Jen & Eric 172- Subaru 10

Eric and I fell in love with biking last summer on our trip to PEI. Of course we had grown up biking in our neighborhoods, but as adults we hadn't done much cycling. I bought a Kona hybrid named "Hoo-Ha"-seriously. See My Hoo-Ha
I cross trained on the Hoo-Ha while living in Nashville, and occasionally would ride around Greeley to get around-but honestly, I didn't do much riding. Then we were invited to bike/camp on Prince Edward Island last July. I bought Eric a hybrid bike and off we went. Since then I've logged about 700 miles on the Hoo-Ha, and another 600 on my new Trek. Eric has done a great job of riding his bike to work whenever the weather is nice, and that brings me to the title of today's blog.

This week Eric and I rode a combined 172 miles and we drove the Subaru a total of 10 miles. Basically, that breaks down to a savings of $25.80 (172 miles, 26 mpg city mileage, 6.6 gallons of gas @ $3.90/gallon) If you want to log your own savings and see how many others commute in your community by biking/carpooling/public transportation, check out SmartTrips. We just calculated our gas savings, whereas SmartTrips actually calculates CO2 emissions, and average daily savings based on how much it costs to own a car-which is something like $0.70 per mile. Not only did we save money, but I feel great. I'm getting in better shape and I have more energy when I get to my destination.

I think that the city of Greeley has a street system that is bike friendly, but motorists aren't exactly cognizant of bikers. However, if more people start riding (and that may begin happening with gas prices so high) then maybe Greeley will become more bike friendly like Boulder and Fort Collins. So, next time you are going to run a quick errand , pick up your helmet and hop on your bike instead of grabbing the keys. Who knows-you might fall in love with bike commuting just like Jeneric :-)

Here are a few pictures to update where we are in the landscaping process...and cute Baby Erin pictures I wanted to share with everyone.

Kathy and I took Erin to Estes Park when we were babysitting her for the day. Deborah was in Estes Park at RYM camp, so we took the baby to visit. She wouldn't sleep in the car until we were ready to get out, so we plunked her in her stroller and she was out cold. Look at that belly!


Erin was talking to Blayne across the room...she sure is crazy like her daddy.


Here is the walkway I created from rocks I hounded up near the Green Dump. Mark is kind and lets me take all the rock I can haul from his new house in Drake. We are in the process of mulching the beds and planning what fun natives we will put in. (Not Native Americans, native plant species) Cache is in what we have deemed "the jungle" where she can hunt bugs and other critters yet still bark at everyone who walks by. My plan is to tackle the jungle next week and have it mulched as well.


Here is the updated garden. I've added some annuals near the birdbath, and the veggies are taking off. We eat lettuce everyday and can't pick it fast enough. The peas are just about ready. I plan to replant some of these cold weather lovers in the fall.


Our back porch area is waiting on someone to scrape the carpet glue off the cement so we can coat and stain it. Then it will be time for a pergola and lots of fun entertaining items (firepit, tables, tiki torches, solar lamps, grill area, etc...)


Erin loves her "E'ic" She loves to give kisses and flirt!