COFFEENEURING 2021

This year the Coffeeneuring Challenge occurred while we were out on tour, which we thought was great because it encouraged us to experience a whole new set of coffee shops that we otherwise might have passed by. We started the first leg of our global tour on April 12, 2021 out of Mystic, CT, working our way to the western United States (Yellowstone National Park to be exact), before looping back towards the east. The Coffeeneuring Challenge took place while we were in eastern Kansas and into southwestern Missouri on our way to Springfield, MO where we planned to start a break from touring for the holidays (we rented a car and drove home to Connecticut making a stop in Fort Wayne, IN to visit Jamie's daughter who recently moved there for a new job). During the Coffeeneuring Challenge we made it a priority to visit only local coffee shops, no chains. As anyone who frequents local coffee shops already knows, they are usually pretty awesome. And, being on tour, it was easy to get in the miles.

Below is the run down of our coffee shop visits:

COFFEENEUR #1

 WHERE: MJs Coffee House
                 516 W. Bertrand Ave., St. Marys, KS             
                 https://www.mjscoffeehouse.com/
DATE: October 22, 2021
DRANK: Two pumpkin spice lattes.

DETAILS:  We try to order off the seasonal menu when possible and this place did not disappoint.  Very cute small shop with friendly staff.  They even had space to play games.

 
DISTANCE: 21.8 miles
RIDING: Rodriguez 8-Ball Convertible Tandem

 

 

COFFEENEUR #2

WHERE: The Steam Engine

                 5660 SW 29th St., Topeka, KS            

                 https://www.facebook.com/thesteamenginecoffee/

DATE: October 23, 2021
DRANK: Two almond joy lattes.

DETAILS: Yummy treats from their regular menu that hit the spot.  We met locals that welcomed us especially since Laura is a Sudoku fan.  Laura was invited back any time.

DISTANCE: 16.3 miles
RIDING: Rodriguez 8-Ball Convertible Tandem
 

 

 

 

COFFEENEUR #3

WHERE: Corner Market Coffee

                 401 S. Main St., Ottawa, KS              

                 https://www.cornermarketks.com/

DATE: October 26, 2021
DRANK: Pumpkin spice latte, drip coffee.

DETAILS:  Any time is a good time for coffee and this place was in a college town.  Laura's favorite flavor will always be pumpkin and this place made Laura smile, Jamie too.

DISTANCE: 21.2 miles
RIDING: Rodriguez 8-Ball Convertible Tandem

 

 

 

 

 

COFFEENEUR #4

 

WHERE: Octagon City Coffee

                 103 S. 9th St., Humboldt, KS             

                 https://www.octagon.city/

DATE: October 30, 2021

DRANK: Pumpkin spice latte, drip coffee.

DETAILS:  What a cute place with a bit of history that we enjoyed reading (that history being that nearby a failed intentional community founded in 1856 created by the Vegetarian Kansas Emigration Company, headed by prominent vegetarian Henry S. Clubb and entrepreneurs Charles DeWolfe and John McLaurin. Give it a google search). The bike got a lot of attention here and we enjoyed talking to fellow patrons.  Laura loved the Halloween decorations.

DISTANCE: 11.8 miles
RIDING: Rodriguez 8-Ball Convertible Tandem

 

 

 

COFFEENEUR #5

WHERE: Maple Lane Bakery

                 601 E. Wells St., Ash Grove, MO             

                 https://maple-lane-bakery-and-catering.business.site

DATE: November 3, 2021
DRANK: Two chai teas.

DETAILS: Talk about perfect timing and location, this place was open late so we stayed here for warmth until evening when we could stealth camp.  Jamie had a late lunch, loaded baked potato soup.  Awesome!

DISTANCE: 34.8 miles
RIDING: Rodriguez 8-Ball Convertible Tandem

 

 

COFFEENEUR #6

WHERE: Mudhouse Coffee

                 323 South Ave., Springfield, MO

                https://mudhousecoffee.com/

DATE: November 4, 2021
DRANK: Toffee latte, mocha latte.

DETAILS: Located in historic downtown, we enjoyed comfy seats for a couple of hours before we headed to Jamie's sister's house.  It is always fun to watch people stop by the bike for a good look.

DISTANCE: 23.4 miles
RIDING: Rodriguez 8-Ball Convertible Tandem

 

 

 

 

COFFEENEUR #7

WHERE: The Potter's House

                 724 S. National Ave., Springfield, MO             

                 http://www.thepoho.com/

DATE: November 9, 2021
DRANK: Spice chai latte, mint mocha.

DETAILS:  Our last stop and Laura's favorite.  This place was filled with college students from across the street at Missouri State University.  It was fun reflecting back on those days of old.  They also allowed dogs; Laura likes that.

DISTANCE: 2.8 miles
RIDING: Rodriguez 8-Ball Convertible Tandem

BEGINNING GLOBAL BICYCLE TOUR

APRIL 12, 2021

We have started what we hope will be a roughly five year bicycle tour that will take us around the world. The first 16 months or so we will spend in the United States. As I write this we are currently seven days into the ride. We started riding from Mystic, CT and took the ferry across to Long Island from New London, CT. We went the length of Long Island, staying overnight in Coney Island, then turned north through New York City and up the Hudson River valley. Once we reach Albany, NY we will head west along the Erie Canal Trail to Buffalo, NY. After that we will head to Michigan then down to the St. Louis, MO region to meet up with Jamie's sister and brother-in-law to ride some of the KATY Rail Trail. We'll hitch a ride with them down to Springfield for a good week of rest.

Going up the Hudson River valley has been nice since we have mostly ridden on numerous rail trails that make up the Empire State Trail System. The trail system goes from NYC up to the Canada border, and also includes the Erie Canal Trail system. So far it has been wonderful. The bike is heavy. We are riding a custom built Rodriguez 8-Ball Convertible tandem from Seattle. Some of the highlights are that in uses a Rohloff Speedhub for shifting (internal gears), and a Sturmey Archer drum bake. Those two items alone have provided much needed improvements over our previous tandem. We are hoping it will take us the distance, Heavy loaded touring on a tandem bicycle takes its toll on both people and bike. Here's hoping, but so far so good. We probably will not post too often on this blog, but will occasionally. For more up to date information, you can find us on Instagram and Facebook, just search 2intandem. Until next time...

 

COFFEENEURING 2020

The year 2020 has been one heck of a year, despite the COVID-19 pandemic. This year has seen the retirement of Laura from ten years of teaching. The clearing out of our house in Manchester, CT (And there was a lot of stuff to clear out. I mean a lot of stuff! Like 26 years of stuff. And this is not necessarily garbage kind of stuff, but stuff that might get used some day, but then is forgotten about because it is under other stuff, but then you find it and think I should keep this stuff because I might need it some day. That kind of stuff.) in preparation for some renovation and eventual sell of the house. Moving in with Jamie's parents in Mystic, CT (which resulted in the idea of keeping too much stuff not being an option, having limited space to store the stuff, which is a good thing). And we got a new tandem bicycle, a Rodriguez 8-Ball Convertible tandem that will be the bike we ride around the world starting April 2021 (hence the retirement, selling house, moving in with parents, etc). Thrown into the chaos was the 2020 Coffeeneuring Challenge, which did end up being "one good thing" this year to serve as a distraction to all the chaos, and allowing us to visit some new places since our move to Mystic at the end of October. If you don't know what it is, the coffeeneuring challenge is a fun biking/coffee drinking challenge put forth by Mary G. of chasingmailboxes.com in which, over the course of seven weeks, you ride your bike to seven different places, at least 2 miles round-trip each time, drink seven cups of coffee (or similar), and take pictures as proof of your coffeeneuring. That is pretty much all it takes, but it is amazing how time can get away from you, hence making it the challenge. We were, however, successful once again this year.

Below are the results of our seven coffeeneuring rides: 

COFFEENEUR #1

 WHERE: Berkins Blend Cafe
                 1003 Hebron Ave, Glastonbury, CT              
                 http://www.berkinsblendcafe.com/
DATE: October 11, 2020
DRANK: Two pumpkin spice coffees.
DETAILS: One of our standard coffeeneuring stops not far into Glastonbury from our house. An easy cruise down into the Connecticut River valley and ride along mostly back roads with decent space for cars and bikes alike.
DISTANCE: 9.8 miles
RIDING: Rodriguez Tandem

COFFEENEUR #2

WHERE: Silk City Coffee

                 763 Main St, Manchester, CT              

                 http://www.silkcitycoffee.com/

DATE: October 21, 2020
DRANK: Two pumpkin lattes.

DETAILS: By far our absolute favorite coffee shop, just down the street from our former house. Pre-COVID we went there every Friday night for games and live music, and of course coffee and treats. Great ride down Main St. in Manchester.

DISTANCE: 2.5 miles
RIDING: Rodriguez Tandem

 

COFFEENEUR #3

WHERE: Young Buns Doughnuts

                 46 W Main St, Mystic, CT              

                 https://www.youngbunsdoughnuts.com/

DATE: November 2, 2020
DRANK: Two drip coffees and doughnuts.

DETAILS: New place for us now that we are making Mystic our home. Fairly new place in downtown Mystic with a plethora of doughnuts to choose from. The riding is up and down in these coastal Connecticut parts. Good practice with doughnuts to follow. Can't beat that!

DISTANCE: 3.9 miles
RIDING: Rodriguez Tandem

 

COFFEENEUR #4

WHERE: Clyde's Cider Mill

                 129 N Stonington Rd, Old Mystic, CT              

                 https://www.clydescidermill.com/

DATE: November 5, 2020

DRANK: Hot cider and cider doughnuts.

DETAILS: A Mystic area staple in the Fall, renowned for their apple cider and cider doughnuts. Made especially special as we met up with our friend Tim (@mr.timhahn) who was nearing the end of his cross country bicycle tour, and we were able to ride with him for a couple of days towards his ending point at Provincetown, MA on Cape Cod.

DISTANCE: 6.4 miles (not counting the additional 70 miles we rode with Tim)
RIDING: Rodriguez Tandem

 

COFFEENEUR #5

WHERE: Lis Bake Shop

                 15 Holmes St, Mystic, CT              

                 Lis Bake Shop

DATE: November 8, 2020
DRANK: Two drip coffees and pastry.

DETAILS: A cute little coffee shop and bake shop around the corner from the classic Mystic Draw Bridge. Apparently known for their cup cakes (which we did not have, opted for cinnamon buns), but enjoyable none-the-less.

DISTANCE: 4.3 miles
RIDING: Rodriguez Tandem

 

COFFEENEUR #6

WHERE: Carsons Store

                 43 Main St, Noank, CT              

                 https://www.carsonsnoankct.com/

DATE: November 10, 2020
DRANK: Two drip coffees and pumpkin ice cream.

DETAILS: Carsons Store in the quaint village of Noank is a Noank icon, having served the citizenry of the village for over 100 years. It was such a beautiful and warm early November day that we could not resist the ice cream and enjoy the views along the Mystic River.

DISTANCE: 3.8 miles
RIDING: Rodriguez Tandem

COFFEENEUR #7

WHERE: Mystic Depot Roasters

                 2 Roosevelt Ave., Mystic, CT              

                 https://www.mysticdepotroasters.com/null

DATE: November 21, 2020
DRANK: Two drip coffees and coffee cake.

DETAILS: Another new stop for us in Mystic, located in the old Mystic railroad station that is still served by Amtrak. Another nice day to sit outside enjoying a treat and watching the trains go by.

DISTANCE: 3.2 miles
RIDING: Rodriguez Tandem