First day of school, once again

2016: Sixth Grade

2015: Fifth Grade

2014: Fourth Grade

2013: Third Grade

2012: Second Grade

2011: First Grade

2010: Kindergarten

So far, so good, starting each first day of school by bike. She rode a different bike for each year except between second and third grades. Each of these bikes will experience renewed adoration as Lil Sis grows her way up the chain. Next year, I'll have two photos of this type to make.

Elementary school by bike

Big Sister just wrapped up her elementary school experience. So proud of the big person that she's becoming.

First day of school, 5th grade edition

For each first day of school starting with kindergarten, we've ridden to school. This final year of elementary school was no different.

Bewilderingly, the first day of school is a half day on a Friday, effectively stealing the last weekend of summer vacation. I can't imagine that much will be learned, yet this is the second year in a row that this has been the case, so it's apparently not a fluke.

Also bewildering, was when we arrived to discover new picnic tables installed close to the bike rack. The tables greatly impede access to the already lousy wheelbender bike rack, rendering the rack nearly useless. This is a textbook example of designing to fail. It may be no coincidence that we were the only ones who rode to school today.

First day of school

As incomprehensible and summer-stealingly ridiculous as it sounds, today, mathematically not quite halfway through August, is the first day of school. We made the most of it, and had a nice family ride to get there. Little sis was a bit confused, especially when we towed her big sister's bike home, due to after school activities that will preclude the possibility of riding home.

Bike to School Day

Flowers as cargo for the overlapping Teacher Appreciation Day.

Today is bike to school day. It was a perfect morning with cool but pleasant weather, and we had a good ride. We saw much more biking activity than usual, and were happily surprised to find the racks full at school. It seems as though Bike to School Day has gotten bigger around here in the past couple of years.

New green pedals.

First day of school

Riding to school.

Today was the first day of school. We had a nice ride along the trail on a perfect morning. It's hard to believe that summer vacation is already over, but it is good to remember that summer itself still has more than a month left.

Locking up. There were three other bikes at the rack.

For whatever reason, the first day of school is only a half day, so I picked her up for a picnic lunch on the way home. We ate our sandwiches while talking about the cell structure of plants, among other potential science fair ideas. Afterwards, we rode the trail home. Here's to another great school year!

Ride to school

Last week we missed the official national bike to school day because of work-related obligations. So we rolled the clock forward to today. We don't really put much stock in a single annual bike to school day around here, so there will be many more bike to school days.

Visit to Albuquerque, Part 2

Three girls in a treehouse.

Following our Paseo del Bosque Trail ride (detailed in Part 1 here), we did a bit more exploration around Albuquerque. It's a pleasant city that somehow feels smaller than its population of a bit more than half a million might suggest. Traditional New Mexican architecture abounds, and really contributes to a well-defined sense of community. The way space is used here, both public and private, differs from that of other areas of the Rocky Mountain West enough so that it feels as though it is another culture. Sure, there are malls and tract houses here and there, but much of Albuquerque has a very distinct flavor that I find very appealing.

My brother constructed this treehouse in a very artisanal manner, typical of many of the projects he's built around his house.

Look Daddy, no hands.

With little precipitation, old Volkswagens seemingly live forever here.

A little early morning hula-hooping in pajamas and cowgirl boots.

She's still got it.

An Alexander Calder-esque mobile of my brother's creation.

Scout claimed this as her cozy spot during our visit. 

Convex mirror fun.

Albuquerque is apparently experimenting with a variety of bike infrastructure implementations. Unsurprisingly, many of the bike projects are infused with art, either in a supportive or integrative capacity. A wide variety of styles and designs of bike racks pepper the landscape, along with more ambitious projects, such as bicycle boulevards and trail systems. I saw a lot of ambient bike use, including families on bikes, commuters, crusty old-timers on weathered cruisers, college kids on fixies, and even a bright red Big Dummy for which I was too slow with my camera. It's a great city for biking, as hills are gentle and key destinations are within easy reach. I wasn't able to sample the bike shops of the area, such as Two Wheel Drive, but I hope to during the next visit.

Lil Sis appreciated this sleek bronze jaguar bench.

Bike racks in front of the Albuquerque Museum.

This area was full of hipster hangouts and people on bikes. 

A Kokopelli-inspired bike rack.

The morning that we left, we accompanied Chris and Hazel on their ride to school. It was a perfectly clear Albuquerque morning, and we even spotted a hot air balloon on the horizon. Riding to school is fun any time, but it's especially enjoyable to see two eager seven year-olds pacing each other, while not forgetting to stop at stop signs. It's hard to believe how quickly they grow into autonomous big kids.

After a seven-hour drive, we were home. It was a bummer to leave a 75 F degree spring day in Albuquerque and arrive to a less-than-welcoming 24 F degrees in Denver. I like snow as much as the next person in Colorado, and I know we need the precipitation, but after three straight weeks of Spring snowstorms and unseasonably cold temperatures, I'm done with it. Here's to the hopeful arrival of actual Spring weather.

The morning after was a chilly ride on frozen disappointment.

Our annual backyard finches have already had their chicks, who are cuddled for warmth on a cold day.