Coffeeneuring 2014

Being retired, I have declared my normal coffeeneuring days to be Sunday and Monday.

Coffeeneur #1, Ava Roasteria, Beaverton Oregon

Date: Sunday, October 5
Drink: iced latte
Distance: 4.5 miles
Bike Friendliness: bike rack concealed behind a post at the door.
Factoid: edible chestnuts have really prickly husks, horse chestnuts (inedible) have slightly spiny husks - see the picture below.

Even though I live about 2 miles from this coffee shop, I have never been there.  They are open 24/7, so you'd think it would be a great place to locate a perm start, but I prefer Jim and Patty's, as I don't start or finish perms in the middle of the night.  So far, anyway.

I had to return a library book (The Magician's Land) and deposit a check (SPOT Gen 3 refund, yay!), and Ava is right there.



Vibe: On a sunny Sunday afternoon, it was extremely popular with the "study in a coffee shop" crowd.

Ordered an iced latte, and enjoyed it out on the patio.

From there, I proceeded to my favorite bike shop, where I met one of the newer mechanics, Ryan, and he found a chainstay bridge bolt for my fender, because the one that was there went walkabout, and I don't need a fender crumpling up and wrecking my upcoming planned bike adventure.  Where I plan to exercise the Vacation Rule :-)

Riding home, I picked up some chestnuts from a couple of trees, some inedible horse chestnuts and some (well only one worth keeping) edible chestnuts.  The really prickly husks contain the edible ones.



Took a snap of a local Desire Path.  It actually IS on the Beaverton plan, but way far in the future.  Nice now, but will be a sucking mudpit within a month.



And a snap of a road with a very bad sight line, which is on my route to Beaverton.

Coffeeneur #2, Mc Donalds, Annapolis, MD

Date: Monday, Oct 15, 2014
Drink: iced tea
Distance: 50 miles
Bike Friendliness: I just helmet locked my bike and went inside...
Factoid: the bike shuttle over the Chesapeake Bay Bridge, while expensive ($30!) is a decent deal.  The driver was a super guy; told me all about the bridge, took me to the 7-11 on the east side, and dropped me at the motel.

Because I had just ridden 50 hot, headwindy miles from Arlington, VA, I had iced tea.
This was where the shuttle across the Bay Bridge was meeting me; he showed up a few minutes later.  Super nice guy, told me all about the bridge, and dropped me at my motel on the other side.

Coffeeneur #3,  McDonalds, Chester, MD

Date: Tuesday, Oct 16, 2014
Drink: just coffee
Distance: 5.6 miles
Bike Friendliness: didn't see a rack, left my bike in the vestibule
Factoid: Hwy 50/301 does a nice job of creating a moat down the center of the communities there - limited crossing points, and bicycles not allowed at all.  Bicycle crossing is legal, but fraught with peril.

Vacation Rule!

Coffeeneur #4, Lewes DL- Cape May NJ Ferry, M/V Cape Henlopen

Date: Wednesday, Oct 17, 2014
Drink: mocha
Distance: 4.5 miles to the ferry, 80+ miles afterward
Bike Friendliness: very much so - bike racks on the car deck, first on, friendly crew.
Factoid: the posts on the car deck are called "staunchions".

Vacation Rule!

Coffeeneur #5, Coava Coffee, Portland, OR

Date: Sunday, November 2
Drink: latte
Distance: 13+ miles riding, in all.
Bike Friendliness: only one lone parking staple outside; we had to get creative and lock to gas meters and power pole supports.  Later, we saw folks bringing their bikes inside.  We should have done that; there was certainly room, but we didn't know if they were ok with that.
Factoid: Coava also fronts as a handcrafted wood products venue.  Lots of nice woodwork as part of the walls, and all the tables were also handcrafted, and very well done.

A fleche-style coffeeneur; a group of us converged on Coava Coffee.
This is both a coffee shop AND a woodworking showroom - bamboo products; pretty cool stuff.

We all thought they could have had more chairs.  I saw a woman sitting by herself at a big picnic table, and arranged a swap for the four chairs we had at the end of another table, since we were more than four, and she would get a real chair.



I was so happy to have a social gathering, with ceramic mugs and latte art.  I had a latte and a croissant.



Some folks peeled off to go to other things, one more joined us.

After that, we stopped by the New Deal Distillery, so Gary could buy some ginger liqueur.



From there, we rode over to Detour Cafe, for second breakfast/lunch, where there was MORE coffee, and an excellent potato skillet.





I then took myself to Universal Cycles, where new winter cycling shoes were purchased, and then rode in the now-increasing rain across the Hawthorne Bridge and up to the Goose Hollow MAX transit station, and took the train over the hill, then coasted on home.

Coffeeneur #6: BOGZA Coffee, Beaverton, OR

Date: Monday, November 3
Drink: chai
Distance: 5 miles
Bike Friendliness: while The Round has bike racks, the closest ones were far away and in secluded locations.  I elected to lock to a metal bench just outside.
Factoid: The Round has the tallest building in Beaverton (parking garage)

I had heard from a fellow board member from the NW Bicycle Safety Council that there was a new coffee place in Beaverton.  Beaverton could use some new coffee places; mostly we have chains, and a few independent shops.  The menu looked promising.  The husband said he'd meet me there, as I was going to swing by the library, return a book (Divergent), and pick up a new one (The Slow Regard of Silent Things).  I was also checking out my new wet/winter cycling shoes (Lake MX 145, men's version).

Navigation to the library from my house is fairly straightforward; just one caution required street crossing.  Getting from the library to The Round was a bit more interesting.  I elected to ride up SW Hall (one way, three lanes), and turn left on SW Millikan Way just north of SW Canyon Rd, which would put me right there.  I elected to do a Copenhagen Left; as the mass of cars going north quickly evaporates, and then it is easy to cross SW Hall.  Found BOGZA, and Fitz was just arriving.

Since I'd already had plenty of coffee for the day, I ordered a chai and a chocolate croissant.  We went for the squashy chairs in the corner.  The front of all the businesses in The Round (a condo/retail/office development in Beaverton, which, since construction started in 1997, has still not really taken off) are rollup glass doors; this could be nice in the summer.



I expect it would be more lively before or after work, as the MAX train stops right there, but at 2:30 in the afternoon, it was pleasantly peaceful.

While preparing to leave, some guys walked by, one: "that is a nice looking bike!  What is the brand?"  Me: "Rivendell".  He said he had an Atlantis, so we gazed at my bike in mutual admiration for a bit, then he moved on.

Coffeeneur #7: Jim and Patty's Coffee, Beaverton, OR

Date: Monday, November 10
Drink: salted caramel latte
Distance: 4.4 miles
Bike Friendliness: The strip mall has a wheel-breaker bike rack which one cannot successfully u-lock to.  I u-locked the Riv to itself, and looped my very sturdy cable through the rack.  And sat where I could see it.
Factoid: Back when it was Coffee People (early 90's), this was their Beaverton location.  After many years of not being here, they reopened in the same storefront.  These are the people who started and nurtured my coffee addiction.



The library had a book for me, so I rode over there, then back to Jim and Patty's to have a drink.  I was also seduced by a pastry; hard to say no to "Well of Nutella".

I thought to try something new, so ordered a salted caramel latte.  It was QUITE good; I'd order it again.

Note on the bike-friendliness: the shop itself is not inherently bike-unfriendly; I have started a brevet from here, and they were delighted to have a swarm of randonneurs descending early on a Saturday morning (I warned them).  I'd put it on the cluelessness of the strip mall.

Catching up

Hmm. Haven't posted a ride story for over a month. There has been much going on, not necessarily involving actual riding.

July 4 weekend, nephew Michael got married to the lovely Taylor. The wedding took place in Dallas. Much family convergence in Dallas, family invasion of the IHOP, sightseeing in Dallas, and... the wedding.

The next weekend cousin Marissa got married to the delightful Daniel. THIS wedding took place at Skamania Lodge. A thought - I could RIDE to that wedding. Fitz would be driving anyway; he could bring my clothes. Surely some relative who was not immediate family of the bride would be staying there; I could "borrow" their shower. And indeed, all these things came to pass.

Rode over to find Cecil at Kettleman's Bagels, and then we headed out on the standard Bridge of the Gods ride, except we passed the bridge and went into Stevenson for a grocery store lunch, pedaled back to the Lodge, where she then pedaled on home. 64 excellently sunny miles, PERFECT weather, and the best-ever descent from Cape Horn. Best ever. Dry pavement, practically no traffic, no wind. Best ever.

Found cousins Joan and Don and used their shower (I had shorts and a t-shirt along, while waiting for the fancy clothing to show up), wandered around the lodge visiting (family everywhere), then settled into the nice rocking chairs in the great room with the complimentary coffee and newspaper, watching the photography preparations. My uncle showed up and kept me company, then Fitz and the kids arrived, with my clothes.

A delightful wedding as well.

Then the next weekend, off to Michigan, with Rebecca and Jessica, where we first went to Mackinac Island ("What?!?" said Jessica. "You've NEVER BEEN! You are missing the BEST PART!") Don't know if I'd go that far, but it was way fun. NO motorized transportation on the island. None. Bicycles, horses, or walking; that's it. Well, ok, you can fly in and out.

We rented bicycles and rode around the island (all of 8 miles). It started raining about 6 miles in. Downpour :-) Got back to town. I had my new Showers Pass Double Century jacket along. It kept the top of me dry just fine. We turned the bikes back in, bought plastic rain ponchos, and then toured the Fort and town. The Fort was clearly the Party Posting of the latter half of the 1800's.

Then to the Fitzsimmons Cottage. Fitz's sisters Beth and Lynn and their total of 6 children were next door in the Yellow Cottage (heretofore referred to as the Fitz and the Yellow), so we had a fun week. Several amazing beach days, great runs along Lake Michigan (and no, it isn't flat - there's dunes to get over!), rides to and from the beach (1 mi each way) and a ride around Crystal Lake. What with internet now in the Yellow, I somehow didn't have the impetus for my once or twice daily 6 mile round trip rides into town...

Swimming at the lake was mostly wonderful - the water was perfect, and one day it was even a bit choppy. I like it choppy - more of an adventure to swim the line (1/4 mile). On the non-plus side, the Swimmers' Itch was pretty active this year. Usually I get one or two bites, and that is it. Not this year. Fortunately, I don't get as itchy as the kids seem to. Clear Caladryl and I'm good.

A new activity for me was being hauled off to a local golf course to hit a bucket of balls. I am not a golfer. It is probably pretty clear now that I will never be a golfer. SIL Beth and I dutifully hacked away at those little yellow range balls. We even connected reasonably well on a few of them, but, at least in my case, it was mostly whiffs, the ball shooting off to the right, or not going very far. Like maybe 30 feet. Beth and I concluded that golf is not for us. SIL Sue just watched - she already knows she isn't a fan of the game.

Knitting accomplishments on vacation - finished a pair of stripey stashbuster socks, bought some acrylic yarn at the Shop n Save in Benzonia and made Brian his Cunning Hat, and started a pair of Filey socks in a blue tweed for me.

And now, back home, led a Portland Velo ride (I took the faster half of the 14-16mph group), climbing Holly Hill. 47+ miles. Need to plan another ride for tomorrow.

More pictures:

Michael and Taylor's Wedding

Marissa and Daniel's Wedding

Mackinac Island

My Michigan running route (includes a highly scenic lighthouse!)

General Michigan pics

Summer Vacation

(getting caught up here...) We spent a week at the Fitzsimmons family cottage outside Frankfort, Michigan. Not NEARLY enough time. We caught Fitz's youngest sister Lynn and her family for a couple of hours before they headed home. Fitz's brother Michael came up for a few days, plus his youngest son was already staying elsewhere in town. Sister Beth was there the whole time, with her family, and sister Sue came up with her husband, and two of their three children showed up for our last day and a half.

Rebecca joined us; Brian elected to stay home and work; he'll catch up the the Fitz side of the family at his cousin Joey's wedding next month, in St. Louis.

Highlights: I took Bleriot, of course. The first day I was loafing around, knitting, and realized that I had forgotten some knitting needles. This necessitated a trip to the yarn store in Beulah (26 miles round trip), but it was mostly on the Betsie Valley Trail, which I'll ride all day, every day. It is that pretty.



Bleriot rolled over 5000 miles during that errand.

Rebecca and I rode over to Elberta for the Farmer's Market, only to discover it was on Thursday, not Tuesday. We consoled ourselves with a trip the the smokehouse in Frankfort for some smoked whitefish. It started to rain. We got wet. Frankfort and the Congregational Summer Assembly being not a large place, of course we ran into no fewer than three folks that knew us (not relatives, I might add) and felt sorry for us. We rode home and enjoyed the whitefish :-)

Rode around Crystal Lake once. Fitz and Rebecca played golf several days. I went to the beach, swam the line (1/4 mile), then sat and visited and knitted. One day it was pretty choppy. I've got a high tolerance for chop, but this was just about over the edge.

We had a fire at the Pt Betsie lighthouse and made s'mores.

Then Fitz, Rebecca, and I took the bikes up to the Old Mission Peninsula north of Traverse City and did a 20+ mile ride there. Rebecca isn't a cyclist, but she wanted to come along, and was a really good sport about it. We stopped at Two Lads Winery and did a wine tasting (lots of wineries on the peninsula), and I amused myself by adding things to my Carradice Barley bag (fresh dill, bottle of wine, the lunch and snacks I was already carrying...) It was really pretty.









Like I said, a week was not nearly long enough!

Our Summer Vacation, Osli to Gyor

Had breakfast with Tom; we talked about the Adventure Cycling loaded touring course and randonneuring. I hauled my suitcase down the steps - I didn't want Bohumil to think he had to lift it!



Out to Osli, about a 45 minute drive from Sopron. It is a quiet little town. Fitz had a flat before we even left (this was the only flat among all of us the whole trip); Marian and Bohumil did a TdF wheel swap. The initial stretch of road was potholed.





We saw lots of storks today. I was taking pictures on Arcsalag, and an older couple walking home made sure I saw all the stork nests. The houses all had a long yard, with a garden in the back. And I finally found a thatch-roof house. We were riding through Bosarkany, and saw Kris sitting on the steps of the pub - she said the guys were inside. Pearce and Bohumil appeared shortly thereafter. Kris and I elected to press on; the guys followed later.





I took more pictures while riding (I'm getting better), including a picture of the Frog Crossing. There is a HUGE frog migration every year.





Heading into Lebeny, we passed a large group of younger cyclists, with some adult escorts.

We had an excellent picnic lunch by a 13th century church in Lebeny. However, as we arrived faster than planned, lunch was not quite ready. So we had a walk around, looking at the church, the war memorial, the gardens, the pub...







Off again, a short stretch of road, then onto a bikepath, pretty much the entire way into Gyor. Fitz was on a mission; Rich, Kris, and I just hung on. Bohumil, too. (Although I expect he welcomed the chance to pick up the pace just a bit).



I had not heard good things about Gyor (industrial, not pretty), but our route in was quite nice. We went through some residential areas, and then dropped right into the center, car-free, part of town.



Zuzana directed us to the hotel, where we checked in, and set out to find the main attraction - the thermal baths. It was a new, modern complex. Getting checked in was interesting, but we worked it all out. We got space-age bracelets with RFID chips, which let us in, assigned us a locker (we held it up to a sensor, which told us which locker to use), let us IN the locker.



The hottest pool we could find was 37degC. Not hot enough, really. We did score some time on the jets, and camped out there for awhile, then laid around on some lawnchairs and had cold drinks.







Hiked back to the hotel, by way of a synagogue we saw (now a museum), and an ice cream stand.



We had our final group dinner this night.

More pictures from day.