Errand 8 — Category (2nd; second use): Bike shop. Ahh, much nicer than the experience earlier in the week. I got a friendly greeting here, and so did others who came into the shop.
Sadly, though, no high-vis gloves, so Basil just checked out his non-folding compatriots, and we were on our way. (Look at that guy — so compact! So portable! Not to diss big bikes; I’m sure they have their place.)
Learned/Observed: Staff of this independent bike store is a lot more invested in being in this shop than was Mr. Chainstore Rep from the other day.
Errand 9 — Category (6th): Personal Care (or possibly “Wild Card” if it comes to that). This may be a bit of a fudge. I actually made a “personal care” stop during Errandonnee: Part 1, trying to buy bath salts, but the store was so stinky, I had to leave, and didn’t write it up.
I avoid hair salons, manicures and so on like the plague, and our (excellent, non-bank) financial institution is a 70 mile/112.6 km round trip on highways, so all of those were out as options. Nonetheless, MG has allowed “personal finance” errands in this category, and I hope I’m not pushing the limits too much here: I cycled to the post office to mail our bills.
Learned/Observed: It was weirdly tricky to pose Basil next to anything that represented the post office while at the same time allowing a glimpse of him. I’d never noticed how bare this lobby is.
Errand 10 — Category (4th 5th, second use): Lunch. Spring! Rolls! (Spring . . . rolls! Why yes, it will, as soon as these Arctic storms depart . . . .)
A woman stopped as she passed Basil. “It that a Brompton?” she said. I was impressed; an accurate identification here in the hinterlands is unusual. A great conversation ensued, covering folding bicycles, Minis (the cars, also British), and Bromptons in general.
Learned/Observed: I’m kind of backward in the socializing department, but I’ll talk Bromptons forever!
Errand 11 — Category (6th 7th): Grocery Store. We stopped in for a few items at our organic market. That’s just about 50% of the produce available — but quite a lot of it is from local sources.
Learned/Observed: I bought a bit of produce, but wasn’t tempted by anything else. The store, like just about every other organic/health food market I see these days, doesn’t exactly sell health(y) food. The aisles are full of processed foods (or, one might say, junk food) made with organic ingredients. I guess it’s a step forward? (Are chemical-free Cheeto-like “foods” really an advance?)
Errand 12 — Category (7th 8th): Dinner. Basil and I went home and suggested that Dr. Diarist and Argyll join us for dinner at a local Mexican joint.
Argyll and Basil, with us, waiting to be sorted by the hostess.
I forgot to forgot to take a photograph of our actual dinner; these were starters. The salsa was fine, but those tortillas were fried to perfection and the guacamole which followed was excellent, with diced, not smashed, fresh avocado.
Learned/Observed: Crispy tortillas and avocados, how I love thee.
Mileage: 12.00/19.3 km Errands: 5 Total Categories: 7
Cumulative Totals for Errandonnee:
Total Mileage: 20.12 miles/30 miles (32.38 km/48.2 km)
Total Errands: 12/12
Total Categories: 7/7 8/7
Edit 20 March: While finalizing the control card, I realized I’d messed up my categories. (Well, while finalizing the third attempt at a control card.) Counting and categorizing are proving a wee bit too challenging right now; perhaps my brain is in deep-freeze as a result of this past ferocious winter? Corrections noted above.
And double whoops . . . I thought I’d planned this so that my next ride — to the market for a more substantial grocery stop — would be errand 12, and would polish off the remaining miles. This carelessness — wrapping up the categories and errand count before finishing the mileage — is impugning my geek cred. I’m miffed, but shall persevere.