Going Green... Ouch

Temp: 35
Time: 1 1/2 hours total
Distance: ?

With a packed schedule lined up for today and my DH with our only car I suddenly realized that we NEEDED to go grocery shopping. Not just "lets pick up a few things" but like "we won't have ANYTHING to eat but diced tomatoes if we don't go shopping." I tried to figure out a way to work it in this evening but that wasn't working. I'd have to do it during the day with no car. With my bike in the shop I was momentarily at a loss. Then I realized I could take my DH's bike! I lowered the seat as far as it could go and thankfully it was just right. I got everything hooked up, the kids loaded in and set out. It was still in the 30's so this time I wore my bike shorts under my jeans with a long sleeve shirt and a fleece jacket. This combo worked great. Going to the store was of course all down hill! Yay! The boys squealed and laughed as we zipped around the potholes on the dirt road. It was quiet and we were the only traffic on the whole length of the road. Where this road meets the main road is only a few hundred yards from the grocery store. I pulled in and locked the bike and trailer up to one of the posts supporting the awning. We trooped inside and had a remarkably calm trip through the store. I decided to not get the ice cream for tomorrow's party, or the milk since it comes in a glass jar but I did risk a carton of eggs. Everything fit in two large cloth bags and one plastic sack. I was pretty impressed with myself. I managed to get the two large bags in the "trunk" of the burley and put the plastic sack of canned goods on the floor by the kids feet. It was a little cramped and I probably added at least 20 more pounds to my load. I headed out knowing that going home was ALL uphill. Yuck! There were really only 4 short uphills that were killer. I practiced my standing pedaling on the first and almost made it to the top. The second two I had the kids get out and walk since there was sidewalk and these hills were quite a bit longer. Things seemed to be going fine. I was plenty warm so I removed my fleece jacket and continued with just a light long sleeved shirt. It's funny how It didn't occur to me that I was really cooking and sweating because it was so cool out. I felt really comfortable. I was about a quarter of a mile from home starting up the last steep hill (which ends at my driveway) when I began to think about getting off and letting the boys walk. Suddenly I got "the call" you know, "the call" from nature. The sudden, "Whoa! I gotta go, NOW!" kinda call. I looked around desperately, and though "oh crap!"there was nothing for it, I would have to pedal my heart out and hope I could make it into the house. I really cranked it that last little bit, and was attacked by several painful abdominal cramps for my effort. I pulled the bike into the garage, locked the outside door so the kids couldn't run off, unbuckled them and sprinted into the house.
I forgot something very important, when one goes from a pounding. gasping exercise in a cold climate to a stationary position in a MUCH warmer environment with no cool-down in between bad things can happen. I was suddenly very hot, light headed and couldn't catch my breath. I nearly passed out before I managed to strip off my sweaty shoes, socks and jeans. After.. you know, taking care of things I simply laid down on the cool bathroom floor for a few minuets while the world spun and my heart rate finally settled into a normal rhythm. I drank a lot of water, ate some easter candy and soon felt much better.