Lucky number thirteen, and there's an end: Errandonnées #12 - 13

I was not planning to be finished the Errandonnée yesterday. Today was warm, and I thought I would go out and wash my bike, which it desperately needs, and go to the library, but the lure of the jammies was too great and I actually sewed some stuff and ran some internal errands. So here are my final entries.



The DC and I often say "We should go out to brunch more" because a) it's a very Toronto thing to do and b) we really like other people making us breakfast. The problem is that a) the DC likes to sleep in on weekends, b) I'm kind of lazy, and c) the DC really dislikes waiting in line for food. Which can make brunching problematic. However, we made an effort yesterday, riding out to Lady Marmalade in Riverdale.

We took a route that was mostly bike lanes, although Sunday morning traffic is such that it doesn't really matter. Several things I noticed:

1. I was determined to wear my cape, because I have finally sewn on the hook and button at the neck to keep it from gaping (although I will sort of miss using the Coffeeneuring button) and also because I just don't want to wear my winter coat again. Honestly, it was too windy for a cape. Biking east to brunch, the wind caught me from behind several times and the cape acted like a sail. Mostly when I was trying to stop, which was... exciting. Biking west? Let's just say that the sail was not helpful. So. Tired.
   
   
2. Gerard St is a MESS. Can somebody move it up on the repaving list, like, now? Bone-jarring is a mild description.
   
   
3. The snow that takes the longest to melt is the curb banks. They sometimes extend half a meter out from the curb, which means that lazy drivers are still parking in the bike lanes. Melt, already!
   
   
4. My brakes have been squealing like a banshee lately. I thought it was something to do with the cold, but they seem to be getting worse as the temperatures warm up. We're hoping it's the salt and grit and not something that will cost money to fix.

We got to the restaurant well before any lines had started. I'm putting this trip under personal care instead of social because a) I wanted to use the category and b) the DC promptly got two magazines for us to read. Not exactly social.


A line-up had started by the time we left. The DC said that while the food was good, it wasn't worth lining up for. I pointed out that he had only the basic eggs, which are never worth lining up for. I had the cheese and spinach waffles. They are.

Afterwards, we went to the St. Lawrence Antiques Market. There is a very eclectic mix of stuff here.


Sadly, my picture of the giant bunny suit next to the vintage typewriters didn't come out, but I betcha this is still available...


I wasn't looking for anything in particular, but I still managed to come away with a few finds.

Now, before you say something like "Doesn't she have enough gloves?" I'll have you know that a) no and b) I have been looking for a pair of light wool, light brown gloves such as these for a while. They are perfect for 5-10°C. So there. The other items area $1-pie server I could have used on Friday, and some vintage buttons made of glass and vegetable ivory, which Google tells me is made from palm nuts.

On the way home, I thought I would stop by the library to pick up a book I had on hold (still biking into the wind -- maybe I should have tried tacking?), but I got the opening time wrong by an hour and a half, so I sailed home with the wind at my back. My last errandonnée was aborted, but at least I had a fun run at the end.

And so the official Errandonnée is over with all the categories used. I liked the mix of categories this time, although I think a specific food category would be good, and I had fun seeing other people's entries for "You carried WHAT?!" Naturally, the unofficial errandonnéering will continue, because I still have to wash my bike and replace that lost hook and get that book from the library...

A word about my bike. It's a 2011 Opus Nuovella. She's a bit on the grotty side right now thanks to all the salt, and I'm hoping a good wash will take care of the squealing brakes problem, but she's taken me through another winter like a champ and doesn't mind one little bit when I take her to Hoopdriver for a check-up and look wistfully at the Pashley Princess. She knows where my loyalties lie.

By the way, #30DaysOfBiking is coming up again in April. I'm trying to decide whether I should take the pledge under my personal Twitter or teacher Twitter to encourage those students who still think only men bike.


Errandonée tally
Personal care: brunch at Lady Marmelade (8.1 km)
Wild Card: St. Lawrence antiques market (11.3 km)
Aborted Non-store errand: not picking up book at library

Total Mileage: 79.7 km/49.5 mi
Total Categories used: 9