new in town

[Mel]

Hi! I'm Mel. I'm a single mom with one teenage son. I like to hike and bike and generally wander around in the woods, or by the water, or in thrift stores.

We're living up by Westwood Lake, staying with family for the time being. It's not terribly convenient for getting to stores and such because I don't drive, and getting up the hill we live on on a bike is no picnic, but it is awfully nice for evening walks around the lake, or spur-of-the-moment walks to Morrell or Westwood Ridges.

I've posted on the forums before when I was visiting Nanaimo (from Ontario.) Now I've finally come to Nanaimo for good, and it is good indeed. Everyone I've met here so far is awfully friendly.

I love these forums - the photos section is my favourite. Boy, you guys are awesome photographers.

[Raen]

Hi Mel,

Welcome to Nanaimo! The Westwood area is beautiful for walks but yeah, I can see how the walk or bike ride into town would be abit of a drag!

[Gail]

Welcome to the Island! Hope things work out for you and your son.Nanaimo is a great place for outdoor activites. If you get to know someone around the area, perhaps you could "invite" yourself for a ride into town when they are headed that way?
How about the bus route? I am not up oin the sched's for the routes.but it may be a good thing to bone up on

[Mel]

Yep, I've taken to carrying a bus schedule with me practically all the time. (Although it seems faster to walk, sometimes.) I do hitch a lift with family when someone's going downtown (or wherever) but I'm going to try to ride my bike as much as I can, to work and on errands - I could use the exercise, plus a bike is non-polluting, so it's win-win. Er, except for the part where I feel like my legs are going to fall off, but maybe I'll get used to that.

[Gail]

How many times have you walked the Westwood trail now Mel I haven't been on that trail for years.....used to take the boxers for a good walk up there.now we have 1600 acres up the road that we take the dogs walking off leash.much easier!

[RyanCoffey]

Welcome to Nanaimo Mel.

A few years ago I was living in a place where I had to do about a 2km walk to get to the train station, and as the train left at a specific time and I had to catch it or be late for work ( a very big problem in my job at the time) I often ended up running like mad to make sure I made it. For about two months, I had sore/stiff legs. After that period, and progressively more so in time, my legs got used to it. In fact, they became stronger than they were even when I was a teenager. what used to make my heart pound its way through my chest, eventually made me sweat a bit and that was it.

Now, the thing is, it's going to start raining in a few months. Maybe you're the sort who doesn't care, and I respect people like that, but for most people the rain will eventually get to you.

I'm rambling aren't I? I'm nowhere near old age, yet I'm already blabbing like an old man.