Today is my 14th post, according to the blog stats. So I guess that means I've finished my two week challenge. However, I didn't manage to succeed at going completely car free for the whole time, as mentioned before. I will keep blogging for the moment, and keep bussing and biking and see where I end up!
I have been to the bus station in Hamilton before, several times, but I have never noticed what I noticed today. When I arrived at the bus station after bussing to my 11.30am meeting, I thought I had accidentally arrived at a smokers' convention. I must have seen dozens of people smoking, which is something I haven't seen for a really long time. I'm not very up with the play on cigarettes, but most of them looked like roll your own cigarettes. I do see young people smoking in the street from time to time, but this was extraordinary. Obviously, bussing and good health aren't as well mixed as I had assumed. The first glimpse of what lay ahead occurred as I alighted from the bus at the station. I noticed a group of bus drivers standing nearby, smoking. That took me slightly aback, but then the next person and the next were smoking as well. The smokers I saw were all ages, genders and races. Then I saw a woman wearing an enormous orange backpack, and even she was smoking! I also noticed masses of cigarette butts on the concrete. In thinking about it, I guess these are people who are taking the chance for a few puffs before getting on their buses which are, thankfully, smoke free. However, I felt quite offended that the bus station was so full of smokers and felt quite affected by this. Perhaps I will contact the Council and let them know of my concerns.
My meeting was about 5 minutes' walk from the station. I returned in time to make use of my 2 hour free transfer bus home, which meant the whole journey was $2.30. If I'd driven the car or van - perish the thought! - I would have paid about $2 for parking anyway and more than 30 cents on petrol. The journey was relatively quick too. But I also realised what I really love about riding the bus! It's the opportunity to do one of my most favourite activities. Reading! In my busy life it's hard to justify reading for pleasure. But on the bus, it feels okay. During my experiment I have usually remembered to take a book with me, especially now that I'm more aware of the length of the journey. During both of today's bus rides I read from my latest favourite book, Living Oprah. I'm enjoying it but haven't read many pages yet. Whenever I read books like that it inspires me to do something similar of my own... Watch this space. (Or one very nearby).
Later in the afternoon, (fortunately before a deluge) I cycled to the supermarket which is next to our closest post office. I had to do a job at the post office, so went to the supermarket for some of the things we were running out of. It's never ending, but that's another story - or perhaps another blog! The cycle trip there and back took about an hour in total and was very enjoyable now that I have figured out the shortest route. It involves a bit of excitement with a tunnel and no hills. My load was almost too heavy for my back, but I plodded on home wishing the fancy bicycle trailer was finished. My husband was working on it as I arrived, so maybe next time. My son said he'd had a bit of strange goings on with his bus trips home from school today. He got on the first bus as normal but it didn't go where he expected it to so he got off and walked to the bus stop he would normally catch the next bus from. Not sure what on earth happened there. But you get that sometimes with buses. It's probably good for him to find himself in that situation occasionally and work out a solution. I mowed the lawns tonight, as well as cycling to and from the supermarket! So I think I've had my quota of exercise for today. (Another side benefit of the biking thing).
Friday, March 18, 2011
Breaking my Promise
So, Thursday was the day I had to go against my challenge and drive somewhere. I'm not sure if there were any alternatives that I hadn't discovered. Either way, the decision was made. My son arrived home on the bus before I had to leave, and my husband had come home early because of a very sore throat and headache, so it didn't matter that I was leaving before my daughter arrived home from school. I packed the van with all the census materials and drove to get mum. Her optometrist appointment was over quickly, and her new lenses were fitted into her frames. By all accounts, everything's a lot clearer now. I drove her back to the rest home and stopped on the way to pick up some fruit and vegetables that we needed. Then I went to my appointment with the census supervisor, handed over the boxes, finished the paperwork and headed towards home in the van. My niece Louise lives nearby and I suddenly remembered that this would be the ideal time to drop off a large suitcase full of toy cars and trucks for her two young sons. My husband and children had sorted them out weeks earlier and left them in the van for me to deliver. I had kept forgetting, so it was good to do that while I had access to the van. The toys were very happily received and I had a nice visit with Louise and the kids before heading home. I dropped in at our local Four Square shop which isn't as cheap as the supermarket but it does have a few great specials each week. This week the apples and butter were a great price. I also bought a few other provisions including more milk which is always cheapest there. It was good to be able to make the best use of the van that I could, while I could.
So what was it like driving again after nearly two weeks? My daughter was worried that I would have forgotten how to drive! Not so. I eased back into the driver's seat surprisingly easily and noticed how quickly I reached my destinations in comparison with the past couple of weeks. However, it didn't make me hanker for more and I actually feel fine about not using the van or car unless it's absolutely necessary. That also means accepting that sometimes it is necessary and, on those occasions, it's good to have the option.
I know I'll probably need to use it some time over the weekend, as I bought a breadmaker at the online auction site for $25 and I need to pick it up from Cambridge. I could bus there, but that probably isn't the best use of my time. I'm still working on my decision about that. Watch this space!
So what was it like driving again after nearly two weeks? My daughter was worried that I would have forgotten how to drive! Not so. I eased back into the driver's seat surprisingly easily and noticed how quickly I reached my destinations in comparison with the past couple of weeks. However, it didn't make me hanker for more and I actually feel fine about not using the van or car unless it's absolutely necessary. That also means accepting that sometimes it is necessary and, on those occasions, it's good to have the option.
I know I'll probably need to use it some time over the weekend, as I bought a breadmaker at the online auction site for $25 and I need to pick it up from Cambridge. I could bus there, but that probably isn't the best use of my time. I'm still working on my decision about that. Watch this space!
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Wednesday woes?
Not really woes, just alliterating again. My daughter is unwell and home sick from school, but that hasn't been a problem. She's feeling a lot better now and the bright side is that we don't have to bus to volleyball tonight!
Another sort of woe which has a bright side is that the optometrist phoned to say my mother's new lenses are ready to be fitted to her glasses. That means I need to take her into town and that means using the car. She can't cycle and would not fit in the fancy new trolley - although it would be fun trying! I could probably take her on the bus in the wheelchair at a pinch, but since I have the census stuff to take back anyway, I decided to put both birds in the same bush and kill them with one stone! That's a very mixed up metaphor to say that I will bite the bullet and drive the van or car to do both jobs on Thursday afternoon. At least it's only going to be one outing. Oh well...
Once my husband and son finally arrived home at 5.30 from cricket and work on the motorbike, I was able to bike up to the vets to get the much needed cat food supplies. Fortunately, they're open til 6pm. I mixed it in with collecting our Wednesday night takeaways which were near the vets. The happy surprise was when my son offered to cycle up with me. It surprised me as he'd only just arrived home after a long day at school and cricket practice. We had a lovely time cycling there and back together - which made me realise that the bussing and biking thing has another benefit... family time together.
Another sort of woe which has a bright side is that the optometrist phoned to say my mother's new lenses are ready to be fitted to her glasses. That means I need to take her into town and that means using the car. She can't cycle and would not fit in the fancy new trolley - although it would be fun trying! I could probably take her on the bus in the wheelchair at a pinch, but since I have the census stuff to take back anyway, I decided to put both birds in the same bush and kill them with one stone! That's a very mixed up metaphor to say that I will bite the bullet and drive the van or car to do both jobs on Thursday afternoon. At least it's only going to be one outing. Oh well...
Once my husband and son finally arrived home at 5.30 from cricket and work on the motorbike, I was able to bike up to the vets to get the much needed cat food supplies. Fortunately, they're open til 6pm. I mixed it in with collecting our Wednesday night takeaways which were near the vets. The happy surprise was when my son offered to cycle up with me. It surprised me as he'd only just arrived home after a long day at school and cricket practice. We had a lovely time cycling there and back together - which made me realise that the bussing and biking thing has another benefit... family time together.
Tuesday's trip
On Tuesday I only had cause to leave the house once. I was involved in a book meeting at home for most of the day and, after that ended, I suddenly realised that I needed to post the birthday card for my mother-in-law's 70th birthday. There are post boxes at each end of our street and I knew the one by the library had been emptied at 1pm. I wasn't sure if the one at the other end of the street was emptied later or not. I cycled that way to find out and was pleasantly surprised to make it on time. That ones not cleared until 6pm so I had plenty of time. However, I also needed to pick some 'on hold' books up from the library which meant cycling past my daughter's high school in 'rush hour' which turned out to be quite dangerous due to all the people with cars parked on each side of the road outside the school. I cycled to the library without incident, although the outcome could have been different if I wasn't watching when a car decided to turn in front of me. Fortunately I was going slow enough to stop and give the driver the eye roll! I don't think he noticed or even cared. I made it home just before my son arrived home on the bus - early this time because the connection between the two buses worked well. I have just checked and seen that this also occurred last Tuesday, so perhaps that means it will be a good experience bus-wise for him after school each Tuesday. (However, I have probably jinxed that by putting the suggestion in writing.)
The biking and bussing question did come up during the day though, because my census supervisor wants all the materials (very heavy) back to him by Friday. There is no way I can do that by bike or bus and he wasn't willing or able to get them from my place due to the fact that I also needed a debrief at the office. I didn't feel assertive enough to argue the point, but I was honest about my car free challenge. That didn't create any empathy so I just had to decide that I would have to drive there on Thursday. Later that night my husband showed me a fancy little trailer that he is making so that I can carry heavyish shopping items behind the bike. I trialled it (unloaded) and it seems to work well. However, it's not quite ready ands a few tweaks. It might be possible to ride to the meeting with the census meeting after all - but the jury's still out!
The biking and bussing question did come up during the day though, because my census supervisor wants all the materials (very heavy) back to him by Friday. There is no way I can do that by bike or bus and he wasn't willing or able to get them from my place due to the fact that I also needed a debrief at the office. I didn't feel assertive enough to argue the point, but I was honest about my car free challenge. That didn't create any empathy so I just had to decide that I would have to drive there on Thursday. Later that night my husband showed me a fancy little trailer that he is making so that I can carry heavyish shopping items behind the bike. I trialled it (unloaded) and it seems to work well. However, it's not quite ready ands a few tweaks. It might be possible to ride to the meeting with the census meeting after all - but the jury's still out!
Monday, March 14, 2011
Monday brings Meaning
Sorry about my innate need to alliterate in the headings! I have had a slight revelation while hanging out the washing, so wanted to record it here in case I forget it later. One of the unexpected changes that has occurred since my bike n bus riding experiment is that I am slowing down on some of my decision making processes. For some that might be a bad thing, but for me it's a good thing. Specifically, I have noticed that since I can't just jump in a vehicle and drive to the supermarket, I have changed the way I think about shopping. Twice now, I have made a list of what I "need" at the local shop or supermarket. On both occasions, I have reconsidered the list in the light of how much I can carry on a bike or bus and how urgent the items are in comparison with my writing workload. Looking at the list again, I see that none of the items are urgent and there is actually no need to go shopping at all. Interesting...
(written later...) This afternoon I ended up going to the supermarket anyway. I phoned my mum who is in a rest home and she needed some shopping done so I decided to do that before the kids came home from school. The question was bike or bus? I tossed between the two for a while and even nearly biked. However, I ended up bussing which turned out to be a good idea as I, like Baa Baa Black Sheep, had three bags full by the end of the experience. I bussed to the supermarket which is nearest to mum's place and then walked back across the bridge with my load. It was a hot day so the walk was pretty tiring but it's always great to arrive! I dropped off mum's shopping and had a short visit before walking back up to the Hamilton East shopping centre to wait for the bus home. Fortunately, I was well within my two hour return ticket price so I made the whole journey for $2.30 plus a decent amount of sweat - and arrived home with half an hour to spare before my daughter arrived to give an account of her day at school. I had the same bus driver each way, a nice man who I've seen on that route before. When I caught the bus used some spare cash to top up my electronic bus card. The minimum is $10 and I only had $9. But then I remembered the Australian $1 coin that I'd stashed in a secret pocket after my trip to see Oprah in Sydney. It had been saving itself for this moment, I thought, creating $10 where only $9 had been before. The bus driver spotted it immediately and asked if I had another $1. I didn't, so he happily accepted it, saying he would keep it with "all the other weird foreign money" he receives from hopeful passengers. I plan to stay home for the rest of the day and recover! By the way, thanks for the comment Vicki Malicki! Glad to know I've inspired you to bigger and better things!
(written later...) This afternoon I ended up going to the supermarket anyway. I phoned my mum who is in a rest home and she needed some shopping done so I decided to do that before the kids came home from school. The question was bike or bus? I tossed between the two for a while and even nearly biked. However, I ended up bussing which turned out to be a good idea as I, like Baa Baa Black Sheep, had three bags full by the end of the experience. I bussed to the supermarket which is nearest to mum's place and then walked back across the bridge with my load. It was a hot day so the walk was pretty tiring but it's always great to arrive! I dropped off mum's shopping and had a short visit before walking back up to the Hamilton East shopping centre to wait for the bus home. Fortunately, I was well within my two hour return ticket price so I made the whole journey for $2.30 plus a decent amount of sweat - and arrived home with half an hour to spare before my daughter arrived to give an account of her day at school. I had the same bus driver each way, a nice man who I've seen on that route before. When I caught the bus used some spare cash to top up my electronic bus card. The minimum is $10 and I only had $9. But then I remembered the Australian $1 coin that I'd stashed in a secret pocket after my trip to see Oprah in Sydney. It had been saving itself for this moment, I thought, creating $10 where only $9 had been before. The bus driver spotted it immediately and asked if I had another $1. I didn't, so he happily accepted it, saying he would keep it with "all the other weird foreign money" he receives from hopeful passengers. I plan to stay home for the rest of the day and recover! By the way, thanks for the comment Vicki Malicki! Glad to know I've inspired you to bigger and better things!
Sunday at home
I didn't have much call to go out and about today - on bike, bus or otherwise - as I had several writing assignments that I had to complete before the end of the weekend. My son was at another cricket tournament/trial thingy at the university nearby, but he was transported to and fro via my husband's motorbike. My daughter arrived back from her friend's place by car, so I didn't need to figure out anything there either. However, she and I did have a short bike ride to the local shops to get some milk, bread and bananas just before it got too dark to ride safely. It looked like it could rain at any minute, but that never eventuated and we stayed dry. Hopefully, our bad habit of getting into the car or van to go that very short distance has well and truly been stamped out - even if it means travelling in the rain.
Sunday, March 13, 2011
Saturday Sports
Saturday is cricket day in our family. Most of our games this season have been at the university sports fields near our home which makes it convenient for walking or biking. However, biking with a cricket bag can be tricky so my husband took our son on the motorbike and my daughter and I cycled up to the game. I love cricket scorekeeping and that's how I spend a large part of every Saturday during the season. My husband often umpires our son's games, sharing the role with other dads from the team. On Saturday he had to go back and forth to home on the motorbike a couple of times because we had some things we wanted to bid for on internet auctions. (We weren't the winning bidders though). I also cycled home during the lunch break to have some time at home (and a well earned cup of tea) and sort out our daughter who was off to a friend's place for the weekend. Not very eventful, but a bit of a landmark for me of going a whole week without using the van or car. Yay! Congrats to me.
Forgot to mention one eventful bit. There was so much to carry home via the bike that I left my first aid kit behind at the cricket. I had taken it out of the bag to help a boy from the other team who was reeling under the mixed battering of three bee stings and too much sun on a Scottish complexion. After a few phone calls I tracked the first aid kit down at last. Phew! We will be reunited on Saturday at the next cricket match.
Forgot to mention one eventful bit. There was so much to carry home via the bike that I left my first aid kit behind at the cricket. I had taken it out of the bag to help a boy from the other team who was reeling under the mixed battering of three bee stings and too much sun on a Scottish complexion. After a few phone calls I tracked the first aid kit down at last. Phew! We will be reunited on Saturday at the next cricket match.
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