Weekend Assignment #219: Preferred Transportation

"When the spirits are low, when the day appears dark, when work becomes monotonous, when hope hardly seems worth having, just mount a bicycle and go out for a spin down the road, without thought on anything but the ride you are taking."

-Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

Weekend Assignment #219: What is your favorite form of transportation, and why? You can choose any means of traveling by land, sea or air, with just one catch: it has to currently exist in the real world, or have existed in the past. No TARDIS, no Star Trek transporter, no flying DeLoreans, all right?

Extra Credit: What's the most unusual form of transportation you've ever taken?

-Karen Funk Blocher, of the blog, Outpost Mavarin

I smiled when I saw this week's Weekend Assignment, because just this past week, Alan and I finally bought ourselves the bikes we have been looking at, and now I get to show them off! It was a good week. There is a lot to share, and I will over the next few days, so stay tuned for that. I want to keep on topic here.

Last week, George Bush sent us some stimulation, lol, so Alan and I sat down and decided where it should go. Elvis came first, and he is now taken care of. We don't have too many other needs, except for the same ones everyone does. When all was said and done, there was more then enough left over for this investment in recreation, health and just plain fun. :)

It was a hoot getting up on a bike, after having not ridden one for almost 25 years! I have a slight case of saddle sore, lol, but the legs feel great and the soul feels like dancing! I had forgotten how much fun it was to peddle along, just letting my thoughts run wild. And of course there is the added bonus of how exercise lowers my blood glucose levels. We have gone riding here in the hills, everyday this past week, and we will be going again today. I am looking forward to it. :)

An old flame told me about a year ago, that when I was a youngin' of about 22 or so, I looked really good on my bike. I didn't learn to drive until I was 23, so up until then, the bike, and walking, was how I made my way around. :) I was surprised that my old flame still had that thought in his mind. I know darned well that driving a car has made me a somewhat lazy girl, and as a result, things simply aren't where they used to be.

I love driving. I love going to far off places and seeing new things, but because there is a trade-off, driving has done very little for my legs and rear end. LOL. Thankfully, over the years, I haven't gone too far down hill too fast. :) I am ok for almost 46, but with the bike, I think I will soon be DARN GREAT for 46! The bike will be good for me, but I do have to say, I still love my car, Lilith, and she will always be my favorite way to see my world, so above you see my two great loves for traveling adventures near, and far. Lilith and Lil Lilith.

Gas prices are what they are, but it doesn't mean I have to give up having photo adventures, I just had to allow myself to try a new way of looking at things. And besides, the bike makes much more sense for doing errands around town. There is never enough parking in downtown Berkeley. In that it is a college town, you see bicycles everywhere. It just makes a lot more sense in this economy. I imagine a lot of folks will be considering a bike for at least some of their transportation.

Extra Credit: I once flew from Washington D.C. to Lynchburg, Virginia, in a Piedmont commuter plane, that had 4 propellers and made a lot of noise as it flew up and down between the 6 stops in-between! I know traveling by airplane isn't exactly new, but the propeller thing was definitely new to me! Loud and slightly scary. LOL. Sometime I will write about that whole adventure. Stay Tuned!

-OndineMonet
"My Two Rides"
Berkeley, California
June 6th, 2008
Late Afternoon