In coffeeneuring, as in life, one must expect the unexpected. I was off to a fabulous start, with beautiful weather and happy rides. Then life intervened and I figured it just wasn’t my year. But fate wouldn’t accept failure, and I managed, by hook and by crook, to complete the challenge. Because I was away from home for more than a month, I had to rush to complete my submission before the deadline. Usually I’m very prompt and efficient with these things, but not this year. The blog post is minimal, but the sense of satisfaction and connection to this beautiful community is enormous.
Ride #1 – October 9, 2023 – 8.5 miles – Trade Roots
First biked to Arlington courthouse to vote! Then stopped at a bike shop because my bike seat was wobbly. Decided to get my turmeric latte at Trade Roots, close to home on the way back and the cranberry walnut scone was the perfect accompaniment. It was a beautiful, crisp day.
Ride #2 – October 12, 2023 – 12.5 miles – Mom and Pop
Two new things – a black sesame soy latte and an everything crogel (croissant/bagel). Shopped at H Mart and then had a break before heading home…see my trusty Burley Travoy… Another perfect day! Last ride at age 70 as my birthday was the next day. There were little robots delivering things, which I hadn’t seen before.
Ride #3 – October 17, 2023 – 8.5 miles – Northside Social, Arlington
My frequent route takes me past the beautiful new wetlands area in Arlington. Made Amazon returns at Whole Foods and then stopped on the way back for a turmeric latte and scone. I wanted my theme to be turmeric lattes – but they proved too hard to find and this one was way too sweet. The scone, however, was delicious – cheddar/chive.
Ride #4 – October 20, 2023 – 8 miles – Baked and Wired
Rode into DC for an eye appointment which conveniently took me past Baked and Wired. Stopped for a macchiato and a weirdly sweetish goat cheese and chive biscuit. Nice view of the C&O canal. With eyes dilated, I thought it best to take the bike home on the metro!
Ride #5 – October 25, 2023 – 17 miles – Taco Bamba
Beautiful day for the 17-mile Arlington loop and ride #5. (See the Lincoln Memorial across the river.) I usually get a sticky bun at Best Buns, but it was mid-day and I needed real food. I noticed Taco Bamba offered free coffee – so I got a ‘shroom taco and a grande with walnut chorizo. Yummy! And the free coffee was not terrible (tho it had obviously been sitting all morning and required 5 creams ) Then again, between the messiness of overflowing tacos and their spiciness making my nose run, I went through about 7 napkins.
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Here’s where my year went off the rails. My 97-year-old mother fell and fractured her pelvis. She lives in Baraboo, Wisconsin, and I went out to help with her recovery and a move into assisted living. All total, I spent more than a month there and figured my coffeeneuring season, which had started so well, was doomed.
In all the many years of visiting, I have looked and looked for a cheap bike to use while I’m there – to no avail. But this year, the coffeeneuring gods were looking out for me. At the Habitat for Humanity ReStore I found a $75 kids mountain bike that was just my size. The brakes worked fine and, although I could only access 2 gears, I figured it was better than nothing. And thus, the 2023 season was saved. Without having to buy a new helmet, I found a whimsical child’s helmet at St Vinnies that was a perfect fit for my small head!
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Ride #6 – November 17, 2023 – 2 miles – coffeeneuring without walls
I did a minimal 2-mile ride, on which I brought ginger tea, but my ears were too cold to drink it outside. So I drank it at home with a donut. Here I am with the new bike and silly helmet. If this isn’t the spirit of coffeeneuring I don’t know what is! Caregiving is exhausting and finally having a bike here definitely helped my mental health!
Ride #7 – November 18, 2023 – 5.5 miles – Bella Vita Café
All hail the unicorn – ride #7 done! A beautiful day in Baraboo. I rode to Bella Vita Cafe, where I’d never been and had a delicious savory scone and an oat milk London Fog. From there rode past Circus World, then along the river path and used GPS to avoid major roads back. About 5.5 miles total and had to strip off my jacket halfway thru! So happy to complete another year. I the coffeeneuring community
So, in case anyone was wondering where I get my persevering spirit, let me post a photo of my amazing mom who has been recovering beautifully from a fall that could have been life-ending at her age (97)! Here she is in rehab going at it with gusto on the exercise equipment.
Enid writes 