Cafe Cruising

As usual the weather turned stormy toward the end of October and I've been riding much less than in my commuting days. Luckily a few years ago I discovered a Facebook social group of "Coffeeneurs". Beginning the first week of October, once a week for seven weeks, group members ride to a coffee shop at least one mile from home, indulge in a "coffee adjacent" beverage and snack, then post photos and details of the ride and the treats. The group has members all over the world, so people in my latitude are mostly riding in the rain and some farther north already have snow, while people in the southern hemisphere are complaining about the heat.

This is what us technologically impaired Boomers do with social media.

For my first ride I braved wind and rain riding to The Woods coffee shop in Boulevard Park by Bellingham Bay. And came down with a cold the next day. But I kept on riding, getting out any time it looks like we'll have a half day of mostly clear weather.

For my second ride I took a quick afternoon turn along some Ferndale park trails, packing a thermos of herb tea and a granola bar because I avoid caffeine after noon. 

  

The Fragrance Garden at Tennant Lake was a nice spot for a bit of autumn sunshine.

  

   

Next was a ride to Bellewood Acres on a damp, grey day, for hot Dutch apple pie and an americano.

Week four was a quick ride to a Woods Cafe to the north. My seasonal favorite peppermint bark cookies are back.

This week I rode to the Cordata Food Co-op and had a hot-pot drip coffee with a cream cheese brownie at an outdoor table in the sun, with Buddha and ravens.

All these sweet treats might seem to defeat the purpose here, but I like to think that riding in bad weather keeps my metabolism fired up, and the incentive gets me out at least once a week. Two more rides to finish the Coffeeneuring Challenge. The weather is looking pretty foul for the rest of November but I'm sure I'll find a few decent riding days, or I'll ride in the rain again.

PS Here are the final two rides. First (or sixth) Mercato Delle Bonta in the Granary Building on the Bellingham waterfront, for my usual americano and almond croissant.

Finally, Week Seven was cold, rainy and windy, I was fighting a cold and working a lot, and almost thought I'd have to bail on the final ride. Luckily the weather cleared up some on Thanksgiving Day and I got out for a seven mile ride on the riverside paths in Ferndale. The Haggen Grocery food court was the only place open by then so I stopped in for an americano and a big piece of carrot cake. The cake is so rich I couldn't finish even half and was forced to carry it home balanced on my handlebars, to eat for Thanksgiving dessert.

Seven miles for the seventh ride and I'm thankful for good health, good coffee shops, tolerable weather and my trusty bicycle.

One More Perfect Day

End of September, it's raining and the forecast is for some wild wind storms this week.

So here are some photos from a last-chance impulse ride last week that took me past a farm stand on Imhof Road.

... and one from Lynden

 

Equinox

The summer has gone by so fast. September especially slipped by in a blur. The weather has been strange in the past few weeks, chilly in the morning, hot and humid in the afternoon, and getting pretty cold over night. Very little rain, but no doubt the storms are coming soon.

I thought I might manage a 66 mile ride for my 66th year this summer, but my longest ride (so far?) was a 45-mile round-trip to Blaine for my favorite Mexican grill fish tacos. Also my Tour de Lopez excursion, though that was more driving than riding. Mostly I'm riding 20-30 mile loops on the flatter roads from the Lummi Reservation to the farm roads farther east around Lynden.

Good news though: I have begun to work off the "winter weight gain" that has been accumulating since I bought my car almost five years ago. I finally resolved to get serious about it when I found I had only one pair of jeans left that I could wear comfortably, plus some yoga pants and bicycling shorts. I tried shopping for a size up, but every pair of pants I tried fit badly or looked weird. (This may be partly because I'm still getting used to the idea that maybe I shouldn't dress like a college student any longer, but I haven't settled on a new style I'm comfortable with.)

Anyway, it just seemed easier and less expensive to lose weight until I can wear my old pants again. Which I have been doing mostly by exercising consistently and eating a lot of fresh, leafy greens and whole grains. I'm determined to hold to it over the coming winter.

Below are a couple of Sasquatch in disguise photos from Blaine. I don't know who's in charge of costuming, or how they get all that fur to stick, or what will happen when the rains begin.

Chuckanut Drive

For the past month I've been riding my Cannondale road bike while my Specialized Tricross touring bike has been in the shop for an overhaul. I enjoy riding the Synapse road bike because it makes me significantly faster and gives me delusions of raciness. But the lower, more stretched out riding position also gives me a stiff neck, headaches and numb hands and feet. Now that I'm back on the touring bike I'm finding that it's much more comfortable, and probably healthier in the long run, even if I am slower on it.

I bought the TriCross touring bike just at the tail end of the pandemic shut-down, five years ago now, from Earl's Bike Shop in Bellingham. I felt it was a lucky find since at the time it had proved to be near impossible to find a bike in my size with the features I wanted. And it was only about $300 on consignment - too good to pass up.

The tune up and overhaul cost only a little less than what I'd paid for the bike, but it was worth the price considering the original low cost. Although I was disappointed that it took a month to complete the job - I could have replaced the brake pads and chain at home myself. But as it turned out, the shop needed to rebuild the rear wheel to replace the hub. Then there was a delay in getting the right part, and some miscommunication in getting my authorization. It almost seemed the shop people were worried that I wouldn't agree to pay (I might have a reputation for cheapness). But I still say it's worth the expense to maintain a comfortable, functional bike.

Last winter some large boulders broke off the cliff near the south end of Chuckanut Drive, completely blocking the road for a few months. In June the highway department finished removing the fallen rock and stabilizing the cliff face. I celebrated with a test ride down the Interurban Trail to view the rock slide area. It was fun to get back on the gravel Interurban rail trail, which was shady and cool on a warmish day. I had to walk on a couple of very steep road crossing gaps in the trail that I used to ride up and down in my early days, but I had no neck and shoulder pain or numbness in my hands and feet.

Chuckanut Manor, at the south end of Chuckanut Drive

Oyster flats at Samish Bay

When I stepped across the road to look back, it was a little alarming to see how tiny my bike looked at the bottom of the rock fall. For a moment I thought it might be dangerous to stay too long. In fact, it could be dangerous to walk around on the roadway here as there isn't much shoulder-space and cars like to cruise through fast, without looking out for sight-seeing cyclists and pedestrians.

4th of July Weekend

Thursday morning I got out early for a ride to one of my favorite places, the Mexican Grill near the border crossing in Blaine. Unfortunately, I got such an early start that they weren't open when I arrived. Fortunately, I wasn't really hungry yet and just had iced coffee and pastry from the Starbuck's next door.

For one worried moment I thought maybe they had closed down because of slow tourist traffic due to the tariff situation. The Mexican Grill has opened a second shop to the south in Bellingham, but I think I'll visit Blaine another time later in the day for brunch.

The weather started out coolish, with variable breezes from various directions, though it was warm and sunny later in the day. I was riding my Synapse road bike because my touring bike is in the shop for some routine maintenance, and was feeling light, fast and frisky. On the way home at about 30 miles, I was speeding along so easily that I decided to try to keep my average speed above 13mph, in spite of the wind and rolling hills.

On a winding back road somewhere around Hoier Road, I got chased by a couple of dogs who appeared to be waiting to ambush me, but I was able to out-sprint them and they gave up after a short chase. That old saying about how you only have to be faster than your slowest companion doesn't apply when you're riding alone.

By the time I was within five miles of home my legs and shoulders were aching and I was starting to feel sore spots in the balls of my feet. The last couple of miles in Ferndale were pretty painful, but I held out and finished strong. This was a 42 or 43 mile ride, depending on the accuracy of Map My Ride vs. my bike computer. The longest ride I've done so far this summer, and it was a lovely day. Maybe I'll be able to manage 66 miles for my 66th year sometime before fall.

Today is the Independence Day holiday, and I'm resting and rehydrating at home. Tomorrow is the first day of the Tour de France.

Solstice Story

The road behind

At last I have succeeded in dropping my five pounds of winter weight gain. Now I can start working on losing the ten to fifteen pounds I've gained since buying my car back on Inauguration Day 2021. (Seems so long ago now ... )

Actually my weight is still in a reasonably healthy range, presently about 140lbs on a fairly muscular 5'4", over 65-year-old body. I feel a little bit silly, vain, even guilty for worrying about my weight, as if I've fallen for those unrealistic standards of beauty and fitness we're all supposed to reject.

But a few months ago I had only one pair of very worn 12-year-old jeans that fit comfortably, and about a dozen other pairs of pants that were too tight in varying degrees. I shopped around for something new, but size 8s were too saggy, size 6s too tight, and everything just looked and fit weird.

So I decided to get serious about losing the weight to fit into my old pants. That way, instead of buying new clothes, I can save my extra money for buying an N+1 bike.

Mostly I've done it by making sure to get out every day for at least a 2-3 mile walk, or a 10-30 mile bike ride. During the worst winter weather in January and February, when I tried a New Year's resolution diet, I was eating so little that I had no energy and spent a lot of time napping. I'm eating more now, though I've cut out ice cream and potato chip binges, and daily cafe visits for coffee and pastry.

I still usually treat myself after a bike ride, though. More exercise rather than a very restrictive diet is what's working for me.

Raspberries ripening soon

Back to the Islands

me again

Last month I impulsively signed up for the Tour de Lopez on Lopez Island. This turned out to be one of those trips where I drive 100 miles for a 50 mile bike ride. Also I carelessly parked in the wrong area and got a $55 ticket. But this year I qualify for the senior discount so my ferry fare was only $10.50, which made up for the ticket. Sure it did. Anyway, it was worth the drive and the expense to visit the Islands again on a perfect spring day.

I haven't been back to the San Juan Islands since pre-pandemic days in the summer of 2017, when I worked at Island Bicycles. Lopez Island is quieter and more rural than San Juan or Orcas Islands, and everybody always says it is flatter too, except for the first climb up from the ferry landing. On this ride, though, the organizers found plenty of rolling hills and a few long uphill hauls. Or maybe I was just feeling them because I haven't been riding much so far this spring and have been keeping to flatter roads.

I did some big deep-breathing exercises on the first hill. I suppose people hear me and think I'm gasping for breath and won't make it to the top, but it really is intentional and it feels so good to fully expand my lungs.

After check-in I managed to lose my route map and take a wrong turn at the first opportunity. But I'd brought an old road map and even a compass, and soon enough I caught up to a group to follow, so I was able to finish the 30-mile scenic ride, including some very fun rolling hills where I got my rhythm and momentum just right for a two-wheeled roller coaster ride.

At the end of the day, the Lopez Chamber of Commerce provided a hearty lunch, snacks and beverages, and a live band. I was only able to finish half of my huge veggie burrito, with coffee and a cookie for dessert. Then I walked around Lopez Village a bit before heading back to the ferry.

 

The ferry Issaquah on the Anacortes run features a Lego replica at least six feet long, including details like little cars and trucks on the vehicle deck, and passengers visible through the windows of the upper decks. It must have been someone's pandemic shut-down passion project.

Here's a real ferry in the distance, and the car deck with cyclists waiting their turn to disembark. This was a more mature crowd of recreational cyclists, though I did get caught in the middle of a group of more competitive young women near the turnaround-point of the route.