I told all about the challenge in a recent previous post, and now will post my entries for the challenge.

#1 2024 SOFT LAUNCH SATURDAY 10/5/24

The rules say we can start with a “soft launch” on Saturday, but I was not clear about if that would count for #1 in the challenge. Didn’t really matter to me other than knowing how to number them. I will be doing any number of tea rides during the challenge that begins on 10/6 and will count the ones I ‘need’ ;’-).

Today I rode in my neighborhood for a variety of reasons that no one really cares about. But my stop at the kiosk was quite nice as I neared home. It was cloudy for the entire ride but no rain as Yesterday’s morning downpour seems to have used it all up for now 😉. And 60 degrees was pleasant for my ride, as I work at embracing Fall and its rich colors, and continue to reluctantly release my beloved Summer. I had my ‘keep cup’ with me that I got filled with English Breakfast tea. I passed on having a ‘snack’ this time and purchased sandwiches to take home for lunch instead.

Embracing Autumn…

Embracing the Challenge…

#2 at Electric City WA

October 11, 2024
Breakfast for lunch, which I often prefer, at ‘Auntie Dannee’s’,
Brought my own English Breakfast tea as I was not sure what/where our stop would be.
So happy to have outdoor seating and great wait staff.
A perfect riding and tea day.

I was not planning to do a second ride this week, but the time and place presented itself as undeniable. Camping at Steamboat Rock State Park, in Eastern Washington, we rode to Electric City because that’s about the only reasonable route to ride from here. The weather here for our camp out has been great but today had more clouds than yesterday. But those cleared fairly well by afternoon.

#3 10/15/24 STARBUCKS, MUKILTEO WA

For “Small Wins” I am choosing ‘simple’. By simple I mean to not fret about where or when I can do a tea stop on my bike! “Simply” let it happen, and seize the moment ;’-). That just naturally happened on my first two challenge entries. So I will go with that.

Yesterday I had had several routes from home in mind for today, but this morning, looking out at the gray day with imminent rain on the way, my motivation for any of those longer routes left 🙄. Keeping with my “simple/small wins” theme, I set off for a local Starbucks. I try to avoid Starbucks for a variety of reasons, but this one is one of the very few stops for tea that is on any of my routes. With rain forecasted for the rest of the week, I caved ;’-).

I looped a bit through my neighborhood at the start of my ride, and you can see that those brilliant red trees from Day #1 are getting denuded by the wind and later season. I often take rides to ogle the Halloween decorations and now have two favorites. The one pictured here is in my immediate neighborhood, but the other is not on this route. I will have to make a separate trip to get that one. I don’t take a lot of photos of the decorations anymore unless I find something that really strikes me — and this one does.

The simple decision made it easy for me to gear up and take a ride 😉. Got out on this less than stellar day, and enjoyed my Emperors Clouds and Mist green tea. ;’-). Definitely a Small Win.

#4 10/17/24 WITHOUT WALLS AT “THE VILLAGE”, MUKILTEO WA

Since so many are showing their socks — I include a photo of the closest pair I have found for TEA. Yeah I know they look like coffee cups, but we tea drinkers are sometimes marginalized when it comes to accoutrements 🙄. We make do.

Today was another unplanned tea stop but, continuing to keep it “simple”, I included it with a couple of errands I needed to do. Coffeeneuring and Errandonneering — go together like… Bogie and Bacall! I brewed my own mug of tea at home using Upton Tea Company’s ‘Richmond Park Black Tea Blend’. It is OK but not a favorite. Not enough body or much taste and I brewed a big amount of tea leaves. I might be able to foist this off on someone and get a different black tea.

My other simple thing I wanted to do was get a photo of a second Halloween decoration that I like a lot. This is at least the fourth one I will have seen, and each year is totally different with creative displays. BUT 🤨 it is not finished, or even much started it seems. There was someone on hands and knees checking on something, but the display will not happen before I am out of town. I hope it stays til I get back. Not many photos for today’s entry, but it was damp cold after this morning’s rain, and I was not up for too many stops.

I WAS successful in finding (a perfect) postcard to send to Michael as I have signed up with him for his ‘theme’ for the challenge. Now I need to write it and get to the Post Office with it.

#5 10/21/24 SPARKY’S COFFEE SHOP, REPUBLIC WA

This was far from ‘simple’ for my simple theme 🙄. We are camping at a resort on Curlew Lake in north eastern Washington. There is a rail trail that runs along the lake from here to Canada going north, and to Republic going south.

When we arrived in Republic yesterday, I scouted Sparky’s Coffee shop and discovered that indeed they did serve tea — the loose leaf kind that takes brewing! The good kind. We took the trail leading to town and after about 5 miles it came to less than desirable terrain (not simple) so we opted to turn back a little for the road for the second half of our ride. The road was OK but no shoulder (not simple) and though traffic was kind of light, it was fast (not simple). Fortunately the fast traffic, mostly pick up trucks, was patient and courteous upon approaching us and gave us way on the road (kind of simple).

At last we reached town and I was ready for my tea and treat 😉. But I had forgotten my Keep Cup (not simple). Maybe I could get my tea in a ceramic cup? Nope — they do not have those. So unfortunately, this time I had to use disposable. The green tea they offered was not to my liking, they were out of my first choice of black, oolong, so I enjoyed my freshly brewed English Breakfast with a raspberry coffee cake muffin. So fine.

While having my tea, what should arrive but wild turkeys! There are lots and lots all around town, and a couple came by the coffee shop as I sat at the outdoor table. And on the way back to camp along the good part of the trail, I enjoyed the lounging deer by lake side. They have apparently been busy decorating their Christmas tree with lost and found things from along the trail 😊.

#6 10/25/24 HARBOUR POINTE GOLF CLUB, MUKILTEO WA

Feeling a little glum today for no real reason, but knew I had to create a reason to get on my bike for a ride. Enter Coffeeneuring challenge 😉.

A mild weather day covered in clouds, and no rain. The rain is coming they say and I will likely have to miss several days of riding as I have become somewhat of a fair weather rider 😌. Being well ahead of myself in number of tea stops, I am in no hurry, other than watching the weather! A short ride in my neighborhood would do it for this day. There is a dearth of coffee/tea shop in my immediate area so what to do! The Golf Club is a place I have not yet tried for any of my challenge entries in the past. That would do it.

#7 11/3/24MILK HOUSE COFFEE SHOP, EVERETT WA

I knew it was going to happen — lots of rainy days! And when I did have a potential dry day to ride for tea, there was a family commitment that had me busy for that day. Finally I have a day to do my last of this year’s challenge 😊.

This is one of the few coffee/tea stops available on my routes from home. It is one of my longer routes and makes a great destination for a ride. I do this ride several times a month when I have “unended” (no schedule to keep) time, and the weather is right. Today’s original plan was to meet a couple of friends for a ride, but that plan fell through which gave me the chance to ride one of my favorites from home for this edition of the challenge. I made the ‘simple’ choice (simple because I ride it a lot) to visit the Milk House, brought my Keep Cup and ordered a Northwest Breakfast black tea, a change from my usual green tea. I had had this black tea before and enjoyed it, so decided it would be a black tea morning.

Adding an everything bagel with cream cheese would make the perfect lunch for me. And then I decided I needed to bring home a Snickerdoodle cookie for Susan (her fave) since she is always so good about getting me out the door and on my bike 😊.

And thus I complete my challenge for tea. Moving on now to ABC, should there be opportunity and desire for more ;’-). The only lack, once the challenge is over for the season, as always, will be the enjoyment of reading and seeing everyone’s stops along their bike rides. I always enjoy the photos, the stories, the fall color out our doors, and the different places of riding and sipping.Thank you Mary for another fantastic “neuring” season. And thank each and all of you drinkers for posting your interesting pictures and stories of your ride and sips.