Thursday, July 21, 2011

Adventure under the Big Sky
Thursday July 21, 2011
By JENNIFER BOTKIN PHILLIPS
COLUMNIST, northjersey.com
I was in Livingston, Mont. visiting my daughter and grandson, Finn, when the Carson & Barnes Circus came to town for one performance. We thought it would be fun making memories and sharing Finn's first circus experience together, so when Lesa said, "Mom, let's ride the bikes to the circus," I answered, "Sure, honey." It sounded like an adventure and a great opportunity to be one with the land.

Never mind the fact that I wasn't exactly in bicycle riding shape and got breathless climbing up the subway stairs in New York City. I'm now in Big Sky Country "where the deer and the buffalo roam and the skies are not cloudy all day."

Being in such a small town, walking or biking to your destination in Livingston is a popular mode of transportation. And, biking to the fairgrounds bordered by the mighty Yellowstone River was only a ten block trip. I thought it would be a snap!

So, Lesa hitched the little carriage to her bike for Finn and in no time we'd packed up water and snacks and were in tandem heading to the fairgrounds.

Following Lesa and getting farther behind with every passing block, I kept chanting to myself…"I can do this; I can do this… no turning back now." I wanted to be an active Grandma, not just the rocking chair kind. But, after the first block I was already huffing and puffing and thinking that the bike seat could sure use more padding.

Once we got to the fairgrounds, we hopped off our bikes and walked them to the bike parking area.

After taking a moment to recoup, we headed to the ticket stand. On the way we passed the giant slide; the kind on which one climbs up one side and then slides down the other. Finn, at 2 years and 10 months, is one of those little boys who never stops. Having had his first slide ride a few months ago, he was eager to go again.

Mommy firmly said, "Later Finn." So, after diverting his attention to the camel and elephants, we continued on to the Big Top.
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