CLC18 Ride 4: Course Change
Sunday, April 1, 2018 8 miles
Today was going to be a family day. A brother and his family were visiting from out of town, so those of us living out here on the Best Coast – three other siblings, mother, a cousin – were gathering for a late brunch.
That meant I had the morning to take a ride. I’m finally recovered enough from a cold (thanks for sharing, Suzanne!) to do a somewhat longer ride. I have a general idea of doing a regular loop I hadn’t done in a while to see if there are new ways of showing you old stuff.
When I stopped at a light before crossing a road that leads to downtown, however, I noticed other cyclists with panniers and several pedestrians with backpacks and bags. What’s going on? Oh yeah – the weekly farmer’s market is today. One person was returning with some beautiful flowers. Ding! Lightbulb goes off over head. Flowers would be a lovely thing to take to brunch. And since I’m taking a few extra days off this weekend perhaps some real food could be cooked.
So, course change. I weave my way through people, parked cars, leashed pets, strollers, wagons, and other bikes to get closer to the market. I park and do my usual wander to see what’s there, sampling the most wonderful strawberries and oranges. The chard is spectacular. That asparagus looks good. A cafe and grill has been added since I was last here. The bread line is long. A three-piece band is playing some bluegrass with many children standing before them, enthralled, and an older couple doing a slow dance together. Someone is going around with a PA system announcing the kids’ Easter Egg hunt at all the booths will start at 10:30; I better get out of here before then. See, I haven’t been to the farmer’s market in a while because I get overwhelmed by the choices and I don’t have the patience to deal with the crowds.
I go back to the asparagus and then realize I don’t have enough cash to buy it, nor to buy any flowers. Ack. So I make the supreme sacrifice for my family. I ride out to an ATM and come back – I backtrack! And not only that, I am at the market during the egg hunt, and it is jammed. I take a few breaths, gather some patience, then wade in to get the flowers. I am encouraged by an older gal with a strong accent to buy the flowers I actually want, two bunch five dollar. I get five bunches for fifteen dollars and we’re both happy. I move on to see what vegetables I want but all I can handle is the asparagus. I then flee to home and thence to the bosom of my family, where I explain often and at length about the sacrifices that I made for them this morning.
Kathleen Jones
tricycle tricycle tricycle I want to ride my tricycle tricycle tricycle I want to ride my tricycle I want to ride my trike I want to ride my tricycle I want to ride it where I like (And I like to ride my bicycle too)
8 response to "CLC18 Ride 4: Course Change"
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Your TransAm looked perfect!! Beautiful flowers too!
Thanks, Janet. I was glad I could squeeze in the TransAm before brunch.
And no way you can’t take good photos of those flowers.
-Kathleen
Hello, yer Goddessness.
Nice market! I think I recognize the Hollister “we grow what we sell” sign from a farmers’ market up here. Also interesting to see strawberries. I tried to find some in the Marin Civic Center market last week when I pedaled through, but none were to be had. I hope the brunch gang was suitably appreciative of your efforts!
Bill,
The strawberries were ginormous, so I didn’t bother buying any. The one I tasted was small, and flavorful.
Everyone was very good about listening to me. The first time.
-Kathleen
Love the pics of all those fruits and veggies! And I know what you mean abou the crowds.
Suzanne,
While our supermarkets have wonderful produce all year, seeing the same thing in a farmer’s market is somehow much nicer.
-Kathleen
Nice ride, Kathleen. You really are a trooper to go back during the Easter Egg hunt – a far better woman than me. I could not do it – but I guess that is why you are the Goddess, and I am not. We had a similar US map on our playground in elementary school. As little kids we would play a game where a person stood at the top and yelled out a colour – then everyone had to run to a state with that colour before the person at the top tagged them. Then, when we were a little older, we called out states. I kicked arse at that game because I was a nerd and knew all the states and could figure out the furthest one away from where anyone was standing. A nerdy third-grader with strategy was tough to beat! Thanks for the memories! My school was torn down a long time ago, and there is now a Walgreens on that corner. Em
I think you would go back into the crowd if it was for your mother too, so don’t give me that.
I love that map of the US. Alaska and Hawaii are there but are in generally-correct geographical location, so couldn’t get it in the frame. You are a nerd, kiddo, but I wouldn’t want to pit myself against your strategies at any age. My cousin’s wife got US Presidents placemats for her boys when they were growing up. She’s the one who ended up learning them in order with dates.