Okay, maybe it wasn’t cross country, but it was several miles. It was also my first bike trip. Our whole family went on a bike trip with the English family on Saturday for our “field trip.” I’m not a biker. In fact, I can hardly ride a bike. My parents bought me a bike when I was 9. It was Christmas day, and they locked me out of the house until I could ride the thing. I did learn, but I never really liked it too much. I’ve wanted to ride with my children and have ridden their bikes around a cul-de-sac, but I’m pretty shaky and can’t turn very well. I also don’t like to go fast. So…when Rowland called me Friday afternoon and told me he had a surprise for the whole family, I was VERY surprised that it was a bike ride! In fact, I called Amy and Carrie and told them in no uncertain terms that I wasn’t going on a bike ride. I couldn’t believe that my husband would actually think that I would be the least bit interested in grabbing onto shaky handle bars and peddling anywhere in 90+ degree weather!
The next morning, as I sat and talked with Rowland while he cleaned out the garage, I told him that I wanted the kids to be like him, adventuresome. He said that they could actually be like me, adventuresome, if I so chose. He also pointed out to me that I am actually adventuresome. After all, I took the Leap of Faith after travelling to Brazil. I adopted my daughter from China (and travelled to get her). I have a tattoo (sorry, Mom!) and a nose ring (sorry again, Mom!!) and even ride on Rowland’s motorcycle with my very own pink flamed helmet. I’ve moved from Little Rock as far West as I could get to San Jose without knowing a single soul. And now I’ve moved to Heaven (Colorado) after only a year in California. Pretty adventuresome for a home-body who is not adventuresome, huh?
Next move? Treads for a new bike! I was a nervous wreck just trying the bikes and didn’t want the girl there to watch me to make certain the bike fit right. What if I was riding wrong??? Better yet, what if I crashed? In the end, we drove away with a very nice bike (of course, Rowland was buying!) and a cute helmet and water bottle to match. Now came the real test…..could I actually ride it on a trail for several miles?
We met the Englishes at the park, and Grant and Amy admired my new bike. Grant asked where the cup holder was and said something about it being like a recliner before calling it a Grandma bike. Always the encourager!!! Friends closer than family, right?? Anyway, we took off on our ride to Main Street, ate a great lunch at Chipotle, and rode back to the park, all without incident. (Except that Carson dry-heaved on the side of the path because he forgot to eat breakfast.) Jia and Cayden rode in one of those pull-along carriers that Rowland pulled. Too much like her momma, Jia held her blanket, and when we stopped for lunch asked for a pillow! That’s my girl!!! William pulled in second place, and Kitty had to work her little legs off, but she beat me!!
The reason I did the whole thing was for the memory. Was it worth it? You bet!! It was a day I’ll never forget!!
Stopping for Lunch at Chipotle
Rowland with His Kid Carrier
Jia (with blanket - Where’s my pillow?) and Cayden