Adventures in Coffeeneuring 2018 - Ride 7

Saturday November 24, 2018

Our final Coffeeneuring ride of 2018 came under beautiful sunny skies, even though the weather showed an 80% chance of rain.  The roads were wet from an evening thunderstorm, but the clouds blew out of our area and the morning was beautiful.  A slight breeze out of the north made it cold in the shade but our final destination and the coffee warmed the bones.  

We rode to a favorite private spot of ours, between million dollar mansions where a lot remained clear of hurricane debris from fourteen years ago; a dock in good shape but not connected to land. 

 I guess this counts as a boat launch or at least it could be, if you don't mind barefooting through sand spurs and broken rock and glass. 

We enjoyed our coffee in the sun, talked about how we would never get anything done if we lived on the water. We'd sit out there on the dock all day.  

Luckily, all of our rides this year were pretty much under perfect conditions.  Happy to complete a seventh year. 

Ride miles: 3.8

Weather: perfection 62 degrees with a light wind

Coffee effect: strong--Rob with black coffee and Jen with her staple pumpkin spice. 

 

Adventures in Coffeeneuring - Ride 6

Sunday November 18, 2018

After riding the motorcycle 95 miles yesterday, we decided to slow our roll down today and get a coffeeneuring ride in. The weather was absolutely perfect at 65 degrees with no wind.  

After some coaxing, I was able to convince Jen to ride with me to the Naval Live Oaks "kayak launch" area on the sound. The ride went very smoothly, with very little traffic this Sunday morning, and we were able to burn off a little energy. We stopped at one of our favorite places, cooked up the coffee and enjoyed the perfect day. 

Everyone seems happier when there is perfect weather.  We got a lot of waves from fellow motorists, walkers, pedestrians, kids playing...just a perfect day to ride.  Even the butterflies were happy, so i had to capture them too:)! My only regret is that we didn't ride further, maybe to the beach, but we had things to do, so, after spending time at the lookout point, we headed back, leisurely of course. 

Ride: 9.5 perfect miles

Coffee effect: I'm done with pumpkin spice

Ride quality--best of the season. 

I can only hope our final ride of this 2018 coffeeneuring season is as perfect.  

Adventures in Coffeeneuring 2018 - Ride 5

Friday November 16, 2018

We had a frigid cold snap last week. Thirty - eight. Degrees. 

Close the roads. Stay inside. Find fire. Ok actually, it was a dreary, cloud induced depressive four days, right after the time change kinda cold.  We hunkered down and had hot cocoa and soup instead of coffeeneuring. HOWEVER, the sun came out on Friday, and the temps rose to a nice 58 so, as soon as work was over, Jen and I rode to a nearby local boat ramp for our coffee. The wind died down, and the folgers insta packs were warmed in the park. The closed down, under construction park. So, we didn't get too much enjoyment in the sun, on the dock, under the trees, but we did warm up quickly once the water was boiled and the coffee steeped.  A quick ride, but we got the job done on this beautiful day.  Only two rides left--we'll probably do a Turkey day coffeeneuring ride and one not long after. 

Miles 4.3

Shake Factor: non-existent except for shivering

Warm up factor: excellent

Adventures in Coffeeneuring 2018 - Ride 4

November 3, 2018

Had another fantastic day to enjoy a ride to a local boat ramp for more coffee outside.  Joe and Amber managed to finagle a way to ride with us, even though Joe was deported for a week to help with cleanup efforts in Panama City.  

Our first ride with our coolest neighbors took us to Bal Alex Boat Ramp, a modest 4 miles away. Slightly cooler weather, but sun galore. We took the usual off the highway 98 route through the Tiger Point golf course subdivision then rode across, north to the lovely shaded confines of the boat ramp.  

We noticed damage remnants of hurricane Michael--fence posts, and different wood pieces washed up into the holding pond just north of the parking area; other wooden foot-planks removed from their intended spaces, splintered wood and metal entwined with reminders of what could have been, but luckily hadn't been. 

A few years ago we put our brand new paddle boards in here at this boat ramp. As soon as I got Jens board in the water, a young girl about age 5 or 6 jumped FROM THE DOCK onto her new board.  We all freaked out a little bit, but were a tad bit interested in her daring ways, and how an adult would have let her jump on without stopping her. 

This same inquisitve girl, now more around the age of 8, came to the boat ramp yesterday asking questions about us, sparking memories past.  Of course I had two film cameras, a Lomo LC-a and an older Argus SLR that i was testing for a friend. When she asked how many cameras and whose they were, Jen cackled, as well as my neighbors.  I know. I have way too many cameras.  The girl took interest in the lomo and immediately asked how she could get the film out.  I kept my cool, stating that film can only come out in the dark, when the roll is finished or it'll be ruined.  Then I figured I'd show her the much older Argus and let her shoot a couple of pics with it. Setting the aperture at f16 and speed at 100, i showed her how to focus and press the button and advance the film.  She thought it was really need and seemed very interested. It's funny how kids always look at the back to hopefully see the instant gratification of digital.  This wasn't the case, today--it was like she understood.  Her uncle who came down with her said she learns everything on youtube, even how to wrestle alligators.  This generation......

By now it was time to get back on the bikes and head back to our homes. We bid adieu and rolled off, though the massive oaks and bald
cypress trees, hot coffee in our bellies and wide awake, wondering how the pics she took will turn out when they come out of the developer.  Hopefully i'll be able to get results and add them in a later post.  

Trip 6.6 miles 

Coffee black; --Glasses; intact
Shake factor: decent--should have used two folgers instant packs instead of one today.