Bonus Coffeeneuring: Symposium Coffee

Ride: 9
Date: Tuesday, November 10
Distance: 22 miles
Destination: Symposium Coffee, Tigard, OR
Bike: Rivendell Bleriot
Beverage: Mocha
Bike Friendliness: Bike rack outside; viewable from large windows



Into bonus rides now, kind of like the fleche, where one has to ride a minimum of 360km, but you can keep going until you hit the 24 hour limit.

I had something to deliver in Tualatin, and it wasn't raining.  I know how to get to Tualatin; it is between here and Wilsonville.  But, how to get to that specific destination in Tualatin?

I would have taken my usual route through Cook Park, and gotten to the office from there.  Spouse thought taking Durham Rd until it turned into 72nd and then riding through the big shopping mall (my destination was at the SW corner) would be faster.  Mmmhmmm.  (The red route is the outbound route, blue is the return)

And, wanting to coffeeneur someplace NICE and DIFFERENT, I checked for coffeeshops in historic downtown Tigard.  Sure enough, right on the corner where I make the turn in Tigard, was Symposium Coffee.

I stepped outside and saw my breath.  Excellent.  Gray and cloudy, but not going to rain.  Several layers and full lighting later, I was headed south, first working my way through neighborhoods, office parks, more neighborhoods and a bit of Denney Rd, to the prettiest part of the route, the Fanno Creek Trail.

Not many folks out, as it was a weekday mid-day.  Heading south from Hall Blvd, I started thinking (dangerous) - it just rained.  A lot.  Would the Scholls Ferry Rd underpass be passable?  Or would it be flooded, and I'd have to cross Scholls Ferry at grade?

It had been flooded, but the waters receded enough that I could slowly ride through.  One more flooded spot a bit later, and then no more water issues.

The trail continues, sort of, south of Tigard Rd, but it isn't continuous, and has some street routing.  I didn't know the extent of wayfinding signage, so I stuck to the route I knew, which is quite straightforward.

Through Tigard, then, when I would have kept straight on to go to Cook Park, I turned left on Durham. Very busy road, but it had a bike lane.  After it turned into 72nd, I turned into the mall (one of those big Streets things), and slowly worked my way SW.  Bad things happen in parking lots.  I really dislike riding in parking lots.

But I did find my destination, transacted my business, and even ran into a former co-worker!  Ex-Tektronix people are everywhere :-)

That managed, I tried a different route back to the trail - turned right out of the mall, and figured I'd turn left to get back to follow Boone's Ferry into "downtown" Tualatin, where I could get back on the trail.  But!  Even better!  Directly across at the traffic light was Rivendell St, which I knew, from google map explorations, would take me to Arkenstone (I swear, those are the street names), which would dump me back onto a trail which lead to Cook Park.

Brief pause for a picture with the bike and street sign.

Oh this was so much nicer!  Found the trail entrance, but had to make a brief across the grass detour where trail repaving was in process.

Through the park, up Hall Blvd, left into Tigard, and finally, back at Symposium Coffee.  Artsy bike-shaped rack outside, by an enormous Mobius sculpture.  More racks across the street at the transit center.

One large table, several smaller ones, each with one person at them.  The large table had seating for 8, with 2 people in residence, so I took up a spot there.

Ordered a mocha, and what looked like one of two hazelnut pastries.

Made real progress on the sock.  The young man at my end of the table asked about the knitting, so I asked if he was doing work or school on his computer (all people in coffeeshops these days seem to be staring at laptops).  It was school, and we talked about his major, which was transitioning to electrical engineering, and then the conversation got way geeky.  Oscilloscopes, sampling interval, and triggering may have been discussed.

Eventually the mocha and pastry were finished, and I had gotten into the stranded (two color) work on the sock.  Time for the last errand of the outing, returning a library book - The Man in the High Castle, and I am still not sure about that book.  It didn't seem terribly coherent.

Rather than turn onto Tigard St, I thought I'd try the new paved path which appeared to go in the same direction.  And it did, until just before Tiedeman St, where I wanted to continue straight and it veered north.  Got myself back onto Tigard St, and retraced my route until I got to 5th Ave in Beaverton, where I turned west to go by the library.

From there I returned home, and it was a very enjoyable outing all around.

Coffeeneuring: Dive Run to Ava Roasteria

Ride: 5?
Date: Sunday, Oct 18

Distance: 4.8 miles

Destination: Ava Roasteria Beaverton

Bike: Rivendell

Beverage: Pumpkin Spice Latte

The library sent me a "book ready" notice, and, as I had two books to return, and hadn't coffeeneured yet this week, I thought I'd combine the two.  Grabbed the sock I am knitting, and headed out.

The library closes at 5 on Sunday, and I zipped in just under the wire.  Books managed, I coasted over the couple blocks to Ava.  As I noted last year, it is open 24/7 (good if, say, someone is finishing a permanent in the middle of the night), and appears to be very popular with the "I want to study in a coffeeshop with my textbooks and laptop" crowd.



So popular that I locked up in the rack, ordered a pumpkin spice latte, and found an open table outside.

Careful examination of the sock revealed that I only needed 1.5" more knitting before I could start the toe, so I interspersed knitting, drinking, and people-watching.  Got to where I could start the toe decreases, and headed home, because toes are easier to knit with double point needles, or a long cable circular needle, and I did not have either with me.

Sadly, looking at the bag I use on the porteur rack, I am again feeling the need to make a somewhat larger and more esthetically pleasing bag.  I have the materials, just need to come up with a design and get to it.

Coffeeneuring: Coffee with Beth

Ride: 4
Date: Friday, Oct 16

Distance: 28.47 mi

Vertical feet: 2000

Location: Saint Cupcake SW,  1138 SW Morrison St

Bike Friendliness: Adorable whisk bike rack.  See the picture.

Beverage: Americano

Food: a Lemon dot and an Chocolate Hazelnut dot (mini cupcakes)

Beth and I have been promising ourselves that we'd get together for coffee for much too long.  We finally pulled it off.

Our meetup place was Saint Cupcake, which, while not the original Saint Cupcake, still makes a very nice array of cupcakes, both standard and mini sizes.

My route into Portland includes going over Sylvan summit, then coasting to the Zoo, up a bit to Kingston Rd, then downhill through Washington Park and SW Portland.

Saint Cupcake has an adorable bike rack.

Beth arrived as I was locking up.  We got ourselves coffee, and in my case, a couple of exceptionally tasty dots (mini cupcakes).

In my case there was some knitting on a sock, and we spent a fair amount of time catching up.

My other agenda for day was to ride over the shiny new Tillikum Bridge, and stop in at Rivelo on the other side, to buy some leather/crochet cycling gloves.  We rode down to the Willamette RIver, then started working our way south to the bridge.  Eventually, we just took ourselves to where the endless stream of cyclists was riding from.

The views from the bridge are wonderful.







Now, I could fill this post up with a stupid number of pictures of the bridge, but you could just view them here.

As well as mission accomplished at Rivelo, we met another Google Riv lister, and visited with John.  He walked us out to meet our bikes.

Casting about for what to do next, I suggested we ride on the Springwater Corridor Trail.  it was clear and sunny as we rode along the Willamette River.  And then we found ourselves in Sellwood, it was after 1pm, and we wanted some lunch.

A burger place was located, and we sat down to some yummy burgers and fries.  And more catching up.

Then Beth had to get home, so we headed our separate ways.  I got to ride over the Tillikum Bridge (oooh! more pictures!).  I followed the other cyclists to see where I'd end up, which turned out to be Portland State University.  So, four blocks north, and I was on Jefferson, headed back up to Washington Park, and then home.

The elevation profile

Coffeeneuring 2015: Delivering the Yarn

Ride: 3
Destination: Nike West Campus, Edo Building coffee cart, Beaverton, OR (just across SW Walker from the THRPD ball fields)
Date: Thursday, Oct 15
Beverage: Mocha
Bike friendliness: When I worked there, I was used to wheeling my bike into any building and leaving it unlocked in the lobby, or in a corner, or under some stairs.  This day, I locked it outside.
Total mileage: 11.59 miles

Back in the summer of 2012, I finished a contract at Nike.  While I was there, I got my eggs from Scott.  He also had pet sheep, and a few weeks after I left, he called to tell me I could have all four fleeces, with the condition that he get some yarn back for his daughter.  The whole fleece story is here.  So, anyway, three years later (I am so ashamed), I finally had yarn.  And, a few email exchanges later, we had a coffee date, at normal working-people hours.  As in, I'd be riding over through the morning commute.

Worked my way up through the elementary school and unexpected construction, before enjoying the drop down Park Way.  And then, when I tried to ride in the regular way, I found yet more construction.  Gack.  I knew where the building was, but finding the front door took a bit of time.  And, finally, there was Scott, and we wandered upstairs to the coffee cart.

I got a mocha, and we settled down for yarn handoff and catching up.  Lots of catching up.

Eventually Scott remembered he had to get back to work, and I headed back home.  

I thought I'd try to find a cut-through between 150th and Meadow, and you'd think there'd be one, but no.  Learning: there was a SIGN, saying there would be a through road eventually, but no estimated date, and a big fence and vegetation obscuring the pass through.  (Oh, wait, Google Maps says there is a path down the one road I didn't take!  Good to know for next time!) I hadn't ridden through there hardly at all since retiring, so I got to admire all the new infill housing.  Did remember to ride around the neighborhood construction on the return :-)

Other Learning: I now know where out in the boonies he lives, and will wave as I cycle by on any route which follows Stag Hollow Rd.

Coffeeneuring 2015: A Trip to Jim and Patty's Coffee, And Knitting Socks

Ride: 2
Destination: Jim and Patty's Coffee, Beaverton, OR
Date: Saturday, Oct 10
Beverage: Borgia Mocha
Bike friendliness: strip mall has the same crap wheel-breaker bike rack.  Baristas make up for it.
Total mileage: 2.73 miles

As my Theme this year is Fibers, and as I had completed my Elemental Lace Shawl (yay!), I had to start another project, or do something else fiber-related.  I did have a project in mind, and had only to print out the pattern and forage around for a contrast yarn and properly sized needles.  With the depth of my knitting supplies, that didn't take too long.



A storm is working its way through, and, as it was going to be another solo outing, I picked my closest favorite coffee shop, Jim and Patty's.  I managed to drop down the hill in between showers.



After locking the bike up in a suboptimal fashion to the wheel-breaker rack, I went inside and had a great chat with the barista - she is looking for a way to commute from the east end of SW Beaverton-Hillsdale to the store, without much riding ON Beaverton Hillsdale.  Sadly, most of the other options involve a some climbing, although investigating does reveal one good possibility.

Ordered a Borgia Mocha (mocha with orange), sat down, cast on a sock, and tried to start knitting on it.



Learning: the back of the store is too dark for knitting, especially with dark yarn.  I relocated to the front of the store, tinked back half the first row (there was an extra knit in the knit 2 purl 2, and it didn't come out right), and then zipped through 8 rows of ribbing.  The pattern calls for 6, but I am going to do 12, just to get a good ribbing band at the top.  The only thing I am really using the pattern FOR is the design chart for the leg.  I can knit a sock without any pattern at all.

Jim and Patty's used to be Coffee People, and there was a display of CP mugs on the counter.  I amused myself by counting out how many of them I had.  Four, and some may still be in the house.



Enjoyed the Borgia mocha, and headed home.  There was another period of non-rain, at least for the first quarter mile or so.  Luckily, it was a warm rain.

Coffeeneuring #3, Research Subject

As a Human Factors Engineer, I am usually on the other side of the table :-)

Janice C, a fellow rando, is doing research on the why of Ride Reports, especially in Blogs.  (Hi Janice!  I know you are reading this!).  She contacted me, because she'd be in town and would we like to meet?

So, yes, of course.  I rummaged around for a location for the conversation (she had a bike with her, of course) which fulfilled the coffeeneuring requirements for her.  Just by riding into Portland from the other side of the hill covered it for me.

I was to look for a woman with a blue Bike Friday and yellow jacket.  I told her to look for a woman with a blue Rivendell and yellow jacket.

Pretty ride through Washington Park, but not having yet had any coffee, I wasn't feeling alert enough to bomb down through.  I think I need to consider Midge handlebars for the Riv as well; easier to grab the brakes with my little hands.

Found Janice, off to Spielman Bagels and Coffee (they roast their own!).  Picked because bagels and Hawthorne Bridge and Ladd's Addition.  If one is showing off Portland, these are not bad places to go.

No bike rack there!  Fortunately there was a really tall signpost.

We took over the end of a table, and ordered coffee and bagels.  For the coffeeneuring documentation, I had the house coffee.  I forget what the first pot was, but my refill was Sumatra Mandheling.  Bagel was "Everything, toasted, with lox cream cheese".

Research done, with various enjoyable conversational excursions.

Returned Janice to her hotel, chugged back up the hill (and it felt MUCH BETTER than it did on the easier outgoing trip), and returned home to start Birthday Dinner preparations.

23+ miles.  Real vertical feet.  Coffee.

Finally Riding My Own Michigan Perm

Right after it was approved, someone wanted to ride it.  Then, this year, a couple more folks rode it.  If you build it, they will come.



But I didn't have a chance to ride it until last week, when we were up there for vacation.  Printed a card and cue sheet, and figured I'd negotiate with the route owner when we got there.

I always take Bleriot to Michigan.  Can't quite see dumping the Sweetpea on the beach.

Last Thursday was the day - good weather, and Fitz and his brother had serious golf plans.

Wednesday, I went for my first run in 8 months.

Got up WAY too early - 5:45am.  And, since in Michigan, we really don't deviate much from West Coast time (sleep in, stay up past midnight socializing), it stung a bit.  The route has many places for food, so I had packed some preferred non-perishables from home, and bought some Gatorade and Fig Newtons and called it good.

Rode into town (3 miles, the "wrong" way) for the starting receipt at the grocery, then headed back north.  Stopped briefly at the cottage to get something I forgot.

Frankfort to Empire

Other than the climb on Sutter Rd, which has the worst pavement ever, the most challenging bit on this stretch is the gentle climb over the hill to Empire.  I found a golf ball on the way up; stopped to pick it up.  Fitz comes by here every year to hunt golf balls; it was his father's favorite hunting spot.  The cottage never lacks for quality golf balls.

Descending Sutter (totally the worst pavement ever), my metal thermal bottle hit the pavement.  I stopped to retrieve it, only to discover the water bottle cage holding it had broken off the bike.  Worst pavement ever.  Stuffed the bottle in my front bag, and knew I'd be totally OCD about no second bottle cage the whole ride.



Sutter is a "Natural Beauty Road"* which explains the pavement condition.



A driver tried to right hook me at Platte Rd.  She says SHE'S a cyclist and always stops there.  I just wished she'd been paying better attention.

So, over the hill, and through Empire.

Empire to Glen Arbor

Too bad this is only 8 miles. Highest quality shoulders the whole stretch, plus the ride on the causeway between Glen Lakes.  Pretty flat.  My pace had been nicely quick, for me, and I was supposed to be having an outgoing headwind.



Just out the far side of Glen Arbor, I spotted a bicycle rental/service/sale shop.  I bet they could sell me a bottle cage.  Not only that, they kindly loaned me a 4mm Allen wrench (got one on the multitool, but it is a little bulky to install water bottle cages), admired the bike and chatted about my planned ride.  Nice folks.

Continued on.

Glen Arbor to Leland

18 miles, slightly less nice shoulder.  Maybe a little more rolling.

A few miles north of Glen Arbor, I came upon some road construction.  Waited in line with the other cars, applied sunscreen, removed superfluous clothing.  We got the go, so I went.  Or tried.  The flagger told me I couldn't ride through.  I would have to walk, because cars would pass me and go too far over.  Or something like that.  He also called me "you people" and said he'd call the cops if I rode.  I said I'd go after, and he said I'd be holding up traffic.  Dammit.  I am traffic! He made me walk facing traffic.  Well, it was a bit of a ways to the end, and the oncoming traffic was released and fortunately there was a driveway to jump onto.   I'd run out of flat area to the left.  By then I was far enough along that I hopped on my bike and rode through.  The far end flagger got on his phone as I passed by.

A bit later, I saw a car from Sutton's Bay Bikes, and flagged the driver down.  We chatted, because I wanted to know if there was some weird thing in Michigan traffic statues regarding bikes and construction zones.  No, there wasn't.  He knew which construction firm it was, too, and suggested I call the Leelanau Country Sheriff.

When I got into Leland (passing by Good Harbor Farm and Good Harbor Wine), about 40 miles, I pulled into a deli, ordered a sandwich and pickle, and sat down and called the sheriff.  Had a lovely chat with the Lieutenant, and he said that if they wanted to call the cops, he'd be very happy to talk to them.

Ate half the sandwich, drank something, topped off the bottles, and headed out.

Leland to Northport

The terrain definitely gets a little more rolling here, and more meadows and less mixed forest.  There are some interesting (in the architectural sense) homes through here.

In Northport, M-22 takes a turn for the south, and I continue through town on M-201.  The cue sheet has several turns, but they are all following M-201, until the right turn on 5th.  Or 6th.  Either one.

In any case, a turn onto North Shore Rd.  Starts out paved, but eventually turns to a nice dirt/gravel hardpack for the last .7 mi, and runs right alongside the bay.  It is also a Michigan "Natural Beauty Road". *

Northport to the Grand Traverse Lighthouse

Popping out onto Woolsey Lake Rd, the route then heads north to Leelanau State Park and the Grand Traverse Lighthouse.  It passes a nifty little airport, a few farm stands, a barn-red farm complex, some boring bits, and finally, the park.





You know how the Rules say you should get a stamp at a control, or, failing that, because NO ONE has rubber stamps anymore in the USA, get a receipt?  Well, the lighthouse gift shop has a WONDERFUL rubber stamp!  Finally!





Topped off bottles, putting my Carbo-Pro/EFS mix into one of them.  Didn't stick around long; that Coke float in Northport was calling.



Back to Northport

Stopped for a Coke float at Kamp Grounds, a cute ice cream/coffee shop.  (the entire town of Northport is cute, as are Leland, Glen Arbor, and Frankfort).  While waiting in line, the man in front asked if I had ridden to the lighthouse.  Why yes I had, and was headed to Frankfort.  And how far was that?  About 60 miles.  "Oh." (pause) "That's.... nice."  For good measure, I told him I started there as well.





I did sit outside in the shade and thoroughly enjoyed that drink.

Back to Leland

Ate the other half of the sandwich.

Back to Glen Arbor

Ah, yes, I'd have to pass through that construction zone again.  Heading south, the flagger saw me coming and turned his back (flaggers are NOT EVER supposed to do that).  Southbound traffic had the go, so I continued on, and was safely passed by 3 or 4 cars.  But surprise, surprise, the flagger at the other end let the northbound traffic go somewhat before I had cleared the construction area, and I had a line of cars headed right at me.  We all slowed down and were careful, and it worked out.  No honks at all.  The flagger at the other end, same one from the morning, ALSO turned his back on me.  Ooooh.  Someone was going to hear about this.

That done with, I rode the last 4 miles or so to Glen Arbor, and stopped for a Red Bull and more stuff to drink.  It was hot, but not oppressively so.  30 more miles.

Back to Empire

Shortly out of Glen Arbor, I pulled over to turn my rear light back on - many road stretches totally shaded by trees (tunnels!), and I wanted the additional visiblity.  Hmm.  Dead.  No batteries in the saddlebag (I still haven't found them).  Oh well, Empire was only 8 miles ahead.



Stopped in the convenience store for some batteries; chatted up the clerk while I swapped them out.  We commiserated about the climb out of town.

Back to Frankfort

But you know, the climb wasn't all that bad!  Not like last year.  Less heat is a good thing.  By now, my feet were not entirely happy (wearing sandals, not the Sidis), my legs were crabby (running the day before a 200k.  Not smart thinking) and my undercarriage was annoyed as well (not the new saddle).

Pedal pedal pedal.  Pass the Platte River Outfitters.  Pedal.  Pass the Manitou (they serve a really good whitefish).  Finally turn onto Sutter Rd, and the spectacularly bad pavement.  Over the top.  Down (better road quality).

Right on M-22 again.  Pass the cottage, ringing my bike bell.  Past the Assembly and Crystal View, over the 4 rollers into town, and finish at the grocery.  I had originally wanted for Fitz and Mark to meet me at the new brewpub, and finish there, but they weren't interested in that this evening.    Got a Coke, and sat outside in the shade.  Fitz called; where was I?  He and Mark were on their way into town, and came by to collect me.  We went by the Kool Spot for ice cream before going back to the cottage and cooking dinner.



(Fitz had figured I'd be back soon; checking my SPOT track confirmed that I was indeed quite close.  And 5 minutes later I was dinging the bike bell as I rode by.)

136 mi for the ride, 14.02 avg pace (on Bleriot. Wow) 4900 vertical feet.  And you thought it was flat.
140 mi for the day.

Aftermath

I called the sheriff again about the flaggers.  They suggested I file a formal complaint with the Michigan DOT.  They would also stop by and chat with the road construction crew.  I did indeed file a complaint and copied the construction company.  Have not heard back from the construction company, but the Michigan DOT did respond, and will review bicycles and construction zones with the construction company.

Remember that run the day before?  My left hip/leg proceeded to get really, really unhappy.  Something about running on a sandy, slanted beach perhaps.  Even if it was 1min run/2min walk.  Stairs were a problem.  Moving from sitting to standing and back was a problem.  Flying on airplanes was a problem.  Sleeping was a problem.  All better now, but OW while it lasted.

------------------------------------------------

*Road Surfacing – The existing road surface at the time of designation should normally be
continued. Necessary changes in surface to improve safety, drainage, reduce maintenance
problems, etc., may be cause for undesignating roads if such changes disturb the natural
beauty characteristics for which the road was designated.

I take this to mean that Sutter Rd will never be repaved.

Portland Rivendell Ride

Beth organized a Riv ride for this past Sunday. I reinstalled the front rack and canvas front bag, after all, the ride called for Full Formal Dress, for the bike anyway.

Awoke to...rain... Copious amounts of...rain...

I was riding to the start, about 12 miles, with a big hill and downtown Portland in the middle. Google maps (bicycle directions) helped out, except I modified the route to use Cecil's preferred stretch up and down the east side of the hill - Fairview Dr. She said it was nicer than Washington Park, so I thought I'd check it out.

Raining less as I started out, then heavier as I headed up to Sylvan and up further to Fairview. I must say, descending Fairview in a downpour is...interesting. The importance of working brake pads cannot be overestimated. Down Stearns Way, through NW PDX to the Broadway Bridge, then north. I missed an obscure turn somewhere off Mississippi, but after realizing I was lost, asking directions got me where I was going (Peninsula Park Rose Garden).

Beth was there, of course. And eventually, another rider showed up (Cal from North Bend). Ritualistic admiring and photographing of bicycles ensued - actually Beth and I admired Cal's Saluki with the Sackville seat bag and Pacenti Pari-Moto tires (Beth was outnumbered by 650B bicycles, 2 to 1 :-) ) and Cal admired our bikes. Beth and I see each other's bikes all the time.

The rain had turned to a gentle drizzle by this time. No other riders (!), so off we went. I can't say much about where exactly, but all around N and NE Portland, then into SE Portland, admiring the blooming roses and other flora. Spring in Portland is really, really pretty, and made possible by all that rain. We also admired the houses and the one with the cool little birdhouses on each fencepost. There was a short non-paved portion or two, not that we cared.

Ended up at Palio, in Ladd's Addition, but it was full, so we adjourned to the Lucky Lab, a couple blocks away. Lots of room to sit there. Tasty bento and hot chocolate for me. Just chicken on the bento. I wanted veggies, but "they take 20 minutes to cook". Not exactly sure what they are doing that they take THAT LONG to cook, but I passed.

We all then went our separate ways - Cal and Beth back to locations in North Portland, me across the Hawthorne Bridge, up Jefferson, up Fairview, and then down, all the way home. My feet were sopping wet, but the rest of me was fine. Should have changed socks at the Lucky Lab. Oh well.

It really quit raining as I was starting the climb back up Fairview, and I was getting very warm. Fortunately, the Carradice Barley can carry all the discarded outerwear.

Here's to the next Riv Ride in Portland, with perhaps larger attendance. 33+ miles, of which approximately 24 was riding to and from.

All the pics here

Beth's writeup