Long before it was hip to be eco-friendly, Videomaker’s hometown of Chico, California was doing the Save-the-Earth thing. We honor, preserve and sometimes battle over our old-growth trees. We’ve been a cycling town for decades, and even have a Velo cycling club, several century-mile cycle clubs, and a world-class cycling team, sponsored by our own world-class beer-haus: The Sierra Nevada Brewery.

This week was “Bike Chico“, a week-long event to encourage people to ride their bikes to work and school. Events around town included Energizer Stations with drinks and snacks for riders; and games, demos and important bike helmet safety tips for kids.

Last week was “Free Bus Ride” week, where anyone could ride any city bus for free all week. I sampled a ride, it didn’t take too long.

This is just a taste of what makes Chico such a wonderful place to live and work. It’s a college town with a small population, and has an honest-to-goodness thriving Old Town Downtown where you can actually stroll Main Street in the evening and stop off at Shubert’s Hand Made Ice-Cream shop, sitting outside on the sidewalk and watch and wave as other strollers go by.We have two marvelous Farmer’s Markets weekly, one selling veggies and goodies early in the morning, and the other more of a carnival, meet and greet in the summertime evenings. We even have outdoor movie-in-the-park night in the summertime.

Karma wasn’t on MY side this week, though, when it came to getting to work. I rode Monday and Tuesday, but decided to drive on Wednesday, due to a stupid need to run errands on my lunch hour. And wouldn’t you know it, my car broke down on the way to the office and I spent the next 2 hours waiting for a tow truck and then getting an estimate. It’s a German car, Audi A4 Quattro, All-wheel Drive. Nice sweet ride… until it doesn’t ride.

COST: Starter and Ignition, $1500, New key, $300, a chance to ride my bike for a few more weeks: Priceless.

It’s going to cost me a couple paychecks to get that baby out of the shop! Stupid gas-guzzling machine!

I guess I’ll be riding my bike more, not less… and taking the bus a time or two.

Chico California a great place to be. Just some rambling musings before I hop on my bike and head for the park. Night, all! Happy Weekend!