And so begins another 30 Days of Biking! You can still join. New this year: Free Bikes 4 Kidz is donating a bike for every 30 pledges. I’m not sure I’ll be able to log our exploits on the blog each day, but I’ll certainly be biking each day and fulfilling the tweet aspect of #30daysofbiking. Oh, and by the way, I was pledge #1! I won a poster! I’ll post a picture of it when it arrives.

Today started with the school run–2.2 miles to preschool for a 9:00 a.m. drop off and then race right back almost to home for 9:25 a.m. first grade drop off. And we had to wait for the drawbridge in between! But we made it with five minutes to spare somehow. A 30 Days of Biking miracle. Photo taken by Mel, our elementary school’s crossing guard who bikes to work. He’s the best!

While the kids were at school I led the Seattle 30 Days of Biking Kickoff Ride, a lovely 8.7-mile loop.

We rode through the Caffe Appassionato drive through–they allow bikes!

And brought our coffees to the Ballard Locks.

Then I rushed over to 1:00 p.m. preschool pickup. I just missed the drawbridge and was four minutes late–a first, boo! I met a fellow preschool mom on the wrong side of the bridge. She was on foot and I should have offered more seriously to carry her over to school. I think she was game, but we decided I should rush over and report on the poorly-timed bridge opening. A shame I missed out on a fun carry the first day of 30 Days of Biking! And then we hit the grocery store (and kisses from the black dog tied to the pole).

Quick stop at Recycled Cycles to pick up my racing kit and then chanced upon the demolition of the North Transfer Station–quite exciting.

We saw Stella outside as we pedaled by Durn Good Grocery so popped in for a quick pet.

And finally home along the Neighborhood Greenway (where we met those dogs, Masala and Titan).

At 3:30 my first grader was done with school so the preschooler and I picked him up with the Big Dummy and the two kid bikes on board to head down to the Burke-Gilman Trail by UW Mercer Court. The kids biked back and forth and I was interviewed as part of the new Burke-Gilman Trail TIGER application. I forgot to take photos of the interview team at work, but Lynne happened to ride by on her Xtracycle EdgeRunner so here’s a picture of her. I first met Lynne when I saw her a block away on what turned out was her maiden cargo bike voyage and chased her down to ask a million questions (“What’s your name?” “How long have you had that awesome bike?” “Where do you live?” “Will you join the Seattle Family Biking Facebook group?”…you know, nothing too creepy).

I’m not officially declaring a theme for this round of 30 Days of Biking, but it’d be great if I didn’t use the car (I used it once last round) and it feels like maybe I should tally the number of dogs we meet after having interacted with four today. Four! And assuming I’ll ride multiple bikes, I’ll keep a tally of that, too.

Today’s miles: 19.7 miles
April cumulative: 19.7 miles

Bikes ridden: 1
April cumulative: 1

Dogs: 4
April cumulative: 4