The first Seattle coffeeneur officially completes the #Coffeeneuring Challenge http://t.co/LZ6KJwFoNl @papahazama
— Chasing Mailboxes (@coffeeneur) November 11, 2013
Monday, November 11, 2013
Coffeeneuring complete!
Coffeeneuring #7
Coffeeneuring #7 took me to Tully's Alki Point in West Seattle for a 2x latte in a pleasant orange cup and a piece of their banana walnut bread. I chose this destination as it is a meeting point for many a Cascade Bike Club ride, and for the contrasts apparent in riding out there in November as opposed to summer months. During the warm and bright seasons, Alki is full of walkers, riders, skateboarders, beach goers, cruisers, hog riders and tourists. But, now we are into full and deep autumn, there's little traffic with all the grey and the cold, wet breeze blowing from the north.
Two weeks off the bike, due to a significant family event away from the area, work commitments and the annual onslaught of the worst weather of the year, and I felt the effects of the layoff in my legs and back. Plus the days are getting shorter, and my lights took effect as I made it home in the dark.
40 miles or so, but satisfaction gained from completing the challenge and being a part of something larger than myself.
To recap then -
- 7 coffeeneuring rambles completed. All took place in King County, Washington, USA, North America, Planet Earth. All but one were entirely within the Seattle City Limits.
- All of said 7 rides involved obtaining and consuming hot caffeinated beverages and accompanying carbohydrates, baked goods usually with chocolate.
- 5 of the rides were accomplished using the trusty Bleriot, pictured above. On the first 2, I rode the Lemond Alpe d'Huez.
- Best latte was served by Caffe Ladro.
- Best goodie was purchased at consumed at Zoka.
- About 250 miles ridden in pursuit of the coffeeneuring dream.
- Photo documentation is here.
Lessons learned -
- Coffee and cycling complement each other well.
- Many other great people across the planet have noticed this natural connection and share their special understanding using modern tools.
- Coffeeneuring is what we do, not a special event limited to the autumn.
Sunday, November 10, 2013
Friday, November 8, 2013
Fear and Longing
Lovely Bicycle!: Fear and Longing:
Absolutely too much of this this year, or any year for that matter. Velouria's life was irreversibly altered, though she doesn't say how, but leave her the space and let her write eloquently, in her own time.
Here's the link to Pamela's post about her being hit by the truck.
Too many distracted drivers, watching their cell phones, pinging and tweeting and talking and texting. And too many distracted people, in between their headphones, not being intentional and aware.
And, the creak of getting older. Knees and hips hurt. Stiff. What's this bulge in my side? Frontier Doctor says it's not the real bad stuff, probably, but let's make sure by taking a look inside. So, more uncertainty.
But, the daughter did marry. And, Steve is right. And that was all good.
Now, onto the next set of challenges, uncertainties, and paying attention to the important. Oh, and let's complete the coffeeneuring challenge! It's good to have goals and get into nature.
Absolutely too much of this this year, or any year for that matter. Velouria's life was irreversibly altered, though she doesn't say how, but leave her the space and let her write eloquently, in her own time.
Here's the link to Pamela's post about her being hit by the truck.
Too many distracted drivers, watching their cell phones, pinging and tweeting and talking and texting. And too many distracted people, in between their headphones, not being intentional and aware.
And, the creak of getting older. Knees and hips hurt. Stiff. What's this bulge in my side? Frontier Doctor says it's not the real bad stuff, probably, but let's make sure by taking a look inside. So, more uncertainty.
But, the daughter did marry. And, Steve is right. And that was all good.
Now, onto the next set of challenges, uncertainties, and paying attention to the important. Oh, and let's complete the coffeeneuring challenge! It's good to have goals and get into nature.
Saturday, October 26, 2013
Coffeeneuring #6
As I dropped down to the BGT, received a friendly hello from a member of the Seattle Randonneurs, who complimented the Bleriot and encouraged me to join the group for their winter training series. I'm inclined to do so, along with helping out with Cascade's CTS and Getting Ready to Ride events next February. Riding through winter is admirable, without going too nuts, and it's good to have goals.
The sixth ride in my Seattle Coffeeneuring series this fall took me by the Seattle Peace Park and a view of a Halloween-draped 1000 Cranes statue. From there, a stop at the Leschi Starbucks, always a place to see other cyclists, both casual and the serious, as it's a central location for those circumnavigating the lake, heading over the I-90 bridge to points east, or just out for a mere toodle. I filled up on a double-short latte, plus a chocolate croissant, thus earning coffeeneuring points.
Then, up the hill, through the I-90 bike tunnel and in a departure from my norm, a left turn onto the Mountain-to-Sound trail, and up Beacon Hill to Daejeon Park, a little gem dedicated to a sister city in Korea. And, the sun came out while taking a picture of the Korean-style shelter.
Continued to the end of the trail and a fine descent on Holgate into Sodo, I rode back up the waterfront and found Greenpeace's Rainbow Warrior docked at Pier 66. Volunteers were asking for signatures on their petition to the Russian government to free the Arctic 30, a group seized during their protest of Gazprom drilling in the Arctic. I gladly signed, and took a few photos of the ship.
Rest of the ride was relatively uneventful, but fall colors on the trail, more leaves on the ground, grey skies (it's sure been foggy around here!) and a definite chill in the breeze all underscore that we're into serious autumn now.
The sixth ride in my Seattle Coffeeneuring series this fall took me by the Seattle Peace Park and a view of a Halloween-draped 1000 Cranes statue. From there, a stop at the Leschi Starbucks, always a place to see other cyclists, both casual and the serious, as it's a central location for those circumnavigating the lake, heading over the I-90 bridge to points east, or just out for a mere toodle. I filled up on a double-short latte, plus a chocolate croissant, thus earning coffeeneuring points.
Then, up the hill, through the I-90 bike tunnel and in a departure from my norm, a left turn onto the Mountain-to-Sound trail, and up Beacon Hill to Daejeon Park, a little gem dedicated to a sister city in Korea. And, the sun came out while taking a picture of the Korean-style shelter.
Continued to the end of the trail and a fine descent on Holgate into Sodo, I rode back up the waterfront and found Greenpeace's Rainbow Warrior docked at Pier 66. Volunteers were asking for signatures on their petition to the Russian government to free the Arctic 30, a group seized during their protest of Gazprom drilling in the Arctic. I gladly signed, and took a few photos of the ship.
Rest of the ride was relatively uneventful, but fall colors on the trail, more leaves on the ground, grey skies (it's sure been foggy around here!) and a definite chill in the breeze all underscore that we're into serious autumn now.
Sunday, October 20, 2013
Coffeeneuring #5
Coffeeneuring #5 started out well. Cool, foggy, damp, wet pavement, this is cycling in Seattle in autumn. First wrinkle was encountering the Dawg Dash 10K on the BGT at 25th, suggesting a detour through the Husky Stadium parking lot and crossing the Montlake Bridge. Climbed up Interlaken, crossed I-5, turned on Boylston Ave., and when accelerating after a stop, I broke my chain! That necessitated an emergency reroute on foot back to Montlake Bike Shop, where repairs were quickly made.
Back on the road, and the next stop was at Caffe Ladro for a double latte and a slice of pumpkin bread. Delicious and a real spot-hitter.
From Downtown Seattle, headed through Seattle Center and over to the trail along Elliott Bay, and out to the Locks, now open after 16 days of being held hostage. Herons are nesting in the trees, and Lake Washington is being drawn down for winter. After crossing the canal, looped back home via the BGT.
29 miles, not including the walk back for repairs.
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