"Look out for that Snowbank!"

We got our first major snowstorm this week. It being my day for daycare drop-off, I decided to try the Roo in the 6+ inches of snow. Within fifty feet of the garage I saw a clearly impassable snow drift in the alley. I decided to pedal harder and attempt to plow through..."thwump" went the Roo as it stuttered to a stop. I knew then this was going to be a hard 1 mile slog to Theo's daycare. But we turned around, passing the garage and the opportunity to let reason prevail. How could I stop this adventure with a 3 year old giggling and hooting the whole way down the alley as we bounced over small snowbanks and large bumps? We pressed on, hoping our reindeer fill-in, Moxie, would give us some extra pull. Not. Within 2 blocks of Theo's daycare, we ditched the Roo and walked the last bit.

It was a one-hour adventure for a normally 20+ minute trip. But I wouldn't trade the stories that Theo is still telling for anything. I would however get a studded tire for the rear wheel to give the Roo a little more bite through the snow.

Skeleton out of the closet

"You really don't have a car?", people often ask. "That's right...oh, except I do have an old van in the garage." Not many people in Minnesota know about my old van. It hasn't run for years. It suffered the neglect of 6 years during my PhD program. But she had many good years before then. Fourteen years ago when I was just graduating from college, I fell in love with a 1967 Ford van parked on the streets of Providence. I wasn't looking for a van, but this "mystery van" re-kindled a van-fetish I had as an early teenager. Long story short, I bought the van, friends named it Banshee, and I had many adventures driving it with Hillary across the country to move from Rhode Island to Arizona. After five years of western adventures it helped move us (along with Hil's long-gone SUV) to Minnesota. With its wheels under the front seats, primitive suspension, and table-top steering, Banshee was a very fun vehicle to drive, especially descending twisting mountain roads of the West. Check out a short video from our travels in Arizona - featuring a descent of one of the windiest roads I have experienced.

At 12 miles to the gallon or so, I was always a bit ashamed of the environmental non-performance of old Banshee. That is one reason I became an avid bike commuter as soon as I arrived in Tucson. But Hillary, many friends, and I have many fond memories of trips with Banshee - van camping in the desert, the ill-fated Arkansas airport camping-police escapade, seeking old Route 66, speedometer peeping, and many more.

Upon moving to Minnesota for graduate school, I belovedly made sure Banshee had a garage for the winter. Unfortunately, the gas and gas tank fouled the first winter rendering the fuel system virtually inoperational. Still devoted to the old gal, I made sure the house we bought had a two car garage to afford her a space. Crazy how much we will do for a car!

But for 8 years she sat, including 3 years of Theo's life, and now Henry's first 9 months. Hillary didn't go for the idea that Banshee could become Theo's 16th birthday car and wanted the space for our growing collection of bikes. My interest in sinking time into fixing a gas guzzler waned. Once the reality of a second kid sank in, I got over my 14 year attachment to this van. As a last act of devotion, I cleaned her out and photographed her to put her in the best possible light, or as best was available in the garage she was stuck in. And then I put her up for sale on eBay.

"It's like putting the old lady out on an ice floe", exclaimed one friend upon hearing the news of Banshee's sale on eBay. Well, it's not quite do dire. It turns out that these 1960s Ford Econolines are popular with some teenagers, and their fathers. Banshee attracted 11 different bidders in two different auctions (the first buyer fell through- his teenager had bid for it in his name without his knowledge!).

But Banshee has found what I wanted- an owner who would fix her up and make the best of this classic. The buyer drove all the way from Florida with his 13 and 8 year old sons to pick her up. He and his older son will spend the next two years completely restoring her and then she will become the son's first car when he turns 16. Too bad, Theo missed out. Here are some photos of the emergence of Banshee after eight years in the garage, headed back to the sunny south. She got out just in time as I write here while our first big snow of the winter arrives.

Me and the boys sitting in Banshee for one last time.


Banshee's new owner, sitting in her for the first time. Hopefully this was the last time she will have to be winched up onto a trailer!

Bidding a fond farewell to Banshee.

Front Seat Driver

"Daddy, you're going to hit that car," exclaimed Theo as we biked to school with him perched in his Bobike seat. This was a milestone statement for Theo after a year of "Bobiking". Our favorite aspect of the Bobike is the running commentary that Theo makes about the turning leaves, his day at school, or the truck that just passed. With him safely seated between you and the handlebars conversation is so easy. What other form of transportation affords such closeness? But Theo crossed a line into front seat driving today. Never before has he offered biking advice. He was right - we were set to hit a parked car. But it was 40 feet ahead and we were riding to the right side of the road to allow cars to pass.

Phrius in the Fall

With cooling temperatures and a chance of snow this weekend, I am soaking in the best of early fall commuting. Rode in today at 40 degrees F and mostly cloudy. Felt phrius and refreshed by the time I got work. The fall color is really coming along. Theo made much commentary on the leaf color as we recently bo-biked to school earlier this week.

I am disappointed that I was not able to celebrate International Bike to School day yesterday with Theo. But I am remembering the excitement we had last week when he biked the whole way to school (1 mile). I received the news via email from Hillary: "Theo rode his training wheel bike all the way to school! He was so proud (as was I). Moxie [our new pup] was too." It feels great to welcome another bike commuter to the bike lane at the ripe age of 3.

Commuting "European Style"

I typically ride my 8.5 miles, 40 minute commute in shorts and a t-shirt and then take a shower and change into my work clothes at my office. Today, the last day of fall, with the coolness in the air and the fact that I was about to miss the last bus, I decided to bike commute "European style". I have always envied those who could just hop on their bike in their work clothes and walk right into the office. Today was my trial day. It worked great. For reference, here were the conditions at the time I reached my office: sunny, 66 degrees F, SE wind 9 mph (this was a refreshing, cooling headwind), 65% humidity. I am hoping for many more commutes like this this fall!

"Rooing" into a Picnic at Minnehaha Falls State Park

One of our favorite summer evening dinner trips is biking 4.5 miles along the Mississippi River to Minnehaha Falls State Park. Often we eat at Sea Salt, an awesome, casual seafood restaurant next to the falls. Wanting to save some money, yet catch what might be the last warm summer weekend evening at the park, we packed a picnic with Henry and Theo in the Roo. The beauty of biking to a picnic with the Roo is that you can roll the kids and gear right to where you want to be, unroll your blanket and food, and pull out the baseball mitts and balls to feed Theo's insatiable desire to hit the ball. You can also roll within earshot of the live music at Sea Salt and within "sipshot" of their fine Surly beer :).

Batting the ball to live music at Sea Salt. Baseball has been a major highlight for Theo this summer. He is quite a good hitter and took pointers from the Twins game we saw in July.

Ice cream is also a big attraction at Sea Salt. While Theo has worked on his batting, Henry has developed quite a swipe, especially for Sebastian Joe's chocolate-peanut butter ice cream.
Oh how fast the late summer days end. Where just weeks ago we could ride home in the light, night falls as we leave the Park and head home to another summer-late bedtime. Thanks Sea Salt and Minnehaha Falls for all the great visits this summer. Until next year...

Celebrating our Veloduct - the Midtown Greenway

As a car free family we are blessed to live within 3 blocks of the Midtown Greenway. This former rail corridor provides a 5.5 mile bike-pedestrian path through the heart of south of Minneapolis. It is our "veloduct" to the Mississippi River to the east and the Minneapolis Chain-of-Lakes to the west. Along this route we frequent the Midtown Global Market and, before kids, the nightlife and shopping buzz of Uptown.

Tonight we celebrated the Greenway and the Midtown Greenway Coalition by attending the Coalition's Progressive Dinner Fundraiser. Here are some pics of us and some of the other celebrants.

I caught up with Hillary, Theo, and Henry riding the "Roo". Hillary and Theo donned their sprout helmets and pinwheels from the May Day parade. Note the pinwheels on the Roo.


We encountered Coalition staff members in their super hero duds...

And Executive Director Tim in his cowboy duds.


First stop, appetizers on the west side of the Greenway.


Check these two out - they dressed as the Greenway!

This fellow seemed like a great contender for the best dressed costume, but he actually came directly from his office in his work clothes. (He's Danish.)


Hillary on her way from appetizers to the main course at the Midtown Exchange.


With the pinwheels and the matching helmet, Hillary won the best decorated bike prize. Henry was there to collect the gift card which Theo obsessively guarded. (I think he went to sleep with it!)


Eastward to the final stop - dessert. Stopped to photograph the awesome bike-pedestrian bridge that threads the Greenway over Hiawatha Avenue and the Light Rail Line.


Thanks to the Greenway Coalition and all of its supporters for all they do!