Biking the Wolds
Since the weather was rubbish last Saturday we decided Sunday to take our bikes out for the first time. Of course, I was too busy trying to get everything sorted that I completely forgot to take photos. It was a quick ride, just to get the feel for them and to see how Sofia would do in the baby seat. Everything went fine aside from the little helmet I got for Sofia. She can't wear it in the baby seat because the back of the seat comes up so high and the helmet goes back too far. I put it on her and she spent the entire time with both hands pushing up the sides trying to get it off. Because of the issue I just mentioned, I stopped to have a look at her and the helmet was pushed down in the front and she was looking at me through the holes in the top. So, after all of that--I don't think she can wear it. Any suggestions?
Tom and I took Sofia out on our local bike trail, The Hudson Way, on Monday and Wednesday evenings. The Hudson Way is a former railway line that ran between Market Weighton and Beverley which opened back in 1865 and stopped servicing the area in 1965 (and now they think it would be nice to have a train line again!). It is named after George Hudson, the railway pioneer. It is 11 miles along a path that is mostly graded rocks. It is a bit rough in some places, but generally easy to ride on. Since we live in the edge of the Wolds it gets a wee bit hilly to get anywhere unless you head towards the flat areas which aren't nearly as picturesque or interesting. I am sure over time I will get used to all of the hills, but right now it is a bit slow going.
Last night it was a beautiful evening so we headed out for a ride around 8pm on the Hudson Way. We got a couple of miles down the track and made a detour on to the country roads headed towards Dalton. After a couple more miles we turned around since it was getting cool and the sun was starting to set. Off in the distance I could see a reddish looking field. We thought it was soil, but then I remembered seeing poppies a couple of weeks ago. We went a bit further to see the poppy field. It was so pretty in the evening sunlight. Of course we only had the little camera with us so it was difficult to capture just how beautiful it really was.
Anyway. After looking at the poppies we headed back. We hadn't realised that the wind was at our backs on the way out, but quickly found ourselves pedaling into the wind to get home. It felt like it took ages and I was getting tired out. Sofia was starting to complain a little bit, too. We finally made it home after riding for just over an hour. Sofia was exhausted. She had a bottle and a nappy change and off to bed she went. She slept all night in her cot without waking until 6:30 this morning. Yay, Sofia!! I will do a Sofia update in another post.
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Comments
Should you take your baby along?
In part, because most babies younger than that do not have the neck strength to support the weight of a helmet, making them especially vulnerable if you need to make any quick stops and the like. The need for a helmet is more arguable when using a trailer, but they say no babies in trailers until one year old because they rattle around enough that the babe is again vulnerable.
I've just been reading a lot about this topic because I got a new bike trailer for Jake and I'm ready to ROLL!! I took him around the block one day just to try it out, but the reading made me too paranoid to attempt anything longer yet. I'm going to wait at least until August, when he hits the one year month.
YMMV (as well as your level of paranoia!)
The wolds are beautiful - the poppy field is particularly gorgeous. Lucky you have access to such lovely countryside. How big is the town you live in? Does your husband work there, or does he commute?
My husband drives about 20-25 miles to work. It is much flatter down where he works, far prettier where we live. Our town has something like 6000 people. Just the right size! East Yorkshire is one of the most rural counties in England. There is abundant countryside everywhere!! We love it.
Actually, I have been getting less sleep with Sofia in her cot. She slept soundly and through the night in the bed with me. Now that she willingly sleeps in her cot I have to get up occasionally during the night for her dummy or if she can't get back to sleep, but it is usually only a couple of minutes. It just takes me a while to get back to sleep. I will adjust with time. I am so proud of how quickly she has adapted this week. One major change in the past week or so...no more breastfeeding aside from one time a day in the morning. She isn't interested anymore. I will write up a post in the next few days with an update. Feeling lazy!