#177 - in the days

While I was in elementary school, my father's father died. I don't have too many memories of Gordon, but the memories and things left behind are precious to me. We have some self-composed and illustrated sheet music, journals, and... a recent discovery of mine... a bicycle. My uncle Randy had held on to my grandpa's vintage 1940's Raleigh all this time and was generous enough to let me have it to fix up, restore, and ride. He left it in Pocatello for me to pick up and take home. It's in better condition than I imagined! All it really needed was a good polish, cleaning, and to be oiled up. It's gorgeous!

#175 - on a dare

There are many reasons why John Steinbeck and I are friends, besides the obvious fact that we were both born in the beautiful Salinas, California. He saw the world in such a way that, we the people, tend to overlook. He wrote dozens of novels, short stories, and powerful nonfictions, and in 1962 he won the revered Nobel Prize for Literature. He pulls his readers in and challenges them to see more, see beyond. A few of his great works are: Of Mice and Men - check. The Grapes of Wrath - check. East of Eden - in the process of. Cannery Row - next on the list. The Pearl - the future. Here is an excerpt from Cannery Row:

"Once when Doc was at the University of Chicago he had love trouble and he had worked too hard. He thought it would be nice to take a very long walk. He put on a little knapsack and he walked through Indiana and Kentucky and North Carolina and Georgia clear to Florida. He walked among farmers and mountain people, among the swamp people and fishermen. And everywhere people asked him why he was walking through the country. Because he loved true things he tried to explain. He said he was nervous and besides he wanted to see the country, smell the ground and look at grass and birds and trees, to savor the country, and there was no other way to do it save on foot. And people didn’t like him for telling the truth. They scowled, or shook and tapped their heads, they laughed as though they knew it was a lie and they appreciated a liar. And some, afraid for their daughters or their pigs, told him to move on, to get going, just not to stop near their place if he knew what was good for him. And so he stopped trying to tell the truth. He said he was doing it on a bet—that he stood to win a hundred dollars. Everyone liked him then and believed him. They asked him in to dinner and gave him a bed and they put lunches up for him and wished him good luck and thought he was a hell of a fine fellow. Doc still loved true things but he knew it was not a general love and it could be a very dangerous mistress."

I bring this up for a reason. I am 83 days late for a new finding: This man, Matt Green, is walking across the United States. I think this is magical for a few reasons. Just as he describes in his blog, there is so much of the world you can see, taste, feel, and experience while walking that you just can't appreciate while you are zooming by in a car, plane, or even a bicycle. There is something just so innately human and simple about walking. I love to take walks, especially at dusk, so I just can't image what an experience this will be for him. Everyone he has thus far come in contact with, has been incredibly hospitable and welcoming. It makes me look forward to my adventure next year with even more anticipation. Biking my way around Ireland.

#173 - garage

When I'm an adult, I'll have a garage. Right now I have an under-the-stairs. I know they might sound functionally the same... but really... they're not. One is spacious while one is tiny. One is cement where another is carpeted. One is a room, when another is just a quadrant of the floor. I have aspirations to have more than just a quadrant of floor.

In my garage will be: all four of my bicycles (plus some), a croquet set, and...

A vintage Beamer

A classic Triumph

And a Volkswagen van for the family

and maybe a car that won't need work/repairs/fixing up... haha

#172 - mr. schwinn

I can't say this enough! I *heart* bicycles. I'm excited to possibly start two new projects. One of which is buying an old 1960's style Schwinn Typhoon and fix it up: power-washed, new paint, original decals put on, new fenders. The other is seeing if my Uncle will let me fix up my Grandpa's old bicycle that he's held on to. I'm so excited!! 4 bicycles will fill up my small loft rather quickly, but it's radically worth it.

#168 - carousel of confusion

Boise Bike Week kicked off last Sunday with a vintage bike swap. Seeing all those bicycles made me want to buy a cruiser and maybe another street bike. If only I had the space... my loft's capacity is basically maxed out. There was a Mardi Gras Twilight Race last night that weaved through downtown and circled the belt loop (people mistakingly think it's called the "green belt" ba!). To have my bicycle in top shape for the race, I decided to ride it over to the bike shop where I purchased it for a tune up. I remembered it being about 5 minutes away by car, and thus, very feasible to cycle there. I headed out on one of the more busy roads (State Street) which luckily had a bike path. I was well equipped with my ipod and water bottle so time passed relatively quickly. About 40 minutes later, biking pretty hard, the "I remember this being a lot closer" thought popped into mind. I kept trekking on, thinking it would surely be at the next group of businesses, to no avail. I finally texted google only to discover, it was on Fairview. Another busy road very far away from my own current path. I turned around and headed back, this time faster to make up lost time before it closed. I biked up a ridiculously huge hill and finally, an hour and a half after leaving my house, arrived at the bicycle shop that's a 5 minute drive from my loft. Two hours later, I was back home and too exhausted to do the Twilight Race... My 'oops' bike ride was enough for me.

(from D - B on accident, from B - C where I wanted to be, from C - D which would have been easier to go in the first place...)

#163 - boise pineapple

"So how long have you lived in Boise?"
"Oh not too long; I just moved here in August."
"Wow, really? Where did you move from?"
"Washington!"
"So what brought you here?"
"... ... ... ... ... "

I have had this conversation countless times since I moved to Boise, ID - and I never have a good, consistent answer.

...seemed like a cool place - close to home/school - came here for work - locked into a contract - felt right - was headed home and ran out of gas in boise, decided to stay...

I've been trying to think of a really compelling response and so far, have come up wanting. To be honest, there was a slightly ridiculous reason I decided to come here, and a few dollops of whipped cream that sealed the deal:

dollop one: The Egyptian Theater
dollop two: The Record Exchange
dollop three: The Co-Op

Each day I find a new topping that keeps me happy and keeps me going and today was no exception. Boise Bicycle Week was just announced and I am SO excited! I plan on doing as many events as I can fit in on my new ride. There is a Vintage Bike Swap that I would love to watch (will not be trading anything), the Monday Kickoff, a Twilight Ride on Mardi Gras, Bike Maintenance stations, Street Smart Cycling, Women's Road Ride, the Recumbent Rally, Pedal Power Picnic to the Park, May in Motion Event, Bicycle Block Party, and the Pedal Power Parade.

Ride on.

#156 - lady belle

My qualifications were thus: needs to be light-weight (because I will be keeping it in my apt; two flights up), have a classy retro look, street/cruiser/commuter (already equipped for mountainous terrain), needs to be a well known quality brand, needs to have a warranty, needs to have good reviews, needs to be in my $300 price-range.

I went to a couple of bike shops, just for browsing. The last one I entered: Bob's Bicycles. I went to the front counter and told the help exactly what I was looking for. I had a particular bicycle envisioned in my head and wasn't planning on settling. She showed me a few in my price range... errrr! Showed me one that was what I had described WAY outside my price range... errrr! The owner laughed when I told him what I wanted and he said $700 is minimum starting price for a bike like that. Thinking I would probably have to find my new bike in a second hand store, I just perused for a little while. After, I don't know.... 30 seconds, I found it! MY bike. It was perfect, exactly what I was looking for and was even on sale for the exact price I was looking for. It is simply put, the perfectly imagined bike.

I took it out for a test spin yesterday and still loved it. Then later that night for its official debut. I was riding along the green belt and whenever I would adjust my headlight, my hand would sweep across the front handlebar and accidentally 'ding' the bell. It was the happiest little sound and would always surprise me! I would then say, "Oh! Hello Belle!" as if my bicycle didn't want me to forget that she was a part of the bike ride too, and not to just use and ignore her. Belle and I had a beautiful ride and I love that she is waiting for me at home, as we speak. Another bike ride is in my future, for Saturday.

My favorite is the little wood panel on the back for my purse/backpack for downtown grocery shopping or long trips, for a bag filled with water and snacks.