So here’s the 2020 Coffeeneuring Report, documenting my return to this event after a couple of years absence due to travel, life changes and then this year's craziness. The theme for the event this year is One Good Thing, and that includes the convergence of cycling, coffee and camaraderie that Mary inspires, particularly timely this fall.
All of the rides took place on Y-Rod, the yellow Rodriguez described in my last post of this blog, and on Planet Earth, the one home that we share.
Ride #1 -- Bay to Breakers Ride with Max in SF - 10/11/20 - Pleasant ride on a rented bike from the Inner Sunset to the San Francisco waterfront, the baseball stadium where the Giants play, and the Ferry Building, and then out through Golden Gate Park to the Java Beach Cafe, a popular spot worth a revisit. I had a latte, Max ordered a regular coffee, and we split some baked goodie.
Ride #2 - Ride Around Seattle - 10/17/20 - Regular route with a stop at Caffe Umbria for an americano and chocolate croissant. Excellent! Still, a bit sad to be in Pioneer Square with no weekend crowds due to the pandemic lockdown. Stopped at a new park on the Portage Bay waterfront on the way home to enjoy the views.
Ride #3 - North Lake Loop - 10/22/20 - Another routine route, around the North end of Lake Washington with a return across the 520 bridge, which is always a highlight. I stopped at old standby Caffe Ladro in suburban Kirkland for a muffin and a latte, always great. What was not great was the conversation started by a guy in a cowboy hat who dissed the Seattle mayor, kept calling me “son” (I’m 67 and a grandpa), and then bragged about he and his vigilante buddies protecting Kirkland with their automatic weapons from the “mobs of looters” who threatened their cute shops and bars. I told him what I thought, got on my bike, and headed back over to the Anarchist Jurisdiction.
Ride #4 - 520>Medina>Mercer Slough - 10/25/20 - Returned to the Eastside to scout another route, and stopped for a latte at the Bellden Cafe. Terrific route, but I’ll find another place to stop next time I’m in the neighborhood.
Ride #5 - Silver Lake>Snohomish>Everett - 11/1/20 - Spectacular two-volcano day and great ride with Larry and Mike out along the Snohomish River and then into Everett. Coffee from the gas station parking lot espresso stand near our start. Great ride, forgettable coffee.
Ride #6 - Victory Lap around the North End of the Lake! - 11/7/20 - Same route as #3. First rest stop included someone setting off fireworks! Hoped to run into the Kirkland Vigilantes to see how they liked the election results, but they weren’t there. Instead, plenty of happy people dancing, waving signs, shouts, high-fives (virtual!) and other expressions of joy. Americano from Starbucks, but what the heck, that’s not what made this ride special!
Ride #7 - Magnolia>Myrtle Edwards Park>Seattle Center - 11/11/20 - Saving the best for last, the Magnolia loop, with refreshment from Petit Pierre Bakery, a fresh-out-of-oven blueberry muffin and an excellent latte just hit the spot.
Bonus Coffeeneuring #1 - Ride Around Seattle - 11/15/20 - A blustery Sunday ride around our city, headwinds on the way out along the lake, and tailwinds along the waterfront on the return, with a stop for a fine latte at Uptown Espresso by the Olympic Sculpture Park. the barista gave me the news about the return of the COVID restrictions that the Governor announced that morning, and was worried about the shop having to close again. What a strange time we live in, and I’m grateful for the health for me and my family, as well as for this Coffeeneuring community, and for the dedication, generosity and good cheer we all receive from Mary, Queen of Coffeeneuring!
Link to Coffeeneuring Facebook Group ---> https://www.facebook.com/groups/335575683253788/user/719931016
Instagram ---> https://www.instagram.com/papahazama/
