Coffeeneuring 2019

Sunday November 24, 2019 Our final ride of the season is usually less fanfare than the others, usually because it gets pretty windy and chilly in late November.   We usually complete our coffeeneuring by this time, but there has been so much going on that we only had time today to go on a short one before we have to see and visit others who need us.  This year was no different.  Under sunny skies and maybe 48 degrees, we rode around the golf course to the local Circle K to grab a coffee with cream and a Vanilla Cappuccino.  While there, an older gentleman rode up on his Schwinn trike with a battery operated front rim. He told us he usually gets about 15 miles per charge on his 36v setup, but is going to add batteries so he can ride 36 miles round trip to Ft Pickens and back. We chatted a little about the e-biking rage right now and the thought has crossed our minds a little be to consider adding a battery type drive to the tandem if w...

Sunday November 17, 2019 Ride six took us on our longest journey so far this year on the tandem.  Under perfect conditions (sorry, but I like to rub it in) we rode to the Naval Live Oaks north side.  Riding with our neighbors, we chatted about goings-on over the past couple of weeks, and caught up on life in general.  It was a little chillier than normal, but by the time we rode home from one of our absolute favorite spots, it was clothing/knit cap shedding time.  The ride there was in knit caps, jackets, and two extra layers in 54 degrees, but the ride back after warming up from coffee outside, turned into sleeves rolled up, jackets tied around the waist , and a little fight against the east wind.  No problems though for Jen and me on big blue.  The tandem rides again after a week off with cruisers while at the Naval Live oaks. Even though I need a better saddle for the front (my Selle Anatomica X came unriveted and was trashed)  I'll finish out ou...

Saturday November 9, 2019 Ride 5 Every year we try to camp at Fort Pickens to view the pride of Pensacola's Blue Angels from across the sound. It is usually the best weather of the year, and although Friday night was miserable for  tent life with intermittent rain and very cold winds, Saturday turned out to be a beautiful day.   Jen and I awoke, and, after some morning breakfast rode the Florida Trail to Battery Langdon for some 'take it with us' coffee and some pics.  We got to the location, then hiked up to the top of the Battery, viewing the snowy white sands, the Santa Rosa Island geography and the ranger station.  Another perfect day on the gulf coast for coffeeneuring.  This is usually our quality not quantity (miles) ride but when you can couple coffeeneuring with a nice hike on the beach, it's hard to not enjoy yourself.  We definitely made up our miles later in the day with the ride to the fort, then beach rides.  It was anothe...

Ride 4- Standard time--Sunday, November 3, 2019 Our fourth ride took place on a chilly Sunday morning with our neighbors today. Amber and Joe got up with us, and we decided to do a round a bout ride to the Oriole Beach Boat Ramp. We bundled up, hopped on the tandem and warmed up quickly as the winds slowed down somewhat.  Sunny skies and 50 degrees made for a great trip.  Jen and I cooked our Folgers and green tea at the picnic table, while Amber told us about learning a new style of coffee on TikTok. Something about Almond milk, ice, coffee and creamer of some sort.  It was coffee-ish to me, but hey--there was coffee in it so it counts.  Too sweet for my tastes, and cold coffee on a cold morning just doesn't make sense, but I drink hot coffee in 90 degree weather--to each his own! We spent a good hour catching up on what we as neighbors have been up to recently. I even learned some things that I wouldn't have expected to hear over coffee, but hey, what ca...