Reconnect with the FUN of Bicycling
Me and all my fancy bike gearMost of us began riding a bike at an early age and recall the exhilaration of independent mobility, proudly shouting "Look Mommy, no hands!" For a growing number of adults, bicycling is an ideal cardio activity, easier on the knees than running, and it is an increasingly practical and necessary mode of transportation in urban centers.
After a decade break from any bike, I finally got back on one in the early 90’s for both fun and function. But over time, I slowly forgot the fun part of bicycling and allowed elite cycle shops and bike club geeks to dictate to me the proper necessities for riding. But one day last year, someone asked me casually, “why do you like to ride a bike, Rue?” and I answered without thinking, "Because it makes me feel like a kid again". I realized in that very moment that my current adult riding habits hardly resembled the carefree mount on my banana saddle on any given summer day in the 1970's.
In 2009, I now had to remember the timing of when to shift to one of my oodles of gears. I required specially padded lycra booty shorts, a neon vest, two water bottle cages (with a protein/energy additive), fingerless bike gloves, nylon jersey, a clipless pedal system, and Italian hardware…OK…don't get me wrong, safety items, such as a helmet and plain old water are critical, but all that other stuff? I don't think so.
Shortly after getting clear about my real passion around bicycling, I decided to strip down my classic Bridgestone frame to just one gear, knocking off about 10 pounds worth of chain rings, derailleurs, shifters, and fancy pedals in the process. I also made my bike look sexy-hip with a new, bright white seat and chain -- because as much as I love the sport of bike riding, sometimes I want to look cute while doing it too -- so to that end, I also vowed to wear regular clothing on short bike rides to school and save the performance gear for less frequent extended rides.
Don’t get me wrong, I still have another fancy bike, loaded to the gills with tricks for the rides that require it. But for the moment, I’ll refrain from putting “twenty on ten” and instead reconnect with the little girl who simply loved to ride her bike in the sunshine with friends.
Monday's Bottom Line
Compare:
Movies out once per month for a family of four (2 adults, 2 children, plus snacks and parking fees):
$768 annually*
Monthly fun/education series at your local municipal park like this one:
Program cost: FREE or sliding scale, plus the cost of home packed lunch
*Source: AMC Movie Theaters -- SF Bay Area
How did an Oakland girl like me come to love getting her camp on anyway? Pt. 3
After getting married and starting a family of my own, camping took on a new meaning. For just a short drive and little money, I found camping was one of the most economical ways my new family could take a vacation. During these years I collected essential camping gear, like our first family-sized tent and propane stove from local garage sales and eBay -- my family still uses these items today.
But as my family grew, so did the effort of camping. Thus the city of Oakland's Feather River family camp, situated about two- hundred miles north, became a very attractive option for us. For about $75 per day back then, our family could camp at their beautiful developed site where: three delicious meals a day were prepared (and announced with the toll of a bell), a kind nurse dispensed an endless supply of band-aids, platform tents and cots were already set up, and a refreshingly cool swimming hole was observed by attentive lifeguards. Another bonus of family camp, were the many fun, organized activities and special relationships we developed with the other Oakland families we joined each summer.
Now my children (ages 12, 7, and 6) love the outdoors and every February they begin humming camp songs around the house and double check with me to make sure we are registered for the upcoming summer season!
Aside from our annual Family Camp, we also venture out on local hikes or family bike rides at least monthly. My eldest son is a Boy Scout and he is now developing outdoor skills and going on camping trips with his peers just as I did at his age. I recognize that the fun my kids have now in the natural world is the foundation for a love and engagement with nature that lasts a lifetime and is likely to be shared with their own children.
I still do enjoy tent camping sometimes, but I find that as I approach the big Four-O, I more frequently choose to balance comfort with my outdoor fun -- nights of sleeping on just a tarp under the stars have passed me by. I now fantasize often about a future of creeping along the highways in a well-equipped RV, enjoying each state of the Americas, one campground at a time.
Catch-up!: Part 1, Part 2
Easy Tent Camping Sites for Everyone!
Now is the time for Outdoor Afros to plan a summer camping trip! While some popular sites may have been booked up since last winter, it’s never too late to secure a spot at a scenic developed site. One local favorite of my family is the Samuel Taylor Park, which fills up quickly during the peak season!
You can drive right up to your camping area in the developed sites, which are either privately owned or a part of a regional parks system. In either case, you’ll find showers, some electricity or lit areas, occasionally platform tents, easy hikes nearby, and common space for campfire shows or outdoor movies.
Developed sites are ideal for families, occasional campers, or those new to camping because they not only provide some of the basic amenities, but also are a ready-made social environment. Hundreds of families pour into these camps in peak months, so there is always a playmate, or someone to lend a hand to pitch a tent. State Park Rangers or campground managers often provide an evening program that provides both entertainment and outdoor education.
To browse the many developed campsites in California, check out their website here
Next: Your List of Tent Camping Essentials
Photo: Samuel Taylor Park campsite, Courtesy of h3h.com
5 Concerns That Keep Black Folks Out of the Woods
Photo Courtesy of LWA-Sharie KennedyWhen I mention to some people that I go camping...
it's not uncommon to hear why others won't do it themselves. Here is a list of the most frequently heard excuses for not heading out to the woods, along with some real facts to consider:
1. Sleeping in a tent is an elaborate form of back torture
Fact: Just because you sleep in a tent doesn't mean you have to sleep on the ground. REI portable cots and mats are the way I go nowadays because comfort is important. Sure, a cot won't feel like a Sealy Posturepedic, but it’s not the ground either. Tip: be sure to get a tent that is sized for one person more than your party to allow more space for comfy sleeping gear.
2. No showers
Fact: Family campgrounds DO have hot showers, and the availability of this amenity is no shocker if you do a little homework on your selected campsite in advance. In fact, the outdoor camp showers are some of the best I have had as some are opened on top for a terrific view of the sky or stars.
3. No Music, TV, or Video Games
Fact: These days wireless is becoming more common for family camp sites, but the point of camp is to connect with the environment or with those in your group. Play a board game, tell funny family stories, go for a walk – it’s these activities that are the source of great memories to last a lifetime.
4. Animals and Bugs
Fact: Yes, wonderful wildlife is a reality in the outdoors, but critters don’t have to ruin your trip. Use bug repellent (or swallow a clove of raw garlic, I am told) for the worst flying offenders. Keep food and other smellables away from where you sleep. You actually have a much greater chance of being hurt by a domestic dog than by a bear!
5. It's dirty
Ok, let's make a distinction between soil and filth. Campgrounds are not the place to wear new Air Force Ones. Dirt is inevitable, but filth you won't find at a developed camp site nor at the more "primitive" areas. Developed camps are maintained to ensure sustainability and safety for all creatures who inhabit them -- even the temporary ones!
Bottom line: abandon the scary, non-factual ideas about camping and give it a try!
Got more reasons why you don't camp? Post them here!
African American Landscape Artists - The Highwaymen
Twenty-six African American landscape artists of Florida were known as "The Highwaymen". These men (and a few women!) painted their native Florida landscape and would evolve to become a social group of itinerant artists who ventured along local Florida highways (hence their name) to sell works to hotels and businesses for $25 a piece.
The original artist, Alfred Hair, was introduced to the art world by white artist A.E. “Bean” Backus in the 1950's. Bean encouraged Hair to sell his works, which was a very challenging feat for black artists in the racialized South. But Hair's passion for making landscape art was persistent -- and infectious. He encouraged several of his friends to paint. Together, these self taught artists produced hundreds of pieces over time out of their backyards and garages. Made of inexpensive and practical materials, these works were an important source of livelihood for the artists until demand for their plein air works fell off.
Monday's Bottom Line
This is the first in a series of "Bottom Lines" that compare the cost of popular family activities to less expensive outdoor options.
As you plan your summer fun, think about this:
A day outing at Six Flags, two adults/two children costs: $175*
(NOT including gas/toll, incidental purchases, and food)
Afternoon hike at a local park, two adults/two children costs: $20
(INCLUDES the cost of packed lunches and possible parking/park fees)
*source Six Flags website
The Outdoor Date
One of my single friends, bored by the movie/dinner/drinks hustle, wondered how dating and the great outdoors might go together. Based on some observations and experiences from when I was both dating and married, ideas came easy. So here are just a few outdoorsy thoughts for a date or if you are single and looking to mingle!
Climbing Gym
People who go to climbing gyms also tend to get out on real rocks too. Alternately, it’s great for people who want to try rock climbing without as many risks. And there is something pretty sexy about showing off your muscular prowess to a suitor. Coupled with lunch, it’s an excellent daytime date!
Picnic
I know this seems SO obvious, but people don't go as often as they should. If you’re not the cooking type, just head to a local deli, grab sandwiches, sides, drinks; bring along a blanket for sitting -- there is just nothing like enjoying a meal with someone you care about outdoors in beautiful surroundings. Alternately, you can go solo and savor some quiet time alone. Don't forget to take your trash with you!
Walk or Hike
I suggest heading to a local public garden. The Botanic Garden in Berkeley’s Tilden Park is an outdoor museum that represents California’s diverse landscape. Temperatures can be very cool to very warm as you move along the trails and changing foliage. And there are also a few scenic places to stop and enjoy a bite to eat.
Bike Ride
Even if you don’t own a bike, rentals are a cool option available at local bike stores or companies like this one in San Francisco. If possible, pick a flat paved trail off the road for a leisurely ride and easy conversation. Helmets required!
I’d love to revisit this topic in the future with other suggestions, so please leave a comment to share your outdoor adventures spent with (or looking for) a loved one!
How did an Oakland girl like me come to love getting her camp on anyway? Pt. 2
Part 1
So every other weekend, until I became a teen, was spent in the country. And while I now see the value of my time there, I distinctly recall lots of boredom in an era that pre-dated ubiquitous cable TV, video, and phone technology. But boredom was what actually propelled me and my playmates to invent games, songs, and dances against the backdrop of the country during the day. Nights were often spent around a large fireplace with family members; swapping tales, playing board games, or a producing "talent shows" for the adult's amusement.
Back in Oakland, I received a more formal outdoor education with the Girl Scouts and loved our frequent retreats to the many local parks and youth camps. However, as a too-cute-for-the-woods teen, I abandoned my commitment to outdoor activities and did not reconnect with the natural world until I was a young adult living in San Francisco.
In the City, parking limitations and aggressive ticketing practices made owning a car impractical. So bicycling became my primary form of transportation and at the same time my outdoorsy room mates introduced me to extended bike treks to camp or to hike along the coast. I even tried out mountaineering for the first time with Outward Bound (see title photo), where I learned the fundamentals of mountain climbing and the life lesson to “trust my feet”.
Part 3
How did an Oakland girl like me come to love getting her camp on anyway?
Well, let’s start at the beginning… my adoptive parents were older Texas and Louisiana natives who migrated west for work and relief from Jim Crow during the 1940’s. While they thrived in Oakland, they chose to stay connected to their land-loving southern roots and life based on the philosophy of “mother wit”. So they built a rural retreat for the family in an undeveloped part of Lower Lake, just south of Clear Lake and 100 miles north of Oakland.
Our place at “The Lake” sat on six acres of land, which anchored a modest family home, and intermittently farmed horses, cows, goats, pigs, and chickens. My folks also kept a large garden plot equal to the square footage of the living space, producing "organic" vegetables year-round. On the remaining acreage, dozens of orderly English walnut trees grew that generated a modest revenue, but in the summer heat, many other trees and vines strained heavily with ripe peaches, plums, and grapes.
Part 2