Clara and Miles in the bike trailer

This evening, I went to pick up my kids from daycare on my bike. I loaded them up in the bike trailer, and after dinner my wife and I rode with them to our neighborhood pool. Despite the endless string of 100 degree days, this evening we were actually chilly by the time we got out of the pool.

With beautiful bronze clouds in the sky above us reflecting the setting sun, it was getting dark when we left. As we went down a steep hill near our home, I heard my children make a collective “Weeee!” in the darkness doing their best roller coaster imitation. My son then demanded my wife and I “race” the rest of the way home. When either of us got too far ahead of the other, my son would protest reprimanding the speedy cyclist for going too fast and barking “Faster, Faster” to the lagging rider.

It was a joyful experience and made me thankful we have decided to replace the car with the bicycle for most trips. This evening wouldn’t have been nearly as pleasant in a car. I wonder what it is like for my son and daughter to grow up where riding in the trailer and biking everywhere is a normal experience, feeling the fresh cool breeze of the rushing air instead of the stale air conditioning of the automobile. I tend to think these are the kind of memories that will last into adulthood. This is summer, and it’s good.