The first snow of the season

The first snow of the season has finally come!

It started slowly. 

The very first snowflakes started to fall in the morning. 

They continued to fall all day long, but the sudden air drafts didn't let these little snowflakes to "grab" onto the ground.

The whole day passed and I was constantly found myself standing in front of the window. I love snow. I always have.

When it is snowing, there is a "kindness" in the atmosphere. 

I was observing how the little and fragile snowflakes landed on my hand. I then looked up to the sky...

...Eight hour's later. The night had approached. Gladly the snow was still falling and this time it had began to form an ethereal white dust onto the ground. 

It started to build up slowly but progressively. There was no doubt that a big blizzard was on its way, as the snow report showed on the weather forecast. 

The next day, the same street looked like this!

Isn't it wonderful?

The  city roads were constantly being cleaned from snow all night long, but the amount of snow that had fallen was over 70cm in height. Actually it was about 70cm to 1m according to the News. 

Sadly I couldn't ride my bicycle as its tires and structure aren't suitable for this kind of weather. However, tomorrow I will give it a go and attempt to ride, as most of the main roads are now clear of snow. I bet it will be difficult though, because it's the ice that I'm afraid of the most. And ice is invisible!

Have you ever ride upon snow and ice? 

Fairytale ride

It always astonishes me how pleasant a simply ride can be if nature is present. I have to admit that although I enjoy to use my bicycle for transportation into the city, the joy I get from urban cycling it is nothing when I compare it with rural cycling. 

The above road is just a road.

But with those tall pine trees aligned in a row on both sides of the road, it is like I'm suddenly on a fairytale land, joining a fairytale ride.

I could hear the birds tweet, the squirrels' squeak while jumping from one tree branch to another and the cracking sound of the falling pine cones. 

I looked up in the far as I was pedalling. My bicycle just rolled and rolled. The road in front of me was a long stretch that seemed endless, but in a good way, as the pine trees ahead covered the horizon. The hour of the ride was also perfect, as the warm light from the sun really complements the surroundings while offering a more romantic feeling to the whole experience. 

I utterly love riding my bicycle! 

Even after all this time, I am still very grateful that I decided to finally purchase it and make it my main transportation vehicle. It actually adds value into one's life. And I'm not referring to the health benefits, that are simply a bonus. I'm talking about the way it can change your life. If you do own one, I urge you to go outside and ride it! You will experience the world differently. You are in direct contact with Mother Earth, the natural environment for all beings. You can release your stress (I know I do) and feel better. You will wake your senses and start to appreciate more of the little things in life. Things that you always took for granted.

One reader emailed me telling she felt sad as she was really stressed and tired from working all day long, and that she wished she could ride her bike and ditch the car. After finding my blog she went for it and now she transports by bicycle 3 days per week and also goes on a recreation ride every Sunday morning along with her 2 children. Now she is happy as she spends quality time with her family and also cut her gym membership, which she said she never used anyway.

What did she relearn? That living is not breathing. It is doing things that feel pleasant. 

Do not forget to live your life, do not let the days simply pass!

A bicycle can be your pal to this suggestion. 

It might be a small change, but don't forget that all changes start small. 

Go yourself and join in the fairytale ride! 

Is it pouring outside?

On the previous post we talked about of how to prepare yourself if the answer to the question "is it raining outside?" was followed by a "yes".

I became an enthusiast and tried to make you understand that riding a bicycle in the rain isn't something difficult if you are prepared, which it true!

However it isn't all nice and cozy, and while I enjoy to ride my bicycle in the rain, I always face myself with the same problem.

It is not a problem with lighter rain or if I ride short distances (aka when I'm already in town) but it is a problem when I'm commuting from home to work or backwards, or when it is pouring outside. 
(I don't want any of you being caught in heavy rain with your bicycle while thinking devious ways of eliminating me, as I was the one who told you to just grab a jacket and your boots and go out with your bicycle, which led to your rain "misery"!)

Fortunately, these cases are more rare than other people think. I don't know if the same applies to you, but to me, it is like that heavy rain starts to fall always after I've reached my destination!

This post also, it is not one for preaching or finding all the answers. It is one that I'm asking help from you, and want to discuss a few problems and how I try to handle them. 

So look outside of the window...

Is it pouring outside?

One of my major problems of riding a bicycle in the rain is wet knees. Usually I choose to wear a skirt when it is raining because tights have the ability to dry up really fast, so I won't find myself walking around with wet knees all day long. However, when it is really cold outside, I prefer to wear a pair of pants which isn't the most comfortable piece of clothing during heavy rain. No matter the length of my coat/jacket, my knees always get wet. I have found that if I don't "sit" on my coat and let it hang freely behind my saddle, then the front part doesn't "open" that much, which protects my knees better, but still not enough.

Another thing I have found to be somewhat irritating when I ride in heavy rain is that I tend to sweat, which is frustrating. I do not know why this is happening, as I tend to keep the same speed and I don't force into it. Also it is not that I'm wearing any additional clothes, I wear exactly what I wear everyday. My thought is that it might be the fact that there is more moisture in the atmosphere when it is pouring, so the heat generated from my body cannot "escape" which leads to sweating. At least that's my explanation.

Moreover, when it is pouring outside and I'm already into the town and just want to travel from point A to point B, I think for a couple of minutes and try to decide whether to use my bicycle or not. If the rain is heavy but normal heavy (which means no sudden air drafts) then I will wear my hood but also grab an umbrella, to protect my face from all the water, and I will ride carefully to my destination. However, if the rain is really heavy and with lots of sudden air drafts, then I will just walk my bicycle and I won't ride it as I don't feel safe doing it due to the air. 

Which leads to another piece of advise, it is wise to know when to give in. When the water coming down from the sky is more than I could take, then I will simply give in and search for another way to head to my destination. Usually by car or bus. The reason I will be doing that is because, at least to me, riding on a downpour feels like drowning, which isn't pleasant at all. I'm serious. There is constant water coming down to your face, blocking your vision and your noise. If you inhale from the mouth, then you drink the water. As I said it is not pleasant. And during a downpour holding an umbrella it is not an option, because not only it will broke in an instant, but it is crucial to use both hands to handle the bicycle. 

But what happens when you have no alternative? Well, this is something I would really like to know. I consider myself one of the "lucky" ones, as in the majority of the times that I need to ride my bicycle from my home to work or the opposite way, the rain is just normal rain or when I'm being caught by a downpour I'm either already in town, or I will simply wait it out as it doesn't last for a long time, only fifteen minutes tops. And in the rare times that there is a big thunder outside I have an alternative way of transportation. 

But I can't hold myself and wonder...
What do you do when there is a downpour and you have to be at your work on a certain hour? Do you use an alternative way of transportation?
Also have you ever notice that you sweat when there is heavy rain, but not when there is mild rain or no rain at all?
And last but not least, how do you deal with wet knees? 

I would like you to share your personal stories with me and give any additional piece of advise.
What do you do to protect yourself when being caught in a downpour?

Is it raining outside?

Now that we are in the very end of fall season and only a breath away from entering to the winter season, I think it is an appropriate time to discuss this topic.

For the last three weeks, every morning that I wake up, I rush out of the bed, open my bedroom door, hug the door lining and ask really loud "Is it raining outside?".

When the following answer is no, I then simply walk back into my bedroom, pick up my robe, wear it and then I just continue to get ready for work as usual.

But when the answer is yes, I run again back into my room, open the shutters and I just stand there for a moment, looking outside and inspecting the intensity and rhythm of the rain. I then pick up my robe again and continue to get ready for work, as usual.

However when it is raining outside, I choose to wear clothes that are more rain appropriate. That doesn't mean I own any special waterproof clothes just for commuting in the rain, not that that's a bad thing, I just preferred not to.

(Actually those of you that own rain gear outfits have made it easy for yourselves.) 

Me personally, I don't have the time to change when I'm in my work, and also because I am an optician and I work in a shop, I have to look presentable. So when it is raining, I simply choose to wear something that is nice and casual. 

Starting from footwear, any kind of boots or booties will do the work just fine. They're waterproof, well sealed and warm. If you're a guy, don't wear athletic shoes that day. They're not waterproof and you won't like to walk around all day with feet that are soggy. You can wear men booties, which came out in a variety of styles, from more casual to more dressy. 

For the inner layers, I simply choose to wear a tank-top and overlaying it with a blouse or a sweater. If it is really cold outside, I will also wear a shirt in between. Usually one that is made from a lighter material and has some feminine details. I'm a girl after all!

For the legs, I will either pick to wear regular pants, skirts or jeans, depending on the look I'm going for. I found that they're all the same in the rain, except from skirts. Because when I'm wearing a skirt and tights, my legs get wet, but dry up instantly after I arrive at my workplace. 

As for the out layers, I normally choose to wear a long jacket or coat with a hood to protect my head or if my jacket/coat doesn't have a hood I will simply wear a hat and cover my neck with a wool scarf. 

And after that, I'm off with my bicycle!

I'm not a fair weather cyclist, not because I pretend to be tough, but because riding a bicycle in the rain is the same as riding a bicycle with no rain. 

The only difference is to cover your head with a hat or your hood and to wear boots instead of athletic shoes (if you're a guy) or ballet flats (if you're a girl).

Now if it is raining outside, then you won't have any problem!

Either if you own rain gear outfits or not! 

But what happens if it is pouring outside?

Next post is following up...

Finding mushrooms

Two weeks ago, when I was out riding my bicycle, I followed a new trail. I rode slowly as the gravel beneath me was still a little bit moist from last night's rain and, although riding on gravel is relatively safe as it isn't slippery, I didn't knew the trail that well. 

So riding on a slower pace gave me the opportunity to observe the surroundings and to take in all of the small details. 

The fresh smell of the pine trees, the soft sound produced by my wheels on the gravel and the different shades of green every plant had.

I kept pedaling and pedaling, and with every stroke of the pedal, I absorbed more and more of the near environment as I was passing by. 

One thing though that it really catch my eye was a particular spot that had lots of rocks and the whole space between each rock was covered by some really small, but very bright, green colored plants. 

The upper leaves of these little plants had the shape of a star. I tried to capture them with my camera phone, but sadly it doesn't show that well. 

They seemed so fragile, however they didn't broke under my weight as I was walking all over them. 

A couple of meters to the left was another plant, with a cooler undertone in its green leaves, and as I was approaching to it, to take a better look, I spotted a mushroom hidden under it! 

And to my surprise it wasn't the only one there! I looked further up, behind the plant and it had a whole area filled with these. They were so beautiful and in total contrast with the environment and the star-shaped plants.

As you can see in the picture, the mushrooms are light brown, flat shaped and medium sized. I didn't touch them as I do not know anything about mushroom hunting. But as an avid mushroom eater, I just can't help myself and until now I wonder if they were edible.

Before leaving that space I just stood there and admired the contrasting colors one more time. Who knew that gray paired so well with green! It is not a combination of colors that we tend to see a lot, at least not for decorating places. 

Have you ever found any mushrooms while you're out with your bicycle?

Do you know how to pick them?