30 Days of Biking Begins and We Buy Ourselves a Canoe

After doing the 30 days of biking challenge last fall we wanted to try it again in the spring. Due to a 14 hour work day this month, that will prevent me from biking, I opted out this time. It doesn't mean I can't still bike with Scott on day 1.

What a team player.

We've really enjoyed using the new buffered bike lanes on Washington since they were completed last year. I just makes you feel so damn cosmopolitan.

Of course we went to Meadow and I's favorite place: the library.

But first we stopped by Macy's Flower Show. After seeing how much Meadow loved the flowers at the Como Conservatory I thought she might enjoy this. It was super crowded, but Meadow still enjoyed the plants. 

The kid loves smelling flowers.

Hello, city of skyways.

I went to take some photos for my documentary photography project, the Downtown East Project, while Brooke and Meadow perused the library.

After biking around the artist formerly known as parking lot city I met up with Brooke and Meadow. This was a great start to 30 Days of Biking.

On Day 2 I biked to our DFL sentate district convention. The temps had dipped down overnight and my fingers froze off on the way.

Politics.

This was kind of boring, even for a politcs junky, but, heck, I got a bike ride in.

When I got home Brooke was cleaning the upstairs closet. I put up some shelves for her to be helpful.

We brought these shelves with us from our old apartment. I knew they'd come in handy some day.

Every year I go through our closets to reorganize/purge. I still like to rotate Meadow's toys to keep her interested in them, but lately her toys were just being tossed into a chaotic mess in our big closet. With the new shelves the closet is now easily accessible.

I had left the DFL convention hours earlier, but I noticed on Facebook that my good friend Alexis was still there. We invited him over for some fried avocado and queso blanco tacos. I must admit this was so good.

We pretty much ate everything.

Brooke put Meadow to bed while Alexis and I chatted about nerdy Minneapolis politics.

Blowing our minds with good beer and random facts .

The next morning Meadow made us breakfast. I've been slowly making more handmade play foods for her.

The cereal queen, wide awake and ready for the day.

Alexis invited us to his church. We waited outside for him while he was on his way.

We biked down potential Queen Avenue Bike Boulevard that will hopefully be built out someday.

I wish winter would've been a bit longer, but it's great to get back on our bikes nearly every day.

Christ Redeemer is an ELCA Lutheran Church just like the one Brooke's family goes to. They run, Venture North, the only bike shop on the Northside.

I really liked the sermon and church service. I'm a recovering Catholic, but Meadow and Brooke love going to church.

The last time we were at Venture North Meadow spotted this pink knock off Hello Kitty bicycle. She fondly remembered the bike and asked if we could go in the building so she could see it again.

We need to find out how much this is. It would make a great birthday gift.

When I had my brakes adjusted they moved Meadow's seat. I didn't realize it until I saw photos from last week's ride that her seat was tilted back again. I fixed that.

We would've went on another ride with Alexis and the crew, but we had plans to get a canoe.

We hadn't had lunch so we packed some cheese and crackers.

Right as we were going to pick up an aluminum canoe in the south metro we saw a listing for a big Old Town canoe. It was an hour drive west in Annandale, but looked in great shape. 

When Scott called saying he was interested, the guy was surprised to get a response so quickly. He had only posted the canoe 10 minutes ago.

It was a very windy on the way home, but our jerry-rigged roof rack worked perfectly. All those years with our kayaks made it a cake walk.

When we got home we checked out my tulips growing while spiderman climbed next to me.

I made a very tasty Laotion Green Curry. Since our wok bit the dust I've been using our paella pan instead. It does the job.

I grabbed her Vactionland toys for Meadow while dinner cooked.

She's got to get ready for cottage and camping season.