The front brake snapped five weeks ago but I did not find the time to bring it to the bike shop. Blame Vancouver’s frequent rains, I got a lift from bosslady on my days with my cousinbears, I rarely use it. Now I don’t want to miss a bike ride on a blissfully sunny day. One useful brake will do.
The ride that normally took me twenty minutes now stretched to forty. I was going real slow, too slow. My pace being that of one brisk walking. The windy, three degrees Celsius weather made my fingers numbed, my nose runny. But the cold I felt stays physical. I feel so warm within –being outdoors; engulfed in nature’s beauty; the wind against my face; autumn leaves crunching beneath my mountain bike’s tires; the sight and sound of squirrels and raccoons greeting me; the kaleidoscopic trees please my eyes no end; the river flowing nearby, a music to my little ears. I want to bottle the moment, capture the images forever in my mind.
Now I am taking my time, moving too slow, attempting to absorb the positive energy of the world around me. Oh, I almost ran over a tiny yellow butterly! I wonder what that li’l creature doing on my way, just about the time I looked down. Dear “crazy crow” in Kamloops came to mind when a crow flew just inches above my helmeted head.
From Mountain Highway, I took Mount Seymour Parkway, turning left to Riverside Drive. My biking route. With winter just around the corner, I will not be on a bike long enough. I might be taking long walks. Ah! I had a five minute jog with j. lo (cousinbear’s wifey) this morning. The drizzle made it fun –t’was like playing in the rain when I was a kid. Too bad, it was just a short while, and we would not have done that if we were not trying to catch a bus ride to downtown Vancouver. One of these days I will be running in the rain again.
Ooops! I forgot to tell you how the brake snapped. I had been a reckless biker. It was raining so hard it got me too excited, I pedaled and pedaled, going way too fast, hitting the brake too hard, too often… until it snapped! Nah, I did not lose my balance, am way too good… and lucky.
Saturday afternoon, I was in my favorite “candy shop” –you know, that shop that sells previously-owned books. I discovered this treasure island along Third Street on one of my Lonsdale walks six months ago. While some women would drool over fancy clothes, perfume and men; I would be obsessing with books. Seeing just the cover of a book I fancy would fill me up with such excitement (no man can:) Never before had I found such a shop of cheap and high quality (state and content-wise) books. Sweet, I did “pig out” and shopped till I dropped the very first time I was in that shop. I lost count how many times I walked out elated. I was grinning from ear to ear last Saturday, with four darn good books in my arms, all for just $5! A sweet real treat. On my next date with myself, I will be on that “candy shop”, for certain.
I did not buy Twix last week-end. I promised a soul I would go a week Twix-free if he writes for eFootprints. He agreed, so I am keeping my word 
I neglected this li’l corner of mine. If it was not for my dear Ms loveLydia, I’d still be wandering. I finally parked my butt on the seat and type away, as promised… because I love to and I dearly love the guapo and guapa.
*publised in eFootprints magazine Dec ‘07-Jan ‘08 issue