Today's pictures are from the Regional Nature Park next door. Earlier this morning, I rode my tricycle to the other end of our resort and then hopped off and went for a nature walk there. No laughing — that's not a typo — yes, I am riding a trike.
Eight years ago when we first came to Upriver, I got quite a kick out of seeing all the sweet little old ladies riding their tricycles around the park. I was smug — after all I was bicycle rider (a 2-wheel bicycle). We had a pair of English Raleigh bikes that we'd carried on a rack all the years we were full-time RVing …. we'd had fun exploring some of the towns and cities and National Parks that we visited — bicycles were a great way to get around.
But after we bought the Canal Cottage, the bikes just stood in our side yard, unused and neglected. There are only about three and a half miles of streets here in the resort – not a bad morning's walk, but hardly enough exercise with a bike to make it worthwhile. And sadly there are almost no safe streets for leisurely bike riding in this part of SW Florida. So a few years ago we said goodbye to that chapter of our lives and sold the bikes.
Not our yard — this is where I parked for my walk
But now, fast forward to this year and there is a pretty purple tricycle parked in the same yard where the bikes used to stand. I inherited the trike from my dear Upriver friend and and boating buddy Connie, who sadly passed away last summer. Even though we are not unused to losing people we know (especially living in a mostly "senior" neighborhood as we do here and did at the Lake in Oregon), Connie's illness and death were entirely unexpected and a terrible shock to all of her Upriver friends.
When Connie and another friend of ours bought their trikes last year, I still had no intention of getting one – no, thank you. Walking was fun, fine exercise and quite good enough for me. But this year, when Connie's husband asked me to keep her bike, I decided I would ride it in her honor.
Especially when I remember my earlier smug attitude, I'm a little ashamed to confess that learning to ride hasn't been as easy as pie. (That won't surprise anyone who knows me in real life. Our daughter has a pretty good story about the first time I rode a bike with a hand brake. I might tell you someday … and if you met her, I know she would!) But a trike really is quite different from a bicycle. You RIDE a bike, but you DRIVE a tricycle– much more like steering a car, you don't use your body to lean into turns. I thought it would be so simple, but there I was practicing just like a little kid getting the hang of it. ( I had waited until this month to practice, because so many people have left already that our streets are pretty empty — not so great a chance of running into cars and golf carts!)
Walking back into the Resort
Once the technique is mastered though, the trike is a lot more stable. And as I'm sure you probably noticed, the bike seat is a lot —- more comfortable. Both of those are reasons why not-so-little ladies like to ride them. And now I understand that. Of course I'll keep walking because I love it and it's better exercise for my bones — and also of course because it is way easier to stop to take pictures.
But the trike will be good for different muscles — and for riding with friends – and for remembering.
LINKING to OUR WORLD on Tuesday, to NATURE NOTES, and to TREES and BUSHES. Thank you to all of the hosts.
