.day 19.

I was missing my bike so much this morning. I ride my bike everyday at home - it's my transportation, my freedom and how I move energy. Then my landlord called this afternoon to tell me she had a bike for me to borrow. Bike dreams do come true! She dropped off the bike at 12:50pm with VERY flat tires. All the stores here are closed for lunch from 1-3pm so I had to wait 2 painstaking hours to get the tires pumped up. 3pm finally came and I headed out to my favorite spot, zooming (I mean it's a commuter bike with a basket...I'm not sure if it can zoom. ha ha!) past a group of very serious retired Brits dressed like they were on a guided safari adventure (this is a strange but common occurrence in my town), with a huge smile on my face. My 40 min walk to where the river meets the ocean is only a 10 minute ride so I looped back and decided to ride a bit more. I took the Ecovia - a bike path connecting the towns of the Algarve region for a little bit to see how the bike handled the muddy roads. Once I reached my planned turn around point I didn't want to turn around, I kept riding. I rode all the way to the next town over, Cabanas. It's a ghost town this time of year, most of the year. Some developers got too excited with hopes of a new surge in tourism to the Algarve region and slapped up complex after complex of cookie cutter condos with unnecessary barred windows. My new friend in town, she owns a used bookstore and gives me endless travel ideas/inspirations/temptations every time I visit her, told me that for the most part the stacks of condos stay empty except for a few families renting one for the Easter holiday. It's sad to see implusive/disconnected development in such a beautiful place. I kept on the bike path, I wanted to see the waterfront. I found Cabanas to have a nice little boardwalk. It's about 3 blocks long and has about 4 cafe/bars and a beautiful view of the docked fishing boats, a narrow sandy beach and a small marshy island.  Listen to this if you need to set the mood. The marshy coastline and fishing boats had such a strong New England vibe to them. I made me think of spring time on the coast, taking trips up to Portland, Maine to visit my friend, Abbi.



I think I could live so many places, I fall in love easily with landscapes. I love being surrounded by mountains so enormous if makes me feel dizzy, overwhelmed by the smells of sage and the warm desert hues, trips down winding muddy country roads, laying on the beach with towering dunes of Cape Cod or soaking up the salty air and relaxing cadence of the ocean lapping up on the beach. Maybe that's why it's so easy for me to move but there is something truly magical about New England, its can be wild or ridigly regal and sometimes both. I felt that same wild energy on the boardwalk of Cabanas as the sun was setting and the damp chill was setting in. I just wanted to sit at the cafe with a glass of wine and enjoy the view a little longer but I had to I forced myself to turn back before it was going to be dark. I'll be back.




What place(s) captivate you? What's your favorite view?

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In other events, I started reading Lily Stockman's blog again, she always inspires me. She doesn't post there anymore but reading her posts again feels like reading old letters from a friend. Today is the first FULL moon of 2016, full moon in leo. What a way to start the year! I am dreaming about taking a bus/ferry ride over to Morocco (it's only 5 hours away), one of the great suggestions from my bookstore friend. Speaking of books, I'm traveling to Faro 3x a week for my metalsmith class which means a lot of time on the train. I found A Thousand Acres by Jane Smiley at the bookstore, a book I seen a few times but never picked up. I just started it, it's a story of a family farming in the Iowa which feels strange looking out the train window to see the ocean, salt marshes, and orchard after orchard of orange trees. I also just heard about this guy and his 100 days of self connection, such an interesting thought! I'm curious to watch more of his videos.

.n e w m o o n in libra.

"*NEW* MOON in Libra is here continuing to bring the energy of balance and attuning us to the nuances that mirror where change needs to occur. 

Our medicine for these times is self-love, forgiveness, and an active awareness in rewiring our unconscious responses into more conscious expressions of our truest Self. 

Opportunities abound so let’s summon patience and kindness for all."

“Listen with an open mind; speak from your truth. Let appreciation, kindness, and clarity define your connection to others."

via mysticmamma.com

.getting lost.

Yesterday I was working in a neighborhood that I’ve never been to before and because of this I had to take a new way home. I looked at the map before I left I assumed I would be able to figure it out, this is typical of me to assume I can figure it out. I can figure it out – it just almost always takes more time than I expect. I am an Aries so I need to figure things out for myself even if it is frustrating or takes more time. SO typical me moment, I started riding home and after about a mile of riding I began to feel like I wasn’t going the right direction anymore…thankfully some kind man stopped riding to redirect me. Since I rode past the original path I was on a different bike path that ended up being a conservation byway. It was beautiful – lush and green – running parallel with the Charles river. The view looked like I had been transported to the swampy south with the low hanging trees and the brimming river. Beautiful.

This has been a stressful week – there are transitions happening in my life with tight deadlines – I needed to “get lost” – I needed to just go for a bike ride and enjoy the view. If we (I) stop ourselves (myself) from reacting when plans/expectations stray the anticipated course we (I) can find some beautiful lessons/moments/ events RIGHT when we (I) need them.

Always trust that the Universe is taking care of you and giving you what you need.

So grateful.

.bianchi love.

Only a few short days until my bianchi and I are reunited!!!!!

.summer solstice.

“Until one is committed, there is hesitancy, a chance to draw back, always ineffectiveness. Concerning all acts of initiative (and creation) there is one elementary truth, the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans: that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then Providence moves too. All sorts of things occur to help one that would never otherwise have occurred. A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one’s favor all manner of unforeseen incidents and meetings and material assistance, which no man could have dreamed would have come his way.”       

-Mystic Mama

I love summer solstice. The longest day of the year. The beginning of summer. A beautiful transition. A time to reassess where I am, the choices I am making, the direction I am sending my energy, the now. Another refresher to open our eyes again and start anew - to remember we are brand new. 

This moment. We are brand new. 
This season. We are brand new on this journey.

I remind myself today to think abundantly. 
To fully commit to abundant thinking!

I started this summer season by working on my new two wheels, the summerset. 

.friday.

It's Friday. I love weekends in Chicago. Last weekend was the BluesFest and Bike Bash - so much is going on in the city. This weekend I have big plans to start fixing up my $25 craigslist bike, it's a gem in the rough but I am so excited to get on a bike and explore this city. When I finally get on those two wheels this will be turned up and put on repeat.

.prairie wheat fields.

I got lost yesterday in the prairie wheat fields - where the same vista is repeated for miles and miles - copy and pasted onto the earth. I rode deep into the fields and down into the canyon only to reemerge feeling totally disillusioned with where I was. I started to ride back towards a tower - the tower - on rocky muddy roads for miles to find that the tower wasn't the tower. The tower was miles north - across an undulating wheat field. Or was that even it?

I find it easy to believe illusions - to second guess myself - to travel in circles before stopping to listen for my voice - before asking for help. I'm out of practice with vulnerability. 

I decided to walk my bike across the wheat fields - over the woven drilled rows - finding the soft rolling hills to be steep - encompassed by the overpowering wind of flat lands - tired and frustrated. There are so many lessons in getting lost. 

I'm grateful to be reminded that the only way to get to the tower (somewhere/something) is to go forward, to do the work.

"Vulnerability sounds like truth and feels like courage.
Truth and courage aren’t always comfortable, but they’re never weakness"

Dr. Brene Brown

.spring ridin.

Spring is here.
The sun is out.
Bianchi Blue and I are hitting the road, everyday.

LOOK AT THE VIEW.

It feels so good to be back riding. Are you enjoying spring riding? If not, here are some tips from Bike Shop Girl to get you out rollin!!

1.) Get your bike ready

This could be a full service tune up or simply pumping up the tires, lubing the chain and giving it a once over. Either way, get your bike ready for that next warm day!

2.) Get yourself ready

This weekend an action item on my to-do list is to sort out my bike clothing. This includes being ready for some not so perfect days, but knowing where my gloves, shoe covers and possibly rain jacket is. That way I’m not searching for my left glove 15 minutes before my group ride is supposed to leave!

3.) Short trips are better than no trips

If you need motivation, ride to the coffee shop or friends house. Your first rides back on the bike don’t need to be epic, they need to be easy and familiar.

4.) Motivate yourself

Maybe you need a new gadget for your bike, or maybe you need to outline your cycling goals. Either way, put a carrot in front of yourself and bring on the motivation!

5.) Do it

Seriously, just get on your bike. You’ll thank me later.

Happy riding to you!

.winter rides.

doesn't this look like a dream? such a beautiful ride. 

have you been on any fall/winter rides lately? 

living in the southwest even as the temperature decrease on most days it's clear and sunny. the other day i went riding in shorts, a t-shirt/lightweight pullover, and sunglasses. love it.

.hello friday.

via

via

yes, please.

.mi fuerza.

Saturday I was first up to "catch" at the clinic. I ended up having two back to back long labor sits. The first one was 12 hours long and when she reached our time limit (state laws and midwifery practices don't agree or make sense most of the time!) we had to transfer her care to the hospital it was awkward - sad - frustration - isolating. But since I didn't "catch" I was back up again and at 12:50am another third time Mama came and things looked to be going quickly but the third baby is always a wild card. She was also a VBAC (vaginal birth after cesarean) which meant I had to check fetal heart tones every 15 mins. And after 6 hours and 24 rounds and no sleep she requested to be transferred to the hospital because she had been in labor for 3 days and she was tired (and in need of family support that wasn't there).

It was my longest shift - emotionally and physically. I came home and drank a big mug of calming skullcap tea and slept for a few hours. 

It's always a strange feeling - a day after shift - an incomparable haze that comes over you. You have to move your body no matter how tired you are - the key to success. So Bianchi and I headed out to explore a bike trail on the westside. 

The sun was setting and there was even a few trees changing colors - an almost fall evening. It was beautiful and cleared my mind. I was thinking about the day - the night - the shift and realized through these uncomfortable - unsure - cumbersome - clumsy moment that I'm slowly realizing all my abilities.

In the weakest of moments is when I only begin to find my strength.

estoy encontrando mi fuerza.

and once again remember that it is the fragility of life that makes it all that more beautiful.

.bianchi dreams.

someday this is what my bianchi will look like...loaded down.

source

.buddhism + cycling.

I love this cycling video - it's buddhist nature. 

"we for the parts that are not great not from dimensions  because they are ignoble and insufferable

we are for the insufferable aspect of riding and for riding into it and riding through it and riding until you are in the sufferable because inside there is where you find out or remember that after all the inhumanity of it all it all turns out to be durable. "

.ride yo bike.

it's 6:30 pm and the sun is still piercing. i love it. and what should you always do on a sunny day? get on your bike and explore your new (or old) city.

so i did.

and then i came home and took an ice cold shower. which oddly enough felt comforting. i think i like el paso because it reminds me of some place, a place. the many places i have called home.

with neighborhood grocery stores just around the corner. the "buenas tardes" exchanged between passing strangers. the plenitude of limes, chiles, mangos, and avocados. spanglish: the official language. the sweat. 

the unknown familiarity.

.dear self.

source

source

dear self,

let's go on a long bike trip, climb mountains, swim in hidden lakes, and camp places like these. 

thanks.

.sunday night rides.

Today I am open to the presence of miracles.

(The Chopra Meditation Challenge starts today!) 

i went for a long ride sunday night (and thankfully got back before the flash flood warning went into affect). 

i live in a beautiful place.

some days it feels like life is so heavy but today - yesterday there was a lightness in the air. 

the beauty of life broke through the clouds.

there is so much breath in this life. 

there is so much beauty in the details - in the encounters.

some times (i'm sad to say) it takes until the end of a transition for me to really step back and feel the beauty of it. 

to be grateful of the authentic people in my life.

to savor the fun found in being present - letting go.

to stay up way to late at a fiesta that costs more than my entire college education.

.#realbikes.

the electric blue bianchi san remo and i just met a month ago but already she has taken be many a places and now she's going viral!! don't be prey just started a #realbikes series spotlighting bikes that are ridden (just as they are meant to be). check out the post on my bianchi san remo here! 

san remo and i.

in other exciting women's cycling news a women's cycling association has been formed!!! amazing.

AND as always, and thanks to dbp for all your bike-spiration.

.commuting.

do you ride a bike? do you use your bike for fun/exercise? do you use your bike as a way to get places (i.e. work/market/brewery/etc)? how do you use a bike? how would you like to use your bike?

i just got a new bike (IN LOVE) but i could talk about "her" (yet to be named) for a very long time...the point of all of this is that for a LONG time i didn't commute to work - i didn't really bike much. why? not because i don't like riding bikes, but i just didn't feel safe on a bike. i came across this article, bike commuting and really connected with the fact that my stresses/concerns are the same as other cyclists.

there's a lot of opportunity for bike acceptance/growth/advocacy to be fostered within u.s. transportation culture which may feel overwhelming but i guess the best way to start is to acknowledge the situation/culture where you live, be safe, and get on your bike.

.just ride.

I'm riding my bike to work this week. It's something new and challenging for me. I don't live far from work but before I just didn't feel comfortable to ride on the roads in my town. After a bike-a-thon weekend a few weeks ago I remembered how good it feels just to ride and wanted to ride more than just once or twice a week. On top of that there's a ton of road construction going on right now so with those motivations I decided to ride to work last week and it felt good. It was a challenge to change my habit of driving (i.e. leaving my house 10 minutes earlier) but I noticed I felt so much better (more awake - alert - happy) when I got to work. 

We all have different situations - some of us live near work - some of our are in better bike shape - some of us have more geared out bikes but what really matters is just riding. Find the balance that works for you. 

don't be prey, an avid cyclist and a personal bike role model of mine wrote a great bike week post! Check it out. 

What is your motivation to ride?

.nat'l bike month.

here she is, aguilita volando (the little flying eagle) in all of her early morning glory proudly sporting her newest adornment, don't be prey decal. 

did you know that may is national bike month? so get on a bike and celebrate!! are there cool events happening in your corner of the world? we have a bike swap this weekend and next week for "bike to work" week they are hosting a morning coffee/donuts station on my route to work! incentives to ride (beyond the incentives of looking flllly...)!?!?!? 

the bike is the most efficient machine ever made and yet in american we still aren't biking that much. Or maybe it would be better to say we have lost some (a lot) of our bike enthusiasm. so maybe it's time to remind YO SELF. go for a short ride. then do it again. then do it again. and see how it feels. i just starting riding my bike to work and it takes a few times to get use to not driving a car but i'm noticing that it helps me wake up - clear my mind - and start the day off with some dopamine (feel good stuff) pumping through my body.

fun facts: how many people are commuting in your state? check out here. in washington, only 28.6% of the commuters are women. that is ridiculous! ladies it's time for us to get on a bike.