Since acquiring Beaatrice (my Trice) at the beginning of last October, I've kept her on our balcony (we live on the third floor of a four-storey block of flats), as I feel it's too risky to keep her locked up outside, or in our bike shed where others have access. Keeping Beaatrice on our balcony during the winter months, while not the best solution, is a satisfactory temporary arrangement, despite having to carry her through our flat twice a day, and up and down the stairs. I know she’s safe there.

We have storage space in the cellar, and some occupants of apartments in B house also have their storage space in our cellar. They're wooden frames with chicken wire, which can be locked. Of course ours is pretty full, no room for a trike there! But a neighbour upstairs has his cellar space empty, but with a lock on it:

Long before I decided to get a trike, I asked him if he would rent his storage space to us, but he said no. Earlier this year, when I bumped into him on the stairs, I explained our problem with storage space for the trike, and asked him to reconsider, to rent the space to me for the summer months, promising I’d be ready to move her out the minute he requested. He said he’d think about it. Meanwhile in conversation with several other neighbours, they told me similar stories (no, they don’t have trikes!). They also asked him if they could rent his space in the cellar, and had been told no.

A few weeks went by, Easter came and went, and one afternoon last week I met him again on the stairs. He said to me:

‘Uh, it’s no go I’m afraid.’
I said ‘you mean the cellar?’
‘Yes, no go. Thanks’ (odd, but they sometimes say that, not ‘sorry’, but ‘thanks’!)

What could I say? ‘Well, you rotten #&%/&?€, it’d only be for 4 months!’? (And I’d keep it clean, and I’d vacate it immediately you say!) No, no point bothering. I couldn’t even ask him why he’d decided not to rent it to me – that’s his business, not mine. But if it’s because he’s said no to the other neighbours, I’d counter that with the fact that I’d be storing just one item, and it’s easier to get someone to remove one item, than a storage space full of stuff. Plus the fact that I’d put it in writing and sign it for him, promising to keep my side of the deal.

Ah well, our hopes for an easy solution are dashed, and for now we’re stuck with the problem. We’ll just have to hope something will come up.

Airport cafe, at last!

It was on the last but one Saturday of March that I pointed Beaatrice in the direction of the airport for light aircraft, and had a very pleasant trip there, although it was still a bit cold on the toes. This time I was able to rest indoors and enjoy a cup of coffee and something good with it. The girl behind the counter remembered me from the first time I was there last October, and as we then talked about E, who often visits there, she could tell me he was there just the day before! So I missed him by one day!

I took this picture on the way back (similar to the one I took on the 10th, but now all the ice has gone).

I was disappointed to hear from the girl that they don’t do skydiving on a regular basis any more at that airport. They’ve gone elsewhere. Pity, ’cos it was always nice to see them drifting slowly down. Having tried it myself (at that very same airport) I know what they’re experiencing. But one thing we are planning to do is to have a gliding trip at another small airport just an hour’s drive north from here. Something new and exciting to look forward to this summer!

Taking the long way home

Tuesday was such a nice day that after work I decided to make a detour instead of going home by the shortest route. Heading roughly northeast, I reached the park, and turned in a more northerly direction, arriving at the same destination as on my No day off.

Most of the snow has gone, but there was still a ski track circuit passing close to the café there, obviously maintained by the local authorities, and quite a number of skiers still making the most of it (I'd already hung my skis up long ago!).

The paths in the park on my way home were mostly snow-free, if a bit soft in places where there was run-off from snow melting beside the path, and once or twice a patch of rough snow to plough through. Apart from that it was a very enjoyable ride!

Restful weekend and wet start to the week

The sleet banished all thoughts of a pleasure trip with Beaatrice Saturday morning, but Sunday began with bright sunshine. Unfortunately time was a bit tight for a ride, as we were planning on making it to a noon lecture at the "bike, health and hike" exhibition. The sunshine didn't last however; at some point after midday it started snowing again, with quite big wet flakes. By late evening we had a couple of inches of wet blanket. It looked pretty, on the trees and all, but very wet underfoot, as I found out when I went to the local gym.

This morning (Monday) it didn't look like it would be too much trouble with the trike, so I got going early and ploughed my way through puddles and patches of slush. I made it to the office without any problems.

Overtriked!

Monday brought good weather, favourable temperatures, and an excuse to make a longer trip than normal (the ride to work): I needed to visit a customer's premises for one job, which was as far again from home as it is to the office. I triked back after lunch, stopped by the office to finish off a couple of things, then headed for home. R had been away from school all day with flu, and had finished the library book I'd borrowed for him, so as it was overdue, I decided to jump back in the driving seat and head for the nearest library to return it. Maybe my legs still haven't got used to it again after my break because of the colder weather and my sick leave, 'cos by the time I got home for the second time, they were telling me "No more!" I really wouldn't like to overdo it and do serious damage to my knees or something.

Tuesday was a normal day, just the usual trip to work, which is getting easier and easier daily as they sweep up more grit (it really does slow you down!) But what surprises me is that I haven't had a single puncture since fitting those chunky tread tyres on the front and the studded one on the back. In November I had four punctures in three days!

Missed a day - but made up for it the next!

I had a day of rest on Saturday (10th), but when during Sunday morning the weather brightened up and the clouds cleared away, I couldn't resist the thought of a ride with Beaatrice.

I thought I'd head northeast first, on the same route as to the airport for light aircraft, where I've triked a couple of times in the autumn. Then I'd take the road east, to a suburb where my friends M and K live (names changed to protect identity).

The going was good in places, but there's still some grit on some pavements from when we had ice and snow, and they haven't got round to clearing it all away. Where it had been cleared, it was a refreshing change from the constant noise it makes as it rattles round with the tyres, under the mudguards. It even flies in all directions, so it's a good thing I've got goggles!

When I reached my destination, M and K weren't home! M was visiting friends just up the road, and K was on afternoon shift. Some other time, then. I could have rung first before I left home, but it made a nice round trip anyway, as I made my way home on the main eastern artery leading into town. Well, not literally on it, as bikes aren't allowed (unless they have a motor!) but on smaller roads and streets, however I could find my way in the general direction of the centre.

It was quite a long trip, almost all in one go (without a decent break for a rest and regain some energy, which I would have got if M and K had been home), and by the time I got home my legs felt like they'd had enough!

It just ain't natural!

Thursday evening, being well recovered from my flu, I decided to resume visits to the local gym. With the gym being only half a km away, it was too short a ride to do on the trike (and anyway I wouldn't want to risk leaving it parked outside the place for any length of time), I decided to go on my old DF (diamond frame) bike. I hadn't ridden it for over 3 months, and as I set off, it felt really awkward, sitting so high up in that upright position, leaning over to the handlebars and trying to steer in a straight line. I wasn't used to having to keep my balance. I almost felt clumsy!

I did my stuff in the gym, keeping it short for this first time after almost 3 weeks' break, mounted my rusty steed and headed for home. I feel I could never go back full time to what feels like such an unnatural riding position.