Katherine tries to exercise, but finds walking and aerobics painful, in a boring way. She asked me about biking a while back, but I thought I’d wait a bit to see if she was serious. That’s what you do with kids – you never take them up on their idea right away, in case it is just a passing fancy. However, Kat kept bringing it up, so I told her we would go bike shopping. I also thought it would be good for us to spend some time together. She doesn’t have quite as much to say as some of my children Ashley, so I was hoping to have some time to see what was on her mind.
First, I put out an email, asking all the bike aficionados where to look. Cycle Works received 2 votes, so we started there. We found the comfort bikes, with the big, cushy seats and tall handlebars, so you don’t have to lean over. We took to one model quickly, and drove around the alley with glee.
But we had to be wise consumers, so we went to Target, Scheel’s, The Bike Rack, and Bike Pedalers. The Electras at Bike Pedalers almost swayed us, but we went back to Cycle Works after a couple weeks and bought our rides.
I had found a great bike carrier at a Zion rummage sale a few years back, so two Sunday mornings ago Marcus tried to hook it up for me. We did this after we loaded kitchen cabinets into his van for him to install the next morning. Bad timing. After much sweating and frustration, we finally decided that Kat and I would bike to the bike trail, even though we didn’t really want to take the highway there. It was rather hot by the time we got started, and by the time we hit the trail, Kat was done. Oh, well.
The next morning Kat and I hooked up the bike rack, managed to get the bikes onto it(learning curve, you know), and drove to the parking area of the Jamaica North Trail at about 23rd and Saltillo. It was fantastic! There was a cool breeze, a lot of shade, and many sights on the route. Salt Creek is very pretty in the morning sun, and we stopped and looked over the bridges to take it in. There were many bunnies(a herd) on the trail, which didn’t seem too alarmed at our passing until we were almost on them. They looked like they were eating gravel, but I thought only birds did that. I didn’t know birds ate gravel until my daughters told me. They watched Dad dissect a pheasant, and he opened up the pheasant’s crop to see what was in it. “Guess what was in it, MOM!” I couldn’t. “CORN AND ROCKS!” There you go. Now you know, too.
We also passed a knot of baby toads. I hope I passed them all, and didn’t deter any permanently.
Last Sunday morning Kat spotted a lanky figure ahead. It looked like a little dog with long, long legs. It had black feet. It was a fox!
This Monday we started in Roca, and went to Hickman Road. We passed the entrance to Roca Berry Farm, which was interesting. I didn’t know it was so close. We never go. Why would I pay to pick stuff somewhere else, when I can’t keep up with my own garden?
Then we passed a rafter of turkeys. They didn’t want to move either. I started gobbling at them, and they started trotting. Then a couple of them attempted lift off, and made it to the ditch. But one started sprinting. Ever see a turkey sprint? They aren’t graceful, but they are fast. It was very funny, but wouldn’t be if they were after you. It reminded me of Kelli’s old geese: Fred and Wilma. If Wilma was sitting on eggs, you didn’t bother visiting Kelli. You just called. Fred wouldn’t let you out of the car.
On the way back there were more turkeys up the road we crossed. The sentinel turkeys were lined up across the gravel, and the baby turkeys were filing across. It looked like a school crossing.
Needless to say, biking has been very enjoyable, with many discoveries of the natural variety, and a few discoveries about Katherine. Delightful.
OK. We may have a few S curves on the plains. I’ll give you that. 
How many of your neighbors has this trailer parked in their driveway?
Last, but not least. I could have easily seen this in Nebraska, but I didn’t. I will resist saying any more.
