Easy Rider

We have a great little library on the island, where one can find some nice beach reading, and it's only four-and-a-half miles distant by bicycle. This is what passes for exercise in my retirement years, and has only resulted in one ticket - they cited me for male prostitution because they said I was "pedaling my ass around the island". OK, bad joke, but I'm very popular with the widow women who staff our library, and I've often been solicited to become a volunteer because they "need men who can change a light bulb". Now, that of course could lead to a number of light bulb jokes, but I'll refrain.

When we moved down here in early 2004, we had one car for two drivers - this was not working well, but soon after I inherited my father-in-law's "cruiser" bicycle, complete with coaster brake and one speed. By 2005, my dear wife had purchased for me a used 7-speed from the local bike rental shop. In 2006, I reciprocated and bought her one of her own, so we then had one car and two bicycles. Those are the bikes pictured above.

Things got better by 2007, when we were able to purchase a third car, so we could leave a vehicle in Florida, and another at our northern condo. A third vehicle became the "traveling car" and meant we'd never be without two cars in either location.

Now that we had cars, we rediscovered the joy of
riding places. A nine mile round-trip to the library also meant exercise - something we both sorely need. On our island, which is ten miles long, we have extra wide sidewalks where casual bike riders co-exist with walkers and roller blade skaters. Our town has a 15 mph "sidewalk" speed limit and a requirement for a bell on everybody's bike. The more serious, thin tire crowd, with multiple gears and spandex uniforms, rides in marked lanes on the main drag (which is also a state highway which connects three islands). There is only one downside to the mandatory bell ringing when coming up behind a walker, jogger, roller blade wearer, or somebody truly slower on a three wheeled bicycle - more than half the island is deaf. Oh well, the road to hell is paved with good intentions, and if they do hear you, they're just as likely to jump the wrong way.

So, we ride on, ever cautious to avoid people pulling out of driveways without looking. If you have a pulse in Florida, you can get a drivers license - we have a 90 year old fellow church members who tells us her 93 year old spouse is "a great driver". Don't look for him at Talladega or Dayton however. This past month, my wife got a new basket - the old one wouldn't hold small stuff inside. I put a red cooler in mine (perfect fit), so we can use that insulated bag to keep milk and frozen food cool . That's a good thing, because in addition to the library, our local Publix super market, CVS drugstore, three banks, post office and Town Hall are in the "town center". And with gas prices for 93 octane now pushing $3.10 a gallon, the Corvette gets to stay in the garage. Who knows, I might even lose a little weight and end up healthier this year.