Searching For Snow

Let's see......I have the day off.......it's 30 degrees and windy.......what should I do?
I've got it! How about a bike ride!

The forecast was calling for scattered flurries, so I thought I would go out and look for some of that elusive October snow.


Hey! There's a little bit falling.


Tastes pretty good.
Good thing it doesn't snow in the summer. I'd probably end up with a gullet full of bugs. If I had a gullet, that is.


A bit more falling here, but not enough to stick.


Better sneak in a bike picture before it starts up again.


I'm going to avoid boots for as long as I can this year. I'll just keep piling on the wool socks.


I brought some hot tea along to help warm me up. I didn't really need it. I tend to build up an excess of heat all on my own.


I think the Ogre has had enough picture taking for one day.


I find it very hard to get a good picture of both a bike and a tall tree.


It's probably best to just keep the bike out of it.


I stopped at my favorite rest stop on the way back. The wind was picking up some extra chill coming across the lake so I didn't stay long.

I ended up with 23 miles and most of the feeling remaining in my toes. I think I'm acclimating pretty well.

Coffeeneuring Challenge: Ride 3

Just the facts for today's coffeeneuring report. Along with pictures of course.

Destination: Coffee shop without walls, Rice Lake town park. Thankfully, there was a roof.
Coffee: French Roast with hazelnut soy creamer.
Preparation: Jet Boil and GSI Javapress mugs.
Total Mileage: 3.7
Weather Conditions: 34F. We were really hoping for snow, but just got cold drizzle.

Coffeeneuring Challenge: Ride 2

For our 2nd coffeeneuring ride we pedaled our way over to Sala Thai restaurant for what else? Thai Coffee.


Proof that we rode.


We took full advantage of the balmy 39 degree temp and drank our iced coffees outside.


Seeing as it was about lunchtime, appetizers were in order.


We stretched our little ride out to 4 miles so we could drop a couple books off at a nearby Little Free Library.

Coming up tomorrow: A snow ride perhaps.
We'll keep our fingers crossed.

Coffeeneuring Challenge: Ride 1

Trish and I have been looking for a way to stimulate our riding experience lately, and came across the perfect way to do so by joining the 2013 Coffeeneuring Challenge. It is put on by MG of Chasing Mailboxes as a way to combine cycling and drinking coffee. Complete rules can be found here.

Our first ride was an 8 mile round trip on Sunday to Bixby's Cafe, which happens to be the coffee shop nearest to our house.


We made our way through the "forest."

and down the hill.

We weren't quite happy with the provided parking area


so we made our own.


We each had a mocha. Trish had a small with almond milk, mine was a medium with soy.


Trish, showing much more prudence than I, saved some of her coffee for the ride home.


What goes down must go up. Good thing we got the caffeine boost.

Lift Bridge

Lift Bridge, a photo by Northwoods Trekker on Flickr.

Better Late Than Never

Just some pictures from several different adventures taken during the last month. I was either too lazy or too tired to post them in a more timely fashion, so I present them to you now.

 

30 Days of Biking: Meh

Well, It seems I just wasn't into 30 days of biking as much as I was last year. Between all the snow we got (the snowiest month in Duluth EVER!!!), and working longer shifts this year, I just haven't had that much desire to get out and ride every day. I guess 21 days of biking this month will have to do.

And now for your viewing pleasure, here is a goose along with a couple of loons that I spotted on last Thursday's ride.

It's a rare thing when birds don't take off before I get a chance to take a picture. The trick seems to be shooting without stopping the bike first. Having a camera with 12x zoom doesn't hurt either.