Sunday Matinee

Biked with my son to Century 12 Cinema in Evanston for a movie.  We selected the 1:00 p.m. showing of Toy Story 4 which is the fourth in a series of animated films about anthropomorphic toys. Apparently this series of films is quite popular, however, I found the the plot greatly taxed my credulity.

On our way home we attempted to find more Geocaches.  One was a micro cache placed on the roof of a parking garage in downtown Evanston which we were unable to find. Neither my son nor I have much patience searching for micro caches.  A GPS usually has a margin of error of about 20 feet.  So looking for a pinky sized container among tree branches, shrubbery, or whatever can be quite annoying.  If we don't find the cache within five minutes we move on. One we did find was hidden in some tree bark of an oak along Ridge Avenue. Huzzah.

Really?!

Biked with my son again today.  We forgot to return a micro cache we found last weekend in Glencoe.  So a return to the scene of the crime was our first stop.

Then we pedaled through Glencoe to the Chicago Botanic Garden (CBG). Too many times I have witnessed motorists veering out of their lanes due to their texting or whatever. With that in mind I have been mostly biking on the sidewalk if I am moving at a leisurely pace. At this stage of my life I just want my rides to be as stress free as possible. So not having to worry about each and every car coming up behind me is a part of that.  However, I was almost struck by a young driver pulling out of his driveway. But along Dundee I scared the be-jabbers out of a woman we approached from behind despite ringing my Incredibell.

At the CBG we witnessed a turtle laying eggs in a nest at the grounds of the Regenstein Fruit and Vegetable Garden.  The area of her (at the risk of being gender binary) nest was closed off to let her lay in peace.

In order to restore our bodies' to their proper levels of carbohydrates and fats we decided to bike to Graeter's in Winnetka for ice cream. Staying on the sidewalk we slowed or veered well away from any pedestrians.  Along Green Bay Road in Glencoe I heard some guy shouting at us as he came up to us from behind.  I couldn't completely understand his braying but he definitely took exception to our biking on the sidewalk. I was expecting him to be tricked out in all sorts of biking gear, apparel, and lights but as he came abreast he was in street clothes on a mountain bike minus a helmet (WTF?). If that wasn't odd enough he biked in the center of the south bound lane forcing cars to pass in the median or in the path of oncoming traffic. What a total tool.

As we approached Graeter's, aforementioned tool was stopped at a light.  I was hoping to receive more of his wisdom but the light changed before we could catch up.  He continued south on Green Bay trailed by a line of bogged down cars.

I replenished with a scoop of Black Raspberry Chocolate Chip.

Didn't know Performance locations closed.

While biking to Petsmart last Sunday I planned on stopping at the Performance brick and mortar store nearby.  But it was no longer where I vaguely remembered it to be so I thought my memory must be failing me.  Since I am not a frequent biking customer, Performance's business troubles did not register on my radar.  A check of my Google machine revealed all their stores closed earlier in the year.  Performance was my primary local bike shop (LBS) over the years and I will miss it greatly. 

Fathers Day

Went biking with my son to Glencoe and grabbed a few Geocaches.  Then we biked to Baker Boys in Highland Park and each got an ice cream cone.  Pedaled south through Ravina Park and past the Chicago Botanic Garden on our way to Petsmart in Nortbrook to get a Go Cat Da Bird Natural Turkey Refill Teaser Cat Toy.  Is that enough marketing hyperlinks?

Cat went crazy upon our return.

Well it has been longer than I thought!

Phew! Well I went to Afghanistan for four months, learned to play hockey, continued raising my two sons, and now about to start a new job after working in the same place for a few decades.  I hope to bike a bit more to my new job.

Fracture

Broke my ankle. I was glazing some windows on my house when a ladder I was standing on lost traction on the concrete. It suddenly skidded backward and I came crashing down impacting on my right foot. Ouch.

Back from the dead (sort of)

I've lessened my bike commuting to Mondays to and Fridays from because I decided to broaden my fitness regimen to running and stationary rowing. On top of that my family, my body, and my work schedule just can't tolerate the mid week rides. The 25 mile trip home and the return trip back early the next morning was just too much.

Sadly I put the bike away last fall when it started getting darker. My first winter I biked to work was a personal challenge. I was proud of my ability to bike in almost any weather but it just wore me down. Especially the days when I biked home and had bike back early the next day (as mentioned above). I was just too tired and all I wanted to do when I got home was go to bed. I wasn't much good to my family then.

The logistics of winter riding was a major pain as well; long underwear, booties, Goretex jacket, head band, gloves or mittens, sheesh! Last fall I just wasn't looking forward to another winter grind. If my ride was a bit shorter I'd have had a different attitude. But with such a long distance it was more of a commitment than I was willing to make. Plus my bike was getting beat up and corroded. I could have gotten a junkier bike but then the ride would have been all the more of a hassle.

But the last straw was the darkness. Biking in the dark just got boring. I spent more time looking out for potholes than enjoying the ride. A few days last winter when it was sunny and really cold I was itching to ride again. But I wimped out.