The weather was very chilly but sunny, perfect for my first real ride on the new two wheeler. I decided to go for a ride on the dyke, an easy pedal for my first time on a bicycle in at least a couple decades. My goal was to do a circle route, down the dike, crossing on the rail bridge, then down the north side of the river to the Vedder Bridge and back on the south side. The cold brisk wind was in my face on the way there but thankfully at my back on the way home. The trails were well packed gravel for the most part with a little mud and some frozen snow in places as well. The four inch knobby tires gave me a cushy ride with good traction. The trip was just over a sixteen kilometre (ten mile) drive. The electric motor assist (on low to medium settings) allowed me to maintain about a twenty kilometre an hour pace without breaking into a sweat. Now, with a little over twenty-one kilometres (thirteen miles) on the odometer the battery is still at 80%. At least until I get in bike shape I don’t think I will be able to outride the battery but I’m going to give it my best effort over the coming weeks and months.
Helping hands
We always encouraged our kids to help us, from when they were very little. I jokingly say it only takes a little longer if the kids help. The payoff is that I still get to work on a daily basis with my kids forty years later. I still enjoy it to this day. These days they claim it only takes a little longer if I help them.
The tradition continues with our grandkids. Henry followed grandma into the laundry room this afternoon. She was sorting some laundry and stuffing it into the washer. Henry insisted that he help. Grandma would hand him a piece of clothing and then he would put it in the washer. But he quickly got a much better and more fun idea. He climbed inside and would take the items from grandma and put them in the washer. But that soon got tired and as grandma turned to get a new item Henry would toss a piece from inside back out of the washer. True to form, like days of old, having a child help only took a little longer. But the joy both Henry and we got to experience as we ‘worked’ together was worth it by far. Working with your kids is a true delight!
Good enough to eat
We just received final approval from the authorities and a GO from our client to proceed with a very fun sign for an ice cream parlour. The sign will be ten feet tall and I suspect will be featured in plenty of selfies this coming summer. Knowing the owners of the facility, I also know the ice cream treats they serve will be even better than the sign and worth the drive up to Penticton! We start cutting and welding the steel tomorrow. Stay tuned for progress…
