The start of something new...

Life's phases usher in new opportunities

Hello world! I’m new here.

And I’m very excited because I’m about to embark on a fun adventure. I’d love to take you along with me. And Penny. Penny is my 7-year-old Shorkie (Shih Tzu/Yorkshire Terrier mix). She’s my best little buddy.

Janine and Penny

The reason I’m here is because I suddenly find myself “of a certain age”. That can mean a lot of things, but for me it means:

-I’m about to become an empty nester as Kid 2 prepares for college in the fall. This means more freedom and opportunities. After two decades of “momming” I’m ready to see new places in new ways.

-I don’t take my good health for granted. (More on that later.)

-Bike riding is my “happy place”. It has been for as long as I can remember. It’s an amazing way to experience a place, whether familiar or brand new. All the senses are engaged.

-I have an thirst for adventure and exploration that I am now finally able to try to quench.

-I aim to remain fit (fit enough, not CRAZY fit!) and I’m not finding myself represented much anymore. I’m a 50+ slightly “fluffy” lady who wants to have fun staying healthy, but not experience the torment or drudgery of most gym-based fitness regimens available.

So here’s the plan. Penny and I (as well as my husband, Greg) are going to travel the country - and possibly beyond - by bicycle. We’re going to find the best paved trails the U.S. has to offer and check them out. We will dive into the history and culture of the area, check out the local coffee and craft beer scene, stay in interesting lodging, and get a little exercise while we’re at it. Sounds fun, no? Greg and I do both still have jobs, so we will work around those until true retirement comes in a few years (ah, maybe 7 if we’re lucky).

My fleet currently consists of three bikes: a Nordic Track spin bike in my basement, which is great for pedaling on cold or wet days; my 30-year-old Trek that has been my friend and companion longer than most people I’ve known; and a beyond-super-cool (like MEGA cool!) 1-speed “Fat Tire” cruiser bike by New Belgium Brewery. They make a limited number of unique bikes each year and my dad won this one in a raffle. He gifted it to me a couple years ago and it’s one of my all-time favorite possessions. [NOTE: I intend to add a new bike to this mix very soon. An e-bike! I have one picked out, but need to do a little bit more research first.] I will bring one or two of these bikes on each adventure. But not the spin bike, in case that wasn’t obvious.

We plan to carry Penny along with us in a front basket, but we are also about to purchase a trailer to give her more space. Hopefully she will find this satisfactory. We recognize that finding lodging with a pet can be challenging, but we plan to be pretty creative. For now, the plan is to travel in our hybrid Toyota Highlander with a bike rack and find rooms along the way. However, we will carry camping gear for versatility and convenience in a pinch. We need to put a hitch and a bike rack on the back of the SUV. I should tell you right now that her name is “Ruby Pearl” and she’s a beautiful juicy red color.

I’m excited to start planning these adventures. And delighted that the hubby is keen to accompany me on this hair-brained scheme. But as they say, “Nothing ventured, nothing gained.” Let’s get ready to go FREEWHEELING!

Musical Inspiration:

“Life is either a daring adventure or nothing.” -Helen Keller