A Bicycle Built For…Meemaw? Welcome To My Second Childhood!

I’ve checked another item off of Meemaw’s always changing Bucket List. I officially entered my second childhood…and bought a bicycle! A Huffy Nel Lusso “Beach Cruiser” no less!

Ever since we bought our Florida condo, Peepaw has been tooling around the beach and our local neighborhood paths on a bike. But the only bike I had access to was simply too big for me! I’m less than five feet tall…and shrinking every year, so a 26 inch wheel bike made it almost impossible for me to control since my feet could NEVER touch the ground. In  fact I can always make friends burst out laughing when I sit way back on ANY chair and begin to swing my legs since my feet never touch the floor. (Does anybody out there remember Lily Tomlin’s Edith Ann?)

I started to shop for a bike as soon as we arrived here at Christmastime. But that’s when I realized shopping for a bicycle several days after Christmas is NOT a good time. Note the “vast” selection at our nearest Walmart store…

The selection was about the same in every local store we went to. But the one thing I was able to determine was that I really do require a smaller than usual adult bike. This chart was all the proof I needed.

I LOVE the quirky color combinations and the clunky shape of the Beach Cruiser bikes, and after much searching I was able to order mine through Walmart. I had it shipped to the nearest store for pick up…and unfortunately it arrived unassembled…and still in the box! But never fear…Peepaw was here to save the day! We took it home (in our convertible that doubles as a pickup truck) and Peepaw got right to work.

While he worked on the bicycle I was entertaining visitors…my cousin Sue and friend Nic. And by entertaining I mean…making Margaritas on the deck!

Now keep in mind my new bicycle has all the bells and whistles I think EVERY bike should have. So when Peepaw rolled the finished bike to me on the deck I just HAD to perform a test…

To see if the drink holder on the bike really would hold a drink!

Now let me assure you I will NEVER “Drink and Peddle”…but that drink holder IS a perfect place to take a bottle of water along on a ride. And the cell phone holder fits my phone perfectly! 

So who is Nel Lusso? I thought it was a famous person. But turns out it’s Italian for “Lap of Luxury”!!! Who knew??? I’m still laughing about THAT!

The next day Peepaw and I set out on my “maiden voyage” and the bike worked great. I only wish my old knees were in better shape. And losing a pound (or fifty) would be a good thing too. But I’m afraid that my motto “Never Trust A Skinny Cook” has made that future fifty pound weight loss a pipe dream. But dreams are good…

My first ride to the beach was awesome…until I stopped to look at the gorgeous view. When I looked down two minutes later…that brand new rear tire was totally FLAT! (Apparently they don’t make tubes like they used to.)

So Peepaw came to the rescue once again. He peddled his bike home, got the car, came back, loaded up my bike and me…and took us home for repairs. Then he headed to the store to buy a new tube and he replaced the old new tube with an even newer new tube. (Whew! What a guy!)

I’ve had one spill on my new toy, but I can honestly say my only injury was the grass stain on my white capris. I was riding on the sidewalk and I rounded a corner too slowly.  My “fall” was an embarrassing slow motion descent into some very soft dirt and a thick cushion of grass. I simply tipped over! The only pain was my pride when an old man (older than me!) rode up and said “Are you OK Ma’am?” Yup. Embarrassing to say the least! (Ma’am??)

Our next outing was to a place we have always wanted to explore…but I didn’t want to risk riding in the hideous South Florida traffic to get there. So Peepaw loaded our bikes into the trunk and off we went.

Our destination was only about two miles away…but it’s a WORLD away from the hustle and bustle near the beach. We headed to Hugh Taylor Birch State Park right here in Fort Lauderdale.

And it’s plain to see why this 160 acre park has earned this designation as one of America’s BEST State Parks.

Even though we were only there for a bicycle ride and a picnic, this park (open 365 days per year) offers so much more. Visitors can choose activities like swimming, kayaking, Segway tours, live animal shows, Ranger guided tours and nature walks, and full moon canoe tours through the mangroves.  The park also rents all types of “toys”  like jet skis, bicycles, paddleboards and pedal boats. In fact there is even an Elks Youth Camp Rental offering six cabins that can house up to 68 kids. (What an amazing youth camp experience that would be.) This park is a real oasis in the heart of a crazy, busy beach city!

The $6 per car admission (for up to 8 passengers) was well worth the price, and the instant quiet was incredible…especially since the park is within walking distance to Fort Lauderdale Beach and busy A1A highway. Total serenity and peace…

We drove halfway through the park and unloaded our bikes. We rode for a few minutes until we found a shady picnic spot by the Intracoastal Waterway where we unpacked our lunch. Peepaw opened his newspaper and I watched the boat traffic as we enjoyed our meal.

People nearby were grilling, and I watched some tourists from Ohio as they ran along the seawall. I had a hunch what they were following and I was right. A manatee was moving along close to the wall. Those beautiful, docile “sea cows” can be found in the waters all around us. (In fact we have had them visit our canal right outside our condo.)

After lunch we dumped our trash in the garbage and recycling bins nearby and we continued our ride. What a WONDERFUL park! It seemed a million miles from civilization.

It was a very warm day, so most wildlife was invisible to us, but I did see two huge Gopher Tortoises…

Sadly, it wasn’t long before my knees told me it was time to quit riding for the day. But what a wonderful day it was!

Yes…this old Meemaw is grateful that her second childhood has arrived with enough good health remaining to be able to enjoy days like this…with Peepaw…and a bicycle that puts me squarely in the “lap of luxury” so matter where I ride!