Bike-riding, Paragliders and Bird-feeding

I don't know if I mentioned it here, but about two weeks ago I ordered a bike trailer for Riggs.  I patiently waited for it as I tuned up my bike after a long, new-baby hiatus.  Then on Tuesday, I got the email - my trailer was here!  I was so excited and headed to Anchorage to pick it up at REI and hang out with my sister Beka.  When I got home I assembled it right away and after Beka left to head back to Anchorage, I hooked it to my bike, got my little cycling buddy all geared up, and took it out for the inaugural ride.  It was a beautiful day, about 70 degrees and only a few wispy clouds.

Riggs was a little trooper, and didn't complain once about being strapped into the little buggy.  He even liked his helmet, handed down from Corbin and Noah.  I think he's the cutest little biker on the block :)

He didn't like sitting back so he flipped over to his stomach, so clever!  I think it's hilarious that the helmet is nearly bigger than the rest of his entire body.

I love his little biking buggy, and I love my bike and have missed it.  We have spent many hours and miles together and it feels so good to be back in the saddle!

I purchased the baby snuggler from REI as well since I feel like it makes it a bit more comfortable and supportive for Riggs, especially when he falls asleep.  And by the way, Burley recommends that you wait to bike with you baby until they one year old.  Steve and I thought about it and decided for ourselves and our situation that it would be okay to bike with Riggs now.  This is an important safety decision that you need to make for yourself and I am not encouraging anyone else to take their 5 month old biking.  Each baby and family is different and it is a completely personal decision.  Whew, okay PSA over!

It was so, so fun to be on my bike.  Oh and PS don't worry, this is just in my driveway making sure everything is hooked up correctly, I ALWAYS wear a helmet when I ride my bike on or near any road and so should you!

Beautiful view of the Knik River from the Bodenburg Loop.  We biked from about 7pm to 8pm, and the sun was at such a beautiful spot in the sky.

Have I ever mentioned how much I love where I live?  It is truly the closest thing to paradise I can imagine.  Mountain, tall green trees, and rolling farmland...perfect!

This is a picture of the Bodenburg Butte, which I have yet to  climb.  I'm waiting for Steve to have a day off where we aren't working on home projects, I don't want to do it without him.  When I do I will post all about it I'm sure.

Paraglider who hiked up the Butte and then glided beautifully down to the waiting fields.  I watched him for quite a while and was so jealous of his (or her?) experience, way up in the sky.

All in all it was an amazing trip, and everyday I love Palmer more and more.  Today Riggs and I rode into town, despite the overcast weather and promise of rain.  It was a nice ride and the longest I have ridden in probably a year.  According to my bike computer, the trip was 17.1 miles roundtrip.  I went to the Post Office and Fred Meyer, which are right next door to each other, so I didn't do much riding around in Palmer.  8.55 miles isn't bad for a one way trip, in fact it's just about right to get a good workout in while also making a grocery run.  My average speed was 10 mph, so pretty slow, but I was towing and taking my sweet time.

The bike path is paved the entire way from the South Bodenburg Loop to Palmer, and there is a steady level of traffic on the multi-use path, from bikers, to walkers, to sitters (a dad and his toddler son eating lunch - so cute!), to rollerbladers.  The views are beautiful and I spent the entire ride into town observing all the sights that you can't see (or don't notice) from the road.  It took about an hour on the way there and 45 minutes on the way back.  Another person on a road bike (not towing a 18 lb baby and a bunch of books and groceries, I might add) pulled out in front of me from Martha Road and I tried my hardest to catch up with them and pass them.  I started to catch up with them and was getting so close when they turned on the North Bodenburg Loop and I was pretty mad that I didn't get to creep blow past them and with all that junk in my trunk too.  Oh well, maybe next time.

In other news, the birds are finally coming to the bird feeder!  I am so excited about this, you have no idea.  It has been about three weeks I think, but now they come all day.  I love to sit on the couch and watch them fluttering around and finding refuge from the rain.  They will even come to it when I sit out there quietly, and that is probably my favorite way to watch them.

I sincerely hope that you are having a good week.  If not, chin up, it is almost the weekend!