The beginning (or, it's vintage?)

New to me bike!

What I brought back from PEI post-wedding, not including my used wedding dress, a car stuffed full of wedding gifts, and a new husband, was a bike. And not just any bike; I remember when my father bought this bike in Calgary. I was probably 11 or 12, and getting a bit too tall for my current youth-sized CCM. This bike had an adjustable seat and so while Dad would take it to and from work during the week, I would just crank down the seat as low as it would go to take it out in the evenings or on the weekend, usually remembering to put it all the way back to the top for my taller father. I'm not sure if he knew about my taking his bike (he probably did) or if he let me do it (he probably didn't) but that bike made it all the way across Canada when we moved to PEI, eventually moved down into the basement, and finally made it back out to see the light of day...or I guess night* to be put on the car to southern Ontario. And Dad even replaced the seat for me.

My parents have photos of them leaving the day after their wedding for their cross-Canada trip in the daylight. And I have this memory in my head. Mac has the welts from the mosquito bites.

So now it has arrived in Hamilton, been pooped on by the pigeons while tied up downstairs at the apartment, spent many days in our ninth floor livingroom, and has just been graced with a new bike basket. Next purchase? I'm considering some pretty panniers. And perhaps it will get to go on a bike tour of some Niagara wineries in the fall. I think this new basket could hold a few litres, at least. Now will it hold a tipsy Lulu? Hmmm...

* I guess I can tell you how it warmed my overwrought, exhausted, day-after-the-wedding, day-before-leaving-PEI heart to see my father and new husband suffering in the dark, and in the mosquitos to mount the bike rack on the back of the rental car the night before we left.