Friday

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).