Who knew?

So there is a market for lemonade on the beach! However there are still a few kinks to figure out before I am a money making machine.
Considering it was Sunday, I really wasn't in a hurry to get out of bed and start a business. I figured no one is in a hurry on Sundays. But with Dave's comment from the evening before ("more sugar, less lemon," he didn't realize it was pure lemon juice in the jug!) circling in my head, I did get up and make some lemonade. I found a recipe that was a 1:1:5 ratio of simple syrup (sugar dissolved in water) to lemon juice to pure water. I adjusted it to 1:1.5:5, since I don't like really sweet drinks. Dave agreed. With the lemonade made, the true test began...fitting everything in the trailer and pulling it. Luckily, I had a brainstorm of realizing that I didn't have to buy the ice in my own neighborhood, I could WAIT. I know, common sense, but I was glad it occurred to me. I took the ride slow, as I had never pulled so much before, (and because Dave rides a 500 lb bicycle!) and I'm still not sure how much I can trust the "ball and cup" attachment of the trailer. It's not actually attached, it's just a little cup sitting on a ball that's attached to my bike. But it faired well, even over the earthquake-bumpy roads that are the 10th Avenue bicycle route. It was pretty overcast when we set out, but I was thinking that that was ok, because I wouldn't mind the first day being a little mellow. There is one really big hill that I was afraid I was going to have to walk up, but in the end, my legs muscled up it. We stopped at Safeway at the top of the hill to buy ice and I was shocked to have to pay $2.99/2.7kg bag. I was guessing that I would need three bags, but I had not bargained on spending $9 plus tax on ICE...it's water for goodness sakes! But what to do...I need ice.
We got to the beach without any difficulties, and then were confronted with all those stairs. I was so very happy to have Dave with me to figure it out the first time. We tried each taking a side and carrying it down, but that was awkward due to the wheels bumping into my legs. Then Dave had the brilliant idea of lifting up the side without the handle, so he could walk front ways down the stairs and me lifting up the side with the handle so I could walk front ways down the stairs. That worked fine and we made it down huffing and puffing but unhurt. I quickly realized that it was not going to work to pull my trailer around the beach: it was too heavy and too wide, there was no way I could get in between all the logs and people. The sun seemed to breaking through the clouds a bit, and there was a steady stream of people on their way down the stairs. We found a nice log to park at and chilled out for a bit. On Saturday, I bought a new soft-sided cooler, so I just put a pitcher of lemonade and six cups in with the ice and carried the cooler. As soon as I set out, a woman called me over and told me the cops were about. I asked her if she knew if I needed a permit to sell lemonade, she didn't know and some people said yes and some said no. So I asked the cops. I really don't want to be paranoid that I'm doing something illegal, so I figured the cops were the best ones to ask about it. I guess talking to a nice, young, naked woman puts most people in a good mood, and the cop was no different. He told me that I do need a permit, but that the cops don't ever really check and the people to look out for are the guys from the GVRD (Greater Vancouver Regional District), because they do ask for permits. He told me where I could go to get one and that it was fine if I sold lemonade today without a permit. It was nice to get the go-ahead from a cop.
And so, I spent about 5 hours selling lemonade. It was great to take breaks when I felt like it, and chat with folks and go swimming to cool off, because the sun did come out eventually and it was quite warm. People had no problems with the deposit on the cups, some even let me keep it and some wanted the cups as souvenirs. A lot of people asked if there was a little something extra to put in the lemonade...nope. Just lemonade. All in all I felt there was a pretty good reception of it, but I ran out of ice before I ran out of lemonade, and I really couldn't sell warm lemonade. Most people said they liked the proportions...it seems a little sweet for me, but one person said it was a little too tart...so I guess you just can't please everyone. In the end, I had $92 more than I started with...not as great as I had hoped, but totally reasonable for the first day of my little venture. Of course, for awhile I won't be making any money, I'll just be recovering costs and paying Dave back, but I think I can do it. Today will be a good indication of if there are people there during the week. I'd actually much prefer to work weekdays, I just don't know if there will be the business. Speaking of which, it is much later than I anticipated and I need to go make some money.