From 4 wheels to, um, ... 12 or so!

Well, for quite a long time now Michael and I thought that we would not always have a car. Two months ago we felt quite strongly that we should get rid of our car, and we nearly did it, but not quite! Then a month ago my brother's family car (the one that had been ours before) decided that it was going to stop working, and it turned out to be way too much to fix. That was the push we needed. We offered our car to David's family and prepared to go car-less. Not a big deal for most of the population of the world I know, or even for other families as large as ours. However, the big red people-carrier (or family bus) that we had been driving had certainly made many things possible for quite some time that would not have been otherwise, and we have enjoyed that travelling freedom. Maybe now is a time to work a bit more to get places, maybe it will reduce our carbon footprint a little, or maybe, actually, it just allows us to work within our budget a bit better.

So as of a week ago we left our four wheels behind (round the corner at David's house to be precise) and we are walking, taking the bus to church and the girls' ballet class, and riding bikes to as many other places as we are able. Now that we have the lights and everything else we need for winter riding, riding the bikes won't cost us anything so they are definately preferable. We had been having a lot of fun going for rides as a family over the summer - mostly around a 2 1/2 mile block from our house and around the nearby woods. Rachel and Hannah are pretty strong riders. Rebekah made the block just fine, as did Sarah although quite wearily toward the end. Peter always had a nice ride and often liked to cuddle me from behind. :o) We felt the need to get bikes sorted for everyone, and a bike seat for Peter on the back of my bike which helped us be able to have that fun exercise over the summer. We now also have a couple of trailers bought 2nd hand for not too much but in great condition, which means we can still ride long distance with the 3 younger children in trailers. Especially good for winter journeys, and handy for shopping trips now too. So instead of our easily recognisable family bus, we are now travelling on anywhere between 12 and 16 wheels (training wheels/stabilisers included) :o).

Things are taking longer, which is to be expected. Life will sometimes go a little slower in what can be achieved in one day - also to be expected. It is taking a little bit more initiative to make some things work. We've used the internet and postal service a bit more for Christmas presents! We also see a lot more of the world around us as we pass it by at a much slower pace though, which has been nice on occasions and hopefully come spring and summer especially will be even more enjoyable. You never know, we may even end up a bit fitter because of it! Of course it was the first day or being car-less that the freezing weather really decided to set in. Typical. Come summer, riding everywhere will be a breeze! :o)