Oak Bluffs |
Closed |
Coffeeneuring Ride 2: Winston's Kitchen for a coffee and blueberry muffin on Oak Bluffs Harbor |
Oak Bluffs |
Closed |
Coffeeneuring Ride 2: Winston's Kitchen for a coffee and blueberry muffin on Oak Bluffs Harbor |
Coffeeneuring Ride 1: A beachy brew and apple cider donut. A perfect fall day! |
My blog gets updated so infrequently these days and if it were not for Coffeeneuring, it would remain dusty through the fall. I love, love this time of year -- crispy autumn days, casual rides for coffee, the changing colors of the leaves... so fabulous.
I kicked off Coffeeneuring 2024, now my 7th or 8th year (I've lost track), with a trail ride to Salem and a loop through the Forest River Conservation area. I ran a few miles earlier in the day in Andover and felt energized to hop on my bike when I returned home -- it was such a gorgeous day (!) -- but by the time I hit Salem I felt my energy drain. I needed coffee!! Since Salem is a madhouse in October, I returned down the trail to Marblehead to grab a coffee at Java Sun and breakfast by the beach.
Trails today! |
The foliage is still very green along the coast, but not for much longer. I started training with a running group that meets early on Sunday mornings in Andover, gearing up for the Feaster Five on Thanksgiving day, and noticed the colors up north are really popping. Riding our trail at home I noted the coastal towns are a week or two behind. It won't be much longer before the leaves change, though -- it's getting chilly at night!
Fall colors, cooler temps, and more coffee rides ahead! Coffeeneuring 2024 is underway.
September riding |
Well, that summer just flew. It was a mixed bag of pretty much everything... good days, bad days, wet weather, blown chances, and good friends. Both boys living under the same roof wasn't always cozy as they're beginning to navigate their own paths. Chip is no longer content to follow Will's lead, and that lead to a few blow ups. Will buckled down with his studies as his first semester in medical school got under way, and Chip spent the summer shucking oysters to replenish his bank account. With him back in Michigan, it's been quiet, and I miss him.
My cut flower garden was a great success, and I've been gifting zinnia and sunflower bouquets to friends and family. My pumpkin beds took an unfortunate turn, however, and were attacked with powdery mildew in August. I managed to harvest a dozen small white and orange pumpkins before pulling out and discarding the vines. I'm not sure which weather I prefer -- the wet, muggy summer we had this summer or the drought from 2022. I'd make a terrible farmer.
It wasn't a great summer for my cycling and fitness goals either. I came up short in both regards. I don't know why I slipped so far down the ladder, why I couldn't get myself on the bike, or lace up for a run, but I didn't... and now here it is September and I'm working out of the hole.
The IM Lake Placid gang |
I miss the days of big athletic goals and long training rides and workouts with friends. In July, a few of us headed to Lake Placid for Jennifer and Amy's Ironman triathlon. (A fellow former SpiderOne Racing athlete Serie K. was also competing). It was a great weekend and I felt myself mentally pulling myself together. I'm so proud of both Amy and Jennifer for putting themselves through the grind. I'm old, secretly gray, have bad knees, and several extra pounds, but I'm the same age Amy is so I have no excuse.
So with the arrival of September and the distractions of summer behind me, I'm back at it. I'm already on Day 1, Week 2 of a 5k running program, and dusted off my bike for my first ride in a while. Hopefully I can keep this momentum going!
Just Run |
Back on the bike! |
With no events on my calendar to train for this year, most of my activity has been in the garden, not the bike. May was a busy one, bookended with the boy's celebrations of the ending (temporarily) and beginning of school. We all travelled to Ann Arbor for Chip's graduation from the University of Michigan at the beginning of the month. (Yayyyy, Chippy!!!) He returns to UMich Engineering for his master's degree in biomedical engineering in the fall.
Then, at the end of the May, Will started his doctorate program at Tufts School of Medicine. He'll be living at home for a semester or two until he begins clinical rotations, hoping to temper the costs of medical school, so I'm crossing my fingers it all works out.
Wolverines Forever Chip UM Class of '24, Will '21 |
The stress I was semi managing throughout the winter -- with elderly family members navigating health issues, our house projects consuming much of January and February, and general daily stressors -- wasn't very successful. I dived off the rails with binge eating -- obviously not the best way to handle stress. Fortunately, I know how to fix that!
Summer is here, it's time to get active again! Donna and I are back at the track and I'm BACK ON THE BIKE. My gardens are well underway, and if the damn rabbits don't eat it all, I just need to weed and water and enjoy what comes. (Gosh, I love my gardens.) It also means I have more time to get out on a ride. I don't have any set goals worked out yet, but I'm working on it.
I love this time of year.
Summer fun ahead! |
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.