Wanted: Mud Guards

Knowing I could only carry so much when I go to the grocery store, Anthony offer to take the K-9 Carrier to the store with me. So yay! I loaded up on groceries knowing we had a way to carry it. So we both go on our bikes and headed up to the grocery store. It was a rather nice day for a change. The sun was out and it wasn't too windy.

When we go to the store, Anthony showed me how I should lock up my bike in case I rode up there on my own in the future. Since I have the quick release tires, he brought along the long lock to wrap around both tires. Then off I went to grocery shop.

Usually I just use the hand basket because that was about all I could carry with me anyways but today I used the cart. Oh yes, the cart. The cart is similar to the ones that we have in the States, except, and I noticed this on the carts when we were at two other stores, that all 4 wheels moved independently!! No big deal you say?

Well, I was down to the end of the store and realized I needed something near the beginning. So I'm pushing the cart down the aisle perpendicular to all the aisles and what do I see? People pushing their carts out of the aisles and attempting to turn. Their whole body is contorted to try to turn the cart that is half turning and half gliding sideways, it looked like carts trying to turn on an ice rink! That's why it was amusing to have carts that have all 4 wheels turn independently, it's like the grocery store is entirely on ice. Pushing the carts around was like drift car racing in the grocery store with carts! The Australians must be use to it but I about plow into people every time I use those carts.

So I've loaded up on groceries and head towards the bike and carrier and what do I see? It's raining!!! Never ridden in the rain yet so I'm panicking a little plus it's gotten colder all of a sudden. But I suck it up, put on my helmet and gloves, and get on my bike. We get home without incident, well, with the exception that both our butts are wet and dirty from the bike tires kicking up mucky water. Lovely. And the grocery bags in the carrier are also splattered from the tire spray. Fortunately we had this test run before the kids actually got into the carrier. They would have been miserably soaked and really dirty if it was them in there instead of groceries! So now Anthony will have to come up with a contraption to cover up the mesh front when it rains.

It rained for most of the afternoon then later when it was all dried outside, Anthony dragged me out for a bike ride to the jetty by the water to watch the sunset. How wonder is that? We're in Melbourne and it's a bike ride away for us to sit along the water to watch the sunset and it's something we could do whenever we want to. Still surreal sometimes.

Well, back to reality tomorrow where Anthony is off to work and I'm back to try to clean up this old house and make it feel more like home.

- julie