I love to walk.  Walking with friends to our local bakery is, in my opinion, more enjoyable than biking because the bakery is up and over the mountain.  I much prefer chatting while walking up rather than huffing and puffing as we crank it (the most I can get out while biking is “can’t…talk”).  Walking with friends just because you need a visit is preferred as well – I haven’t really gotten down the biking and talking thing – traffic kind of gets in the way for me.  Traffic also makes me ride a lot faster and with much focus when I walk I have the chance to stop – to admire the changing season, to notice the individual playing with their dog in the park – it reminds me why I love my neighborhood.

Walking also allows me to listen to music or the much loved podcast.  Today while walking I listened to the most recent episode of This American Life, and laughed out loud (and then immediately looking around to make sure no one was around to hear me) at the scenario of a woman walking up behind her significant other, who must have thought that she was going to give him a hug, and inexplicably performing the Heimlich maneuver.  No, he was not choking.

So although this blog is about our love for biking, I gotta say that I love walking too.

Cargo Frame Building Apprenticeship
The Center for Appropriate Transport and Human Powered Machines is introducing the first cargo bike building apprenticeship program of it’s kind. Over the span of a 5-month intensive program at the hands of Jan VanderTuin apprentices will learn everything it takes to both build cargo cycles and run the business side of a retail frameshop and cargo courier business. Tuition is $5000 for one of the three spots, with on-site housing available at the campus in Eugene Oregon.

What a great way to spend 5 months. sigh.