Sleepovers at Grandma's house are always fun but they also come with doing something exciting with the grandchild. Julia, who will be 10 in October had her turn this week and what were we going to do to make it exciting. Julia lives with her brothers and parents in Branchton - this is a 35 km ride from Waterdown and her older brothers have done the trip with Grandpa so now it's her turn. Wednesday we just cycled around town, doing the lunch thing and shopping which is what little girls like to do best. Thursday morning comes and it's a great day out - blue sky, not too hot and just Julia and Grandma with their bikes ready to do a ride. We pack peanut butter sandwiches in case people along the route aren't home to have lunch with. Julia is going to take the lead so Grandma doesn't go too fast and to protect her from the vehicles that will pass us. Once we get away from the busy section we can ride side by side and can have a conversation. This will be the farthest that Julia has ever biked and we talk about this - we have done the school bikeathon together and that is only 20 kms. We talk about grandparents and that they are usually old and don't do this type of activity with their grandchildren. She knows of only one other classmate whose grandparents cycle with him and Julia is impressed with this. There are 50 years between Julia and myself - she can't wrap her mind around this age difference and tells me she is proud of the fact that her grandmother is doing 5 weeks of the seatosea bike trip. Her grandpa did 8 weeks of the 2005 tour but he can do everything in her eyes - he is so active. We make frequent stops - Julia is riding a mountain bike with only a few gears while I'm on my TREK so there is no fair comparison between the equipment and we are heading into the wind. None of the people we had hoped to stop in at were home so that was a disappointment. We used the bathroom at her aunt and uncles home and ate our sandwich there just making ourselves at home. No sooner had we arrived at her home, Julia was all set to go swimming with her dad and brothers and she was scheduled to play soccer at night. Julia was proud of herself and still had energy to burn...
I am comparing this ride for me to the stories I have read on the blogs where cyclists are relating how others have come alongside them and urged them on, riding a lot slower than they normally do just to offer moral support for the slower cyclist. It's wonderful to read of the community that has formed among the group and that many have chosen to ride "intergenerational" - a wonderful way to meet people all with a similar goal.
My workout happened on the way home - made it home in record time, a steady tailwind and knowing that we were going out for supper and I had to be ready. A great day spent with a grand-daughter. Later tonight the grandchildren who live at the house were we have been living for the last two weeks arrive home from holidays so next week grandma gets to spend time with them before heading out to Denver. How blessed I am!
I may be remiss for labelling this a "granny ride" but I am speaking only for myself. I realize there are many grandmas on tour who are excellent cyclists.
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