April 1, 2024 30 Days of Biking |
Not 30 Days of Biking, Library haul |
April 1, 2024 30 Days of Biking |
Not 30 Days of Biking, Library haul |
PMC Winter Cycle with Kathy Cronin Grant |
Gosh, the winter flew! Kathy and I returned to Fenway Park in early March for the 2024 PMC Winter Cycle, rising money for the Dana Farber Cancer Institute. Being more familiar with the event this year, our morning went seamlessly, including finding parking directly across from the park! (Score!)
We had a great session, with high energy lead by instructor's from Boston's B-Cycle -- and look forward to making this an annual tradition!
Pre-Ride Warm-up |
Brief chat with PMC founder Billy Starr |
Fenway! |
Following our PMC Event, we hustled back to the North Shore for an Irish baking course with baker and author Cherie Dunhem, who came to us live over Zoom from her kitchen in Ireland! We learned how to make butter, lemon curd and two types of Irish soda bread during our 90 minute class with Cherie. Fun!
Kathy baking along with Irish baker and author Cherie Dunhem |
Spotted Dog (soda bread) |
Bread, butter, and curd! A great day! |
Time for the lobster claw gloves |
Coffeenurring '23 patch arrived! |
It's good to be a Michigan Wolverine |
Always Be Coffeeneuring |
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Coffeeneuring Ride 7, Lulu's Bakery and Pantry |
I didn't ride with a theme this year, but I could have -- I visited four new coffee shops this Fall and easily could have added a few more to make it a theme. Today I stopped at Lulu's Bakery and Pantry which opened in 2022 and was new to me. Add it to the growing list of great coffee places in Salem!
The bakery offerings were large, (cookies the size of a saucer), so I chose a small chocolate covered marshmallow and ordered an iced latte with oatmilk. I'm trying to limit my sweets leading up to Thanksgiving, but when I opened the mini bakery box there were two marshmallows inside. OMG. Yes, it was as delicious as it looks.
I only ate one... until I rode home and patted myself on the back for once again riding up Lafayette Hill into Marblehead... and rewarded myself for the effort with the second marshmallow. Lol.
I started my ride with a loop out to the Willows and Winter Island, and then back towards Salem Common where I intended to cut down to Wolf Next Door for coffee. The trees were beautiful, with just a smattering of leaves hanging on for the last bits of autumn. A lighting contractor was stringing lights in the trees, getting ready for the winter holidays. I love this time of year, when Salem transitions from the gaudy Halloween spectacle to classic, old charm Christmas. It's so lovely.
Coffeeneuring Ride 6, Red Line Cafe |
The sun was deceiving. There was a cold headwind!
1941 Columbia Superb |
Early morning double sunrise |
When I arrived at the beach, I was surprised to see the sun was already well above the horizon, a bit hazy from the clouds. My timing must have been off?? But, as I sat on the seawall and enjoyed the changing colors, the sounds of the surf, and the gulls flying overhead, the actual sun popped up over the horizon, giving the illusion of two suns. Stunning.
Today's coffee ride was to Salem, taking the rail trail and new Canal Street bike path that drops you right into Riley Plaza, Salem. (Is it still called Riley Plaza?) I've been trying to visit new coffee places during this year's Coffeeneuring Challenge, and decided to try Camilla's Cafe and Breakfast on Canal Street, adjacent to the bike path. (It's a new-ish place in the original HoneyDew Donuts shop.) The coffee was good but my timing may have been off because they didn't have much in the way of small snacks. I ordered a cappuccino and croissant and sat by a sunny window to warm up.
Coffeneuring Ride 5, Camilla's Cafe |
I headed back home, staying on Canal Street to Loring Ave and then through the Forest River area. There still isn't much foliage to be seen this year -- and many trees have gone straight from green to brown and leafless, (with no change of colors in between). Crazy weather we're having, but lovely for riding.
All the colors |
Coffeeneuring Ride 4, Java Sun |
Coffeeneuring Ride 3, On the Grind Cafe |
Perfect autumn day |
Halloween on Federal Street |
Coffeeneuring Ride 2, The Blue Canoe |
We lucked out with the weather this weekend, which was originally forecast to be a washout. I took advantage of the limited early sunshine and biked to The Blue Canoe in Marblehead where my sister Donna joined me for coffee. We then located a bike rack a block and a half away, locked up my bike, and walked downtown to do some art shopping.
We headed first to the Artisans Fall Festival at the Jeremiah Lee Mansion -- which was ok but lacked freshness. The artisans were, of course, very talented and had lovely items, but everything on display was overly familiar and nothing inspired a purchase. (Especially since we each own several pieces from many of the same artists.)
Leaving the mansion grounds, we next headed to the galleries and artisan shop at the Marblehead Arts Association at the King Hooper Mansion, diagonally across from the Lee. I purchased a sweet felted acorn necklace and a suet bird feeder with a kaleidoscope of colorful nesting materials. (Donna purchased a few items as well). We had a fun afternoon visiting a handful of shops, making a few more purchases, (a hat and gloves for me) and then called it an afternoon.
The sun disappeared on my ride home -- I caught the best part of the day.
10h Anniversary EOD Ride |
Two things to celebrate today!
One, it's the tenth anniversary of the 2013 Undefeated EOD Ride, a charity ride for the Wounded EOD Warrior Foundation. Wow! Ten years!? Hard to believe that was one of my last epic rides. I wore my Undefeated EOD jersey today in honor of LCDR Kevin Childre -- one of the ride founders and a good man. I appreciate everything he did for me during my time in San Diego.
And Two,,, well, today I kicks off my 7th season of bikes and coffee with the 2023 Coffeeneuring Challenge! There's something so ironic about being excited for a coffee ride challenge in 2023. LOL Ten years ago (tomorrow) I was riding 200 miles down the California Coast with members of the US Navy elite -- and today I'm content to just ride five miles or so for coffee.
It was a gorgeous day to be out on the road bike! I headed to a new place in town but realized I didn't have a bike lock on me, so circled back to Cafe Avellino which has outdoor seating, I ordered an an iced latte and three small Italian cookies, then sat outside where I enjoyed chatting with an elderly gentleman who lives nearby. He walks to the cafe everyday with his tiny, dog Sonny, so Sonny can get his daily meatball. (Adorable.)
Coffeeneuring Ride 1, Cafe Avellino |