I don’t bear in mind when or the place, however in some unspecified time in the future I discussed that my elder son is a Airplane Fred, and I wish to thank the one that urged Touchdown Lights Park and Planeview Park for planespotting:

We swung by there whereas out on the Kissena Velodrome this weekend and it didn’t disappoint:

…although it did deafen.

That’s LaGuardia Airport, by the way in which. Previous to this I’ve usually taken him to Jamaica Bay, since not solely is it near JFK, however there’s additionally some pure magnificence for the non-Airplane Freds within the household to take pleasure in. Plus, I used to dwell round there, so I can take little nostalgia journeys and relive my boyhood:

The way to catch fish:

• Discover bottle or jar
• Tie string round opening of bottle or jar
• Put bread in bottle or jar
• Submerge bottle or jar
• Wait till jar is stuffed with hungry fish
• Reel in jar

I’m not a Fish Fred so I don’t know what these are, however we used to name them “killies.” Whether or not that’s an precise sort of fish or a hyper-localism I don’t know. I’d think about a Fish Fred might use these as bait to catch greater fish, however my ambitions have been by no means that large…which just about explains the following course of my life, come to consider it:

And sure, I used to be relieved to be taught that these fish do eat gluten-free bread.

Talking of nature, I loved some this previous weekend, and it happens to me that this bike is now almost two (2) years previous:

Somebody who’s by no means ridden a Platypus would possibly have a look at the step-thru body and the basket and assume it’s simply an upright previous girl bike. (I imply no offense to older girls, by the way in which; I’m simply saying the type of people that make assumptions about Platypodes additionally little question dismiss folks as “previous girls.”) In actual fact, it’s a sprightly bike that encourages spirited driving, each on pavement and on the “G-stuff:”

The 29er tires I’ve on there are overkill for the street, however they’re a lot of enjoyable off of it:

And along side the lengthy wheelbase, not solely is the bike extraordinarily clean, but it surely’s additionally just about inconceivable to spin out whereas climbing on free terrain:

But regardless of the lengthy wheelbase it additionally adjustments path readily, like when you might want to keep away from an explosion of seasonal shade:

And naturally the basket means I can simply combine an errand or two into my journey, which permits me to fake I’m really getting stuff achieved once I’m driving it:

Mainly, the key is to volunteer to go choose one thing up, after which to fade for 3 hours.

On the similar time, whereas the Platypus isn’t even remotely plodding our ponderous (I imply it ain’t gentle, however until you’re carrying it up the steps you don’t discover), the truth that it’s a particularly snug bike with a step-thru body that’s very simple to decorate makes it an apparent alternative for around-town driving. Because of this, along with being my go-to bike for mixed-terrain rides that additionally contain carrying stuff and or fetching stuff, it’s the bike I exploit for any and all household rides and date rides:

Together with seaside runs, clearly:

In different phrases, the Platypus accounts for just about all of my non-Strava mileage (in addition to a good quantity of my Strava mileage).

In fact in an ideal world I’d be doing nearly all my mileage on the Platypus and Strava-ing none of it. Alas, I’m not there but–however I’m engaged on it. With just a little luck, I’ll get there finally.