I was booked to take Auntie Annie out for an hour on a Monday morning in her locality near Zion Road/Havelock Road. I picked up a CWA Trishaw on Sunday and brought it back off road through East Coast Park to Marine Parade for Monday's early start. It feels heavier and handles very differently than my Nihola but it is great fun to ride and of course has capacity to carry two adults -even rather large ones!
On our way to River Valley (school holidays had begun to my ignorance or surprise!) so as of Sunday evening the plan had changed Charlie got to tag along too -naturally on his scooter until he ran out of steam.
East Coast Park on the way back into town was very easy and smooth but the CBD on a non-Car Free Sunday can be a real challenge. Despite losing time in the traffic we eventually hit the riverside route and took the "quiet route" option to pick up Auntie Annie. It was a real pleasure to spend time with her. She has lived in her current place for around fifty years (pointing out with a smile that she only had forty something years left on her lease!) and the immediate area all her life -she even showed us where she was born -an area that now houses riverside shops. Charlie re-energised scooted alongside most of the way but when he got tired Auntie Annie was more than happy to have him beside her. True to form though at the end of the ride Charlie facially protested at having his photograph taken! While his sweated through pilot was too tired to say no!
Our route home took us along the river route until the Fullerton when we turned off under the Helix Bridge past the Singapore Flyer and into the absolute joy to cycle that is Kallang Riverside Park with its welcome breeze. We followed on round to Stadium link and back round eventually to East Coast Park and the long cycle home.
So from where we started the journey home, I was able to leave the road at Kim Seng Bridge and not need to go on road again for another two hours when we reached Marine Parade.
On route we crossed this older pedestrian/cycle bridges at Kallang Riverside Park which was worth stopping to take a photo off. And of course there are quite significant new plans for that whole area.
Cycling Without Age is a wonderful concept but they do rely on individual and corporate donations to acquire and maintain the bikes. So if you don't have the time to offer pedal power you can still offer support.
