Dexter Daze, and two wheel contraptions

[elizilla]

Friday afternoon we got some more completely random visitors. We didn't know them before, but they saw the bikes and stopped. His name was Ken and her name was either Marianne or Mary Ellen - couldn't quite make it out. But they were interesting because she was walking and he was rolling on an electric bicycle similar to mine. We compared notes. He has a weak left leg due to having polio as a kid, and the electric bicycle gives him more mobility for stuff like Dexter Days; he can dawdle along the sidewalks with his wife, and be supported by it. His bicycle was made by the same company as mine and has the same mechanicals, but it was a promo item for Ford and is in a much more stylish frame painted in Ford livery. I said to Steve, that we should try using mine like that too.

A little later, we had a visit from sendthewolf and his wife, on a shakedown with their new Ural sidecar outfit! So we ended up taking all three sidecars over to The Alley for dinner. We came out to the opening spits of rain; I hope they didn't get soaked on the way home.

We got up early on Saturday, to take the sidecars in the parade. The little nephews canceled out because their mom was under the weather, but while we were in line waiting for our turn to pull out, we picked up two children who would otherwise have done the parade in a classic car with their father and grandfather. I carried the big sister, Grace, and Steve carried the little brother, Frank.

After the parade we sat on the porch for hours and watched the people go by. Then we went to dinner at a friend's house, and came home in time for the fireworks. We thought the fireworks were scheduled for Friday, but they were on Saturday. Which is good because Friday night they'd have been rained out.

We can see those fireworks from our back deck, sorta - there are trees that block out about half the view. So we went down to Mill Creek Park to see them closer. We took the electric bike, to try using it the way Ken uses his. It was only partly successful. I am just wobbly and awkward enough that I fall back on long habit from able bodied days, of making my left foot the one that I put on the ground when I stop. So I can't just put the left foot on the pedal and leave it there - I keep taking it off, I can't help it. And then I have to put it back on, which is hard at first and gets harder every time until I can't do it anymore. Or if I am going to roll at walking pace, I want to dangle that foot - and when I do that, I can't stop it dragging and wanting to fold back under. I was tearing up my shoe and barking my ankle/shin/calf on the pedal. It did get me down there and back, more easily than walking, but I can't say it was a comfortable activity that I'd want to do a lot of.

So today I ordered yet another two wheeled electric contraption. It's a Razor Ecosmart scooter. It's like one of those kid scooters, the ones that are like skateboards with handlebars. But this one is adult sized with a height adjustable seat and an electric motor. No pedals, instead there is a big deck to put feet on. And instead of the skateboard wheels it has 16" spoke wheels with pneumatic tires. I think these wheels will handle the cracks and bumps of the sidewalk better. Much less range than my electric bicycle, but more suitable to the sidewalk and pedestrian activity. Light and small enough that perhaps I can carry it in the car and use it to get around other places too.

Comments

[sendthewolf.livejournal.com]

We only got moderately soaked, and the lightning was really impressive. :) It was all good.

Saturday we did errands and lunch, and again on Sunday, so the Ural got a workout. I had to put two whole gallons of gas in it :)

[elizilla]

It is the motorcycling pickup truck. Everyone needs a pickup, right?