Coffeeneuring2020 One Good thing

 Ride 6--November 8, 2020--Another trip to support local business We've been dodging hurricanes since Sally a couple of months ago, but they just keep coming. The winds today were out of the east about about 25mph, so, instead of riding to the beach, like we originally wanted to for the second week/third ride in a row, we decided to support a local business that has more than likely been affected by the Skanska barge blunder.  I realized the wind was going to be fierce earlier this morning while playing a round of disc golf, and, since Breeze Donuts has been on the radar for a while, we'd ride there.  So instead of riding to the beach to see my brother-in-law's band play while drinking coffee, we split up our trips.  Thank goodness for the 2 mile plus ride rule :)  Our trip today took us on our usual 'small sound loop'; an almost 8 mile ride with the wind behind us, and the wind in front of us.  We decided to hit Breeze Donuts, a startup company that's been...

 November 1, 2020-Coffeeneuring ride 5 I can't really remember the last time we rode 17+ miles two days in a row.  But now I do, and so do my hamstrings :)   An absolutely stunning weekend for riding. Perfect weather (late morning/early afternoon) made for another great coffeeneuring day.  I gotta admit, I wasn't overly thinking I'd be riding another 17 mile day, but I previously stated to my friends, who were staying in town after playing a gig the night before; that we'd ride to the beach with them if they felt like grabbing a coffee--this time on the beach again.  We went to meet our friends at noon on the way to Pensacola beach on this perfect day.  70 degrees, very little wind, but my hamstrings were feeling it after about 6 miles, especially after riding yesterday. We met up and hit the Cumaru bar for an Sunday Bloody Mary, then went across the street to a great New Orleans cuisine style bar/restaurant called NOLA. I gotta admit also, I did feel ...

Coffeeneuring 4, October 31, 2020 We decided before the whole coffeeneuring ride season that we were going to have coffee at the closed bridge in GB.  Damn Hurricane Sally's flooding knocked 23 barges loose in the area and 4 of them broke our direct line to Pensacola in 4-7 places causing traffic headaches, and major jams. A 400+ million dollar bridge, which had the most beautiful bike lane by the way, now broken, along with our hearts.  Especially since we planned so many trips on it.  We left today under perfect conditions.  A light wind, and about 60 degrees helped motivate us to ride a longer distance ride.  Our original ride was planned to go to the beach and eat some brunch and have coffee, but we suddenly remembered our pre-coffeeneuring plan--to have coffee at the foot of the broken bridge.  And that's exactly what we did.  We also wanted to support small businesses affected by traffic absence since the bridge has been closed.  We chose Du...

 Coffeeneuring 2020--Ride 3 Saturday October 24, 2020 So, I guess I need to take a potato chip eating class. Apparently I forgot how to swallow multiple chips at one time correctly.  Yeah, I've had the dorito stab the top of my pallet and take forever to heal, but today was different.  I had gotten into a bag of salsa verde tortilla chips after working on the van, and, with wild abandon tore into the bag, forgetting how to chew correctly.  As I went to swallow, there it went--right to the right side of my throat. And it was not going to move.  After multiple hard swallows and attempts to dislodge it, I took a break and laid down, very irritated in every sense.  As I laid down to take a quick nap, if I laid on my left side, I was fine, but I'm a toss and turner, so changing to the right brought on a coughing fit that I haven't had in some time, so it was time to hit the Internets and look up the recipes on how to get this damn thing unstuck and down the esop...

Coffeeneuring Chronicles 2020 Ride 2 October 18, 2020   Our second ride happened on Sunday October 18 under glorious Florida conditions. Our neighbors wanted to support local business by going to a newer donut store that we've never been to, but after noticing the 72 degree cloudless skies, I opted for Jen and I to ride the tandem a further distance, keeping this ride in our 'back pockets' in case of a cold crappy day when we need to ride or make up our ride.  In the idea of keeping up with supporting local businesses since the barge blunder, Jen and I decided we wanted to do a ride to the beach.  Since our neighbors were barbequing today and had to prep, we decided to get up with them for a coffeeneuring ride on a later date.  There was a pretty stiff east wind as we set off toward the beach; luckily it was at our back today.  I had a feeling it would be an easy ride over, but a hard ride back.  The beautiful ride took us to the bridge when we felt the win...

  Coffeeneuring 2020 Yeah, so it's been a shitshow of a year. COVID, work from home time, alone time, not seeing family, Hurricane Sally; Bridge Destruction; Runaway barges taking away our beautiful bridge commute by bicycle after only a month in service; too many things gone wrong, but there's always something to look forward to, especially in times like these. BICYCLING.   We have put some serious miles on the Burley tandem this year.  Maybe more than we ever have, especially during these unforeseen times.  What else are you going to do?  No concerts, no time with friends/family; no socially entertaining things--ugh.  Sooooooo glad we get to look forward to the staple of coffeeneuring for exercise and to spend time on the bike.  Thanks Mary--keeps us going, for our eighth year this time.  Since the connector to Pensacola will be closed for six to eight months, we'll be trying to support small businesses in Gulf Breeze affected by the bridge...