a metric shit tonne.

Spent a gloriously peaceful week on Family Vacation.

There now you're up to date.

Let's not kid ourselves.

Just because one would rather ride bikes than just about anything, and one happens to write about it from time to time on a blog (which in this case is sort of like talking to one's self), and one happens to take photos to chronicle their happenings, does not make one a bike blogger or an expert or epic or whatever.  However one should not let any of this keep one from riding their bike as much as they are able or as long or as short as one would like or from enjoying the hell out of any time spent on a bike.  Everytime you don't get on the bike because you don't think you have enough time for a serious ride you've let "them" win.

That said I have been beset upon from all sides in a conspiracy of vast proportions to keep me from riding my bike.  Their have been extraordinary amounts of work, and minor surgical procedures, and a child in my house that wasn't there last riding season (April - October in these parts), and other factors that I have let block me from my outlet of choice.  And in the depths of my funk I have let them win by not hopping on and tearing around the neighborhood because I fretted that it may be wasted time.  Well I'm not going to kid myself that I have all the time in the world to dedicate to this aspect of my life, but I'll be damned if I let my imagination's other people and their imaginary opinions of my hypothetical activities define my enjoyment of life.  

Hell Yes.

Craptastic!

Well I've had a shit filled week that has been compounded by the fact that I have been thwarted in my efforts to ride my bike. So I have the compounded frustration that comes from lack of exercise, increased expectations, and deflated hopes.  The shitstorm has left me after anticipating the ride on two days only to leave my bike sitting idol.  And damn it if it isn't the best weather we've had in six months to boot.

 End rant.

Some more winter photos..

to help encourage spring to join us.

first an artsy shot to set the mood

gettin ready for some urban ski adventures

practicing our winter survival skills (read fort makin)

cutting ice

sledding carnage

she's a real dead-eye

obligatory cute baby shot

s

I can hear the squeezebox now.

fin.

time well spent

"There is only one success…to be able to spend your life in your own way." - Christopher Morley

“The only thing you really have in your life is time. And if you invest that time in yourself to have great experiences that are going to enrich you, then you can’t possibly lose.”
—      Steve Jobs 

Winter Activities

In this corner of the world, we have been busy with things other than watching babies grow, putting on an extra sweater, and doing nothing/saying nothing with the older kids.  We have gotten out to enjoy snow, family, friends, ice, refreshingly cold temperatures, uncomfortably cold temperatures, and even a few dates with only one small pair of eyes watching.  Life has been good, but I'm still waiting for Spring.

learnin the sideways slide

falling ain't fun

night skiing is fun

sledding with the big man

candy eaten by homemade woodstoves in stinky lodges is the best

Blurry night skiing is the best.