I've been trying to log a few nano-miles on my bike whenever I find a chance. I thought to look at the total odometer reading on my (inconsistently used) computer. Looks like I've logged 1,341 miles since 2009. Is that right? I don't know.
In Grant Petersen's book Just Ride, he recommends this: "I think there are better things to count, such as minutes, elevation, or days. Minutes add up quickly, and if you ride slowly, you get more minutes per mile... When you count a day, you check it off whether you ride five minutes or five hours. I rode my bike today!"
This has become pretty important to me, and a good way to stay grounded. If I ride my bike on a day--to the park with the girls; to work; to the grocery or around the block to drop off mail--I am pretty pumped.
August 26, 2012
Ride days, not miles
August 21, 2012
August 19, 2012
a few favorite memories to start
It's the morning after we've arrived home from our trip to the Great Southwest and I'm anxious to throw a couple photos out to the world. Here they are in their currently unedited glory:
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| Los Poblanos Ranch, Albuquerque, NM |
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| Hiking the Foothills of McDowell |
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| Almost 10 years before, C and I were new friends heading home from a backpacking trip in AZ, taking a photo in this exact spot |
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| Hiking Pinnacle Peak |
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| Xeriscape Garden in Scottsdale, AZ |
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| New friend, 3-year-old Annabelle, showed us how cool it is to float in a tube; El took it to the next level with this Maximum Chill |
August 13, 2012
No justice
These pictures are crap compared to even the view out of our moving car as we drive through Sedona
August 12, 2012
My girls
Wowie, it doesn't get more serene than this: my loves enjoying a morning stroll at sunrise. Los Poblanos Ranch, facing the Sandia mountain range.
Photo Essay 1: vacation travel, first plane ride
Friday morning, 4AM: last-minute packing of babies' bed things and toys, and loading of the car in unexpected rain. I dropped of the girls at the airport terminal with the luggage and doubled back to the long-term, outdoor parking lot. I unloaded the girls' car seats and my carry-on (in the rain) and loaded them onto the shuttle. In that time I managed to lose our car keys. I travelled to the terminal to check in and quickly hurried back to find out if our car was unlocked or if our keys were on the ground to be found. Neither was the case. That was the start to our first big family vacation. Also, while waiting for our first flight at 5:30AM, Ellie was saying very frantically and audibly, "No want to get on plane! My want to go home in car!"
Fast forward to New Mexico, at the rental car plaza where we were to pick up our pre-arranged vehicle for the next eight days. Here we found ourselves with one license that had expired nearly one month ago (mine) and one that would expire within the next six days (Carlyn's). That meant we wouldn't be renting a car, and the attendant was kind enough to volunteer her opinion that we probably wouldn't be allowed to fly home on our return trip. Sweet. In a moment of panic, C convinced herself that we would be stuck homeless in New Mexico for the next two months. Not sure how she reached that conclusion, but I, too, was internally a bit panicked and considering arrangements for an immediate return to Ohio via a bus.
Long story short, all has worked out, despite inconveniences to us and moreso to those around us. The place where we settled ourselves, Los Poblanos Inn & Cultural Center was an amazing haven which afforded us what we needed to find some relaxation, comfort, and a refreshing outlook on Life.
I'm writing this from the car en route to Arizona and am pretty bummed we had to leave Los Poblanos. Though I have the hope that we'll return to that place one day again...
August 11, 2012
August 9, 2012
Jitters
This may be the "trenta" sized iced coffee talking, but I'm freaking excited about the vacation that starts tomorrow morning. Our first family flight will take us to far away places that are warm. More to come
