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Garage Sale Ride
Ride Report 5/17/03
Written By:Carolyn White
I was the only Slug Velo rider. Really surprised me. On the other hand, I never got an email notice of the ride. I just remembered it from the earlier rides, had it on my calendar and went to the web site for details. So if you can, PLEASE CHECK TO INSURE I RECEIVE FUTURE NOTICES!
The ride was great. There were just five of us: Team Blueberry on the tandem with their carrier behind, Larry, Mike and then ME. They all were very thoughtful of my beginner level and slow riding pace. We rode about 15 miles (just Felt like 30!), through some rain (my first riding in the rain experience!) and up several long inclines. I took the gear-shifting class at the Bike Gallery recently and did just fine: shifting gears, feeling those thigh muscles, and praying for "Garage Sale >>" turns as I went!
The stopping for sales gave me lots of chances to catch my breath and re-energize. The others got some good buys: cameras, biking shoes and sock covers. I got the ride prize for a FREEBEE - a teddy bear! We ate lunch on the steps of one garage sale and took time for coffee and conversation at the end. Made a note of one location and went back with my car. Spent $20 for a table with wrought iron pedestal base and 24" Carrerra marble top with beveled edge! It was in two pieces for transport in my backseat. I'm so excited to have it next to my antique iron bed and working well in front of the wall heater.
The Vancouver Bike club had listed the ride for Sunday by mistake. So, Team Blueberry had to do the ride all over again just like the movie Groundhog Day. But they said they found more stuff and were amazed by all new sales. They went to Pendleton over Memorial Day for the Century Ride of the Century.
Life is good and bike riding is so much fun. See you again soon with Slug Velo!
Carolyn White, Biker and Garage Sale Enthusiast
Garage Sale Ride
Ride Report 7/15/00
We handed out mouthwatering blueberry puffed pastries to those going on our ride. The new member group riders would have to fend for themselves. Off we rode to find our treasures. Bec scored big at the first stop finding a like new 12-cup coffeepot still in the box. She plans on using it to make coffee for the winter Blueberry rides. We followed garage sale signs as if they were Dan Henries. They took us on a whirligig ride around SE neighborhoods on streets we seldom ride. We averaged 1 garage sale per half mile hitting at least 20 sales all total.
Louie's brother-in-law, Tim, found a slightly used graphite-handle framing hammer that he had wanted for a long time.
Grinning from ear to ear, Deborah held up a shiny kitchen gadget that she just had to have.
Tim Cannell found a hardbound copy of a favorite book from his childhood. Anita, being a savvy shopper,
sorted through several boxes of miscellaneous baby clothes until she found just the right items for her grandkids.
Although she only spent 50 cents, the items she bought looked as if they cost $50.It was early in the ride but our trailer was starting to fill up. Bec found a powerful Toro model 1500 week-wacker for a song. Louie thought it was too big to carry but Bec insisted so it ended up on the top of the pack. At another sale, just as we were leaving, Louie noticed a milk crate full of petrified wood under one of the tables. At only 25 cents per rock, he just couldn't pass them up. Just like in the Lucy Show Louie loaded up the trailer with the rocks. Bec said, "If that trailer gets any heavier, you will have some s'plainin to do."
Even though most of the folks we encountered were enamoured with our tandems and trailer, they didn't seem to cut us any slack on the prices. We were halfway through the ride, eating lunch at Creston Park, when Bec realized that her bankroll was getting thin. Tim Cannell said, "Don't look at me. I still owe Jim 60 cents from the last ride." Louie countered, "That's Ok. I still have some money." So back out we went, loosing Tim and Deborah to their home since it was just around the corner. Our intention was to make a straight line back to Lentz Park, stopping only at a few obvious sales. However, the sales keep appearing before us as if by magic with better and better junk at each one. Other items found include 32 ounces of hand cleaner for $1, 2 large floor mats for 25 cents each, a winter wind bike training suit for $1, 3 original label Elvis Presley 45's for 75 cents each, and a computer program called Greeting Workshop for $2.
We said our farewell to Tim and Anita at 92nd as they turned off to head home. On our way to iced coffee we encountered two young ladies who knew us from our web site. They asked if we got any good buys as they pedaled past us.
We learned much from this ride. We now know that garage saleing on a bike is an activity best enjoyed by close friends. We missed the mark by trying to make this a bike club activity but we will keep trying new things. Look for the Blueberry Rides " Take Your Neighbor's Dog for a Bike Ride" Ride coming soon!
Blueberry Rides