Many people have taken up new hobbies during this pandemic in order to quell boredom. Or they have revitalized old hobbies that they left in the past.
I am happy to say I finally revitalized an old hobby and bought myself a bicycle! I’ve been imagining getting my own bicycle for a while so it’s really exciting for me that I have one now.
I’ve been getting myself more comfortable on the bike and exploring some neighboring areas and parks. It’s been a great way to cover lots of ground and see new places right in my Miami backyard. In this post, I share a couple of the rides I’ve taken locally and explore other hobbies I’ve taken up since the pandemic started.
New (Not Biking) Hobbies
I have taken up several old and new hobbies since the pandemic began. For one, I started walking more. This started right before the pandemic hit when I discovered a really cute park near where I live. Taking walks became a mode of exercise and a way to get out into nature and still manage to (mostly) avoid people.
I swear, walks in this park with its gorgeous vegetation and jungle cat encounters completely helped sustain my mental health through 2020.
I also bought my first kayak right before the pandemic hit. I’ve had a great time taking the kayak out in some local favorite spots like Oleta River Park.
My favorite experience during the pandemic was kayaking near Titusville to see bioluminescence in the water at night. So amazing!
Kayaking at night near Titusville, FL
I’m hoping to explore some new spots to kayak in the coming weeks, like maybe even another day trip to the keys!
In September, I took on a challenge of doing 30 days of yoga. I used to do yoga in graduate school but hadn’t gotten into it in years. A yoga teacher friend and her studio’s virtual class deal ($30 for 30 days) inspired me to start again.
Soon, the 30 days led to 60 which eventually became 100 straight days of doing at least 15 minutes of yoga a day! So far I haven’t missed a day since I began. I’ve lost count but I’m at somewhere near 150 days!
Me at 60 days of yoga!
I know, I impressed even myself with this! Now yoga has become less a hobby and more just a part of my routine. The health benefits, both physical and mental, have been so good. I honestly can’t imagine not continuing yoga.
Buying My First Bicycle
The first time I got back on a bicycle as an adult was on my trip to London in 2012. I spent so many years off a bicycle that it really wasn’t “like riding a bike.” The first thing I did was crash right into a fountain. The bicycle was too big for me to touch the ground but still—I was a mess and needed to get my balance back.
What I didn’t expect to get back so quickly was the desire to bike again! I was living in New York City for two more years after that and I was definitely feeling like I could use a bike there. The city is quite dangerous to ride in for cyclists, though. Plus, I was planning my big trip around the world and couldn’t afford the extra expense.
During my travels over the years, I’ve enjoyed the times like in Thailand when I took a bicycle around to sight see. While walking is always a great way to catch things that might otherwise go unnoticed, cycling is an awesome way to cover more ground and still get an intimate look at new places.
My ride around Sukhothai, Thailand
Fast forward to living on Long Island after my trip—I still didn’t buy one. I imagined I would when I had the extra money to burn. But, really, I have no excuse for why I didn’t buy one during those years. It just didn’t happen!
I thought I would eventually cave and buy a brand new bicycle here in Miami. But then a few weeks ago a friend I met virtually during the pandemic mentioned they were selling theirs! I figured this was my moment. It was time to finally get a bicycle.
I paid via Venmo and picked it up safely from her. It’s a Huffy that goes for around $250. I bought it for $85. I’ve since invested a bit of money into it—I got it a $55 tune up, a new seat ($25) and air pump ($30). But who cares! It’s mine and I figure I was being environmentally friendly by buying it used.
My bike fits great in the back of my car!
Neighborhood Rides
So far I’ve taken my bicycle on 3 rides: One time I rode all around the main roadways around the park near my house. I drove to a different park once to take it around some new scenery. I also took it on a longer, 10 mile ride through my neighborhood and around a local golf course.
My 10 mile route around the Miccosuki Golf Course
The park that I drove to 2 weekends ago is called Larry and Penny Thompson Memorial Park. This park is also a campground. The first signs of people I saw were RVs and camping trailers. When I saw other cyclists I knew I was in the right place. I hopped out to try out the trails.
I really enjoyed this park! The vegetation there was a nice change of scenery from what I always see in Kendall Hammocks park. There were lots of nice paths to take, some paved and some not.
A 2.9 mile trail loops around a lake and there are several different paths you can take around it. There is a main trail, one that is off the path and right alongside the lake, and some others that veer off into the bush.
I went around the lake twice and tried a couple of different ways around.
There are lots of muscovy ducks here—these are native to Mexico, Central, and South Americas. They are super friendly and were nice enough to keep watch over my new bicycle while I was taking some pictures.
Some of the trails are a bit bumpy and take you over some sharp coral rocks. I was a little nervous for the tires on my bike but they held up well!.
There are large coral rocks that flank the entrance to several of the trails. I stood next to one for perspective on how large!
As I bicycle around these different parts of Miami, I am reminded of what I feel when I travel. I love to explore. I love to be outside and active. Bicycling is a great little travel-reminiscent adventure activity. I’m so glad I’ve added this to my quarantine hobbies!
So far, the bicycle is doing well and I am getting used to taking it around. The true test this past weekend was the 10 mile ride I took. I’m getting ready to take it on one of my favorite local bike trails—Shark Valley!
Shark Valley is a 15-mile loop so I needed to make sure the bicycle was comfortable enough for that long ride. I am looking forward to taking it there so I don’t have to pay the bicycle rental fee this time!
In Conclusion
Taking up new or revitalizing old hobbies is how I’ve managed to get through this pandemic. Bicycling is something I’ve been wanting to do more of for a long time! Travel taught me how much I enjoy it. So it only made sense to introduce it into my Miami quarantine lifestyle.
Now I’m excited to take my bicycle with me to explore more of Miami and beyond!
