TEANEURING PART 2 OF 2

#7 PEETS, Elk Grove, CA

10/29 2023 (Sunday)

Early morning temp at 46 warmed to 53 with sun

Matcha Tea (they no longer have Sencha, and though I thought I would like Matcha, it was rather tasteless to me.

Crispy Ham and Swiss was very good

What a saga!

I’m sure I write too much here anyway (I can’t help myself), but this is even a little longer.

#1Still in California, we wanted to take the girls on a ride that would allow Kate to ride her 9 miles. We have set the goal for EACH Grand to ride their age in miles. Kate had her 9th birthday a week ago. The only rule is that the miles must be ridden in the year of the birthday, as close to that day as they can – since they do this only with us, and we are not always with them on their day. We drove our bikes to a trailhead on the American River trail, and Kate actually rode 12+ miles with no problem. There was really no opportunity for tea time on this day even though we did stop for a picnic lunch. Could not use this day (Friday) anyway as I had done my 2 for this week.

#2 Saturday and the beginning of my week #4, might be my last chance to get another tea time while here visiting family. I had plans to sneak in a close-by, easy ride in the early morning, before a scheduled family activity. However, 38 degrees changed my mind, and I would wait until after our late morning movie date and squeeze in that ride in the afternoon. Close by, is Peets for #7.

#2 UPDATE! We did get home in time for me to take a ride and the temp had risen to 69 with a bit of wind. I decided, since Peets is so close, I would try out the new to me bike map for the first time. That app said it would take me on least traveled roads and it would be about 8 miles one way. Perfect. BUT it seemed to be taking me in circles and I kept ending up at a similar corner I had been to previously. I think I do not know the intricacies of roads/sidewalks called bikeways/left turns/right turns/etc. As the sky was getting darker, and Peets would be closed, I finally gave up on this one and pulled up the Google map and entered the “home” address! I will say, though I never did get to my destination, the route took me on streets and across bridges I had not be on before in the many times I have ridden around. I am happy for that and for the entire ride.

#3 is often, and was on this day, the charm ;’-). A tentative family plan was to do a family friendly Halloween ride at UCDavis, about a half hour drive away. Since it seemed “tentative” I got out for an early ride to that Peets I never found yesterday. I did not use that new map app and got there just fine the old way. And THEN came the ride at UCDavis for the Zombie festival! Jaydon accidentally got his 14 miles for his 14 years!!! We depart for home tomorrow (Monday) and I was determined to get another ride in the sun and warmer temps than we have at home, I got in two ;’). Success all way round.

Again, too many photos for one collage.

#8 RIVER TRAIL ROASTERS, Redmond WA. On the Sammamish River Trail

11/1/2023 Wednesday (end of my week 4)

45 got up to 50 degrees & cloudy (cold!)

Gen Mai Cha tea. It has been a long time since I had this tea. I liked it back then, I liked it now.

Ham and Swiss Croissant was delish

We are home in Washington now so my remaining tea stops for this challenge will be in this, my home state. It was quite a treat to do the first half in different places in a few different states. We successfully extended my favorite summer season right up to now. But now, I must hang up my short sleeve shirts and light shorts and dig out all my warmer bike wear for cold weather riding.

I did just that and found some warmer gear for the ride I had pre-scheduled with my friend Kathy. Gotta get in a few rides before the week long rain moves in! I wrote so much on my last post, I will keep this one short and simple ;’-).

I made a couple of stops along the way before getting to the ride start. Notice — I remembered to bring my own cup ;’-).

#9 LOOK WHAT DAN GAVE ME

You will recall Dan Scott from the “COFFEENEURS” shirt that he has and everyone covets ;’). Dan is also a personal friend and when he learned I had lost my Coffeeneuring bandana, he generously offered to give me his as he never uses it!!!! Needless to say, I accepted the transfer of goods. The one I ‘lost’ was the dark blue one, but I am thankful for Dan’s generosity to give me this one.

MILK HOUSE COFFEE, Everett, WA

11/5/2023

55 chilly and all clouds

English Breakfast loose leaf tea (terribly overpriced) & orange cranberry scone

Shortened daylight hours and threatening weather means – get out and ride when I can! I didn’t have to wear my warmest gear, but I was well protected from the damp cold of the morning as I trundled off to pick up the goods from Dan. Every time I pass by that blue ‘Truck’ I think of my friend Greg who said it looks like his finger paining art when he was a child ;’).

After getting what I am now calling my “DanBandana” I opted to not take the trail for my ride to Milk House. Being Sunday, there is normally little car traffic, so I stayed on the road. The spooky house is spooky with NO Halloween decorations, but more so now.

Arriving at my tea stop I locked up and armed my bike with my high squealing bike alarm, and since they have taken in the outdoor table for the season (I assume), I had my tea and treat indoors.

DONATION RIDE FOR SUSAN MATTHEWS

I could not donate the last ride I did because of the “DanBandana” story. So this one is for Susan.

PIE RIDE

11/8/2023

53 full sun and a gorgeous day.

Choice Green Tea was OK

I don’t often ride with Cascade Bike Club as my pace is not up to theirs, but this one being a trail ride (flat) I thought I could keep up with them, or at least find my way back if I could not! This is a weekly ride the club leads to the Senior Center for their weekly Pie sale. I roped in my friend Shelly to ride with me with this group and though we did keep up, the pace was not our idea of fun.

I did enjoy my pineapple-rhubarb pie, and the tea was ok, and good for the price of 75 cents. We were among, and at the rear of, 25 other bike riders. Shelly and I purposely waited for both the other groups to get going before we started at the end of the line with 3 others, and one of our leaders as sweep. I took a few photos at the beginning and end as well as at tea time, but none along the way with the group speed and not being a ‘leisurely’, stop and smell the roses ride.

#10 AT MY FRIEND ANN’S HOUSE Everett, WA

11/9/2023 (end of my week 5)

46 cloudy dampness in the air

Yorkshire Gold black tea

I think this is the third year that Ann has invited me to have a teaneuring stop at her house. She has me over for tea at other times as well, but I try to make sure to include teaneuring season ;’-) for one of my visits. Along the way I made an errand stop at the Transfer Station (the dump) to dispose of batteries.

Unlike the day before, this day brought heavy clouds preparing for rain. The gloomy gray was not inviting for a fun ride today. The good part was that the rain would not enter the day until mid to late afternoon. The second good part would be a mid morning tea time with Ann. So, I was happy to fight the doom and gloom of the morning and get outdoors, get on my bike, and ride for my tea visit with Ann. Ann’s husband Dan was an avid cyclist, evidenced by the spinning bike lawn ornament.

#11 MAKARIO COFFEE, Everett WA

11/14/2023

42 by mid morning, and sun

Organic English Breakfast Tea & Honey Cream Cheese Bagel

GORGEOUS day for a bike ride ;’-).

I had thought I might ride any number of these past few days. Some morning rain and forecasted high winds and more rain kept me indoors on one of those days. And of course, as happens, neither of those things happened that day, but by then I was deep into other things. Indoor chores and tasks. More days came that I could ride, but there was either no place I had in mind to ride to for tea, the day was wrong for my week to count the tea stop, or weather was only marginal to enjoy a ride and tea. I did ride some short routes near home on those less than ideal days, but not for my tea stop. Today I would I would ride for tea no matter what the weather would tell me, and I had a place in mind ;’-).

A sunny day, at least partially sunny was forecasted for this day, but early morning showed frost all around after the 33 degree night! I waited for the sun to come out in full force to at least take away the frost. Cold but sunny as I rode into Everett for a tea stop. Once there I remembered that I have been there in the past, and may have posted for a coffeeneuring stop.

I am not a total fan of this place as it is small with few places to sit and enjoy a beverage and a bite – especially near the noon hour when I was there on this day. Not much ambiance either, BUT, my tea was excellent – hot full bodied and strong with a real taste of tea served in a lovely mug; the Bagel was really good – no skimping on the cream cheese, just the right amount of honey, and a soft fresh sesame seed bagel. If I am in the area and want a good mug of tea in a beautiful mug, I will stop in again.

#12 STARBUCKS, Mukilteo WA

My penultimate teaneuring ride for this season ;’-).

11/16/2023 (end of my week 6)

Clear and sunny but quite cold

Chai Latte

The frost and 33 degree temps, had me canceling my planned ride with a friend. I did not want to start riding as early as she planned, and she did not want to start later. I waited until around 11:30 when the frost was gone and the temp rose to 43 and stayed there for the day, then took one of my local rides. My time is closing in, and really I have only 2 more riding days to complete my 13 rides for our 13th year. With that in mind I stopped at the nearby Starbucks at QFC grocery store. I have not boycotted Startbucks, but I no longer go there very often for a variety of reasons. But there was little choice for today.

I rode a good ride, but it was cold enough for me to experience what we call “an ice cream headache”! I was fortunately smart enough to dress well for the temps, but my head and face got quite cold. I was happy to get home and get cozy with another mug of hot tea. The Chai Tea I had at ‘bucks was ok but I am cheap enough to not make this a choice again at $6.00 for less than a full mug for an “OK” beverage.

#13 FOR OUR 13TH YEAR!!!

SOUTH FORK BAKING CO. Everett WA

11/18/2023 Saturday (the end)

43 to 48 with beautiful sun

Stash Green Tea and “Dark Chocolate pistachio twice baked croissant” How was I supposed to remember THAT by the time I got to the ordering register!

My final challenge ride for this season and it seems a bit sad. I will miss seeing you all on facebook, but will look forward to our next happy season together.

Today we had a few errands to run by car in the morning which allowed the day to warm up a bit from the chilly early air. I thought hard and knew I wanted something better than the last tea stop I had, but where should that be??

I asked, and Susan said yes, to drop me off after we finished with those errands. We loaded up bike and gear before leaving home, completed our tasks, and drove to Legion Park in north Everett for me to have a bike ride home. I don’t mind riding to and from here in the warm months, but really — it just felt too cold to enjoy a long ride so this would be just perfect, and I could check out the new South Fort Baking Co. that I had not yet been to ;’-).

The later morning turned out to be warmer than I thought, and I was so happy for little different ride than I have had over the past few weeks. I took a long slow meander all around and through the waterfront area before stopping at the South Fork Baking Company, then pulled up an outdoor table in partial sun to enjoy the view of the marina. The tea was … well, Stash tea bag so rather tasteless. The croissant was better than fair but not what I would order again. The overpowering part was the dark chocolate and I would rather have pistachio take my taste buds. They didn’t have that so I satisfied myself with this one.

By the time I was nearing home the shadows became cold to ride through and the day was chilling down again with those high wispy clouds coming closer. Harbinger for tomorrow’s rain forecast?. It got up to near 50 by the time I got home, but started dropping after that.

THANK YOU MARY (and intern) FOR ANOTHER GREAT ‘NEURRING SEASON. Though I ride a lot, and mostly on my own, I find it so nice to have something to ride toward, and what better something than “tea and crumpet” for oneself! In addition, I love reading and seeing photos of everyone’s challenge outings ;’-). I am already thinking up a theme for our next season ;’). But I will try to keep the stories shorter, you know – less wordy if I can ;’-).