Last weekend found me out with David and Erin on a little road ride on our townie-style bikes (he has a sweet Mountain Cycle Stumptown with Sturmey disc hubs-internally geared and I was on the re-born Kestrel). Our ride down a little road near our house found some beautiful views and animals.
Right in the road David saved a little orange belly newt and on a little log flipping I netted a sweet 14" Alligator lizard.
This weekend we were again out on the townie bikes, this time exploring the river trail and it's new addition under the new bridge. Jake was a real trooper and did about 5 miles on his 12" Specialized Hot Rock! Animals were again the order of the day-we found a baby Western Pond Turtle and a sweet Garter Snake that pooped on David and I!
Today was Cari's day to celebrate her upcoming birthday with my family (David and Erin head to Taiwan next week) so we arranged to do an outdoor get together at Kennedy park.
Before that we headed to Alston park-Jake and I would do a little dirt riding and Cari would run (in preparation for her 10K next weekend) with Kona. Jake really was a stud in the dirt, he has great balance and we even went onto some single-track! What a feeling! I can not even begin to explain the joy I found watching him make it down a 7" wide slice of dirt!
Funny thing happened on the way home, we decided TODAY was the time to move Jake up to a new bike. David was able to work the angle and get us into a sweet 2007 Redline Proline Micro-Mini at Bicycle Madness (Thanks Tony and David). I was more stoked than ever, Jake was moving up to a "real" BMX racer and a Redline none-the-less.
Now Redline has a long history with me—I coveted my friend Sean Hummer's Redline he got in the 4th grade. Coveted to the point I begged, pleaded and failed in getting my parents to get me one. For most of my life I was regulated to Toys-R-US Kent's (although I pimped them out as much as I could to try and get that "Redline" high).
The fact that my son was able to get one-especially one he really enjoys, well that makes life complete.
I must say this is a double edged sword. Jake is learning (today) to use a hand brake (as opposed to the ol' coaster brake) and on top of that, being 4 1/2 years old, doesn't really comprehend how fast he is going on teh new bike. These two things add up to joy (he actually can use the hand brake really well) and fear (he goes so fast unknowingly and doesn't really use the brake at the right times).
We all headed to Kennedy and the river trail and had a sweet tail-gate style cupcake (thanks very much for the delicious cup-cakes Beth) and coffee celebration before Cari opened her gifts (jewelry, scarves and a Nintendo DS). After that is was off on a ride/walk and enjoy the day.
The Redline and some bills have put a damper on my Retrotec deposit (sorry Curtis, I talk too much before I spend) for the next couple of weeks. But I do have some freelance money coming in and look to plop down the dinero to get onto the wagon within the next couple of weeks.
David and Erin-on the road!
David and Erin zooming, part deux
Cool oak tree
David surveys the road, it was cool you could see Mt. Diablo in the distance.
Animal 1-Orange Belly Newt, Browns Valley
Animal 2—Northern Alligator lizard, Browns Valley
Animal 3-Western Pond Turtle (baby) River Trail, behind college
Animal 4-Garter Snake, River Trail behind college
The purchase. Bicycle Madness 3.18.07
Tailgate B-day, Prosser-style!
Me like chocolate! 3 cupcakes and he was off!
Kaleb sportin' the sweet choco-goatee!
Jake looking noble on his sweet ride
Jakes Proline Micromini, day one
Sweet transformation-my Kestrel lives on as a carbon fiber 8 speed townie!
4 comments:
Looks like you had a great day outdoors!
Jake's bike rocks! The Kestrel looks good too.
sweet wildlife
sweet kids bike
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