Coffee Tour du Jour

Well that’s what the Accuweather App said as I landed at Brewbakers in Keene, NH at noon. 92 degrees with a “real feel” of 107. Since the actual temperature is forecast to be 99 it should be a toasty ride home. We’re in the midst of a four day Hot Spell.

Today’s route was a simple loop of about 120 miles. Route 119 West from Mass. into New Hampshire. In Fitzwilliam turn right onto Route 12 North to Keene. The return was Route 9 East alongside the Otter Brook, to Nelson, then I attempted to visit the Harrisville General Store but there was no place to park due to construction next door. So I meandered to Route 101 East in Dublin, continuing through Peterborough, and Temple. From Temple I stopped at Ben’s Maple Station for another cold brew coffee and jumped on Route 45 and made my way to Route 31 in Greenville, and eventually back to Rt 119 in West Townsend and then home.

Today’s soundtrack was peace and quiet for the ride out to Keene. For the return trip, I chose the classic jazz album from 1968, Under the Jasmin Tree, by The Modern Jazz Quartet. This was the only jazz album ever released on the Beatles Apple label.

It was another nice Coffee Tour, I am grateful to God for one more day.

This post was originally written May 11, 2023. For some unknown reason it has languished forgotten in the Drafts folder.

I rode to the New Hampshire coast today. It was sunny, bright and warm when I left home in Central Massachusetts. As I got closer to the coast, the temperatures dropped noticeably and I got a chill in my bones.

The sole purpose of this 160 mile round trip was to ride 10 miles of shoreline in the Town of Rye. Well, to be honest, that was the secondary purpose. The primary purpose was to have a cup of coffee at La Mulita.

I love coastal rides in New Hampshire, but I loath the 60 miles of interstate highway riding to get there. The truck traffic and the constant crosswinds are not the most relaxing time on two wheels. But when I break away from the highway I rejoice in back roads that wind throughout salt marshes and along the rocky shore.

My sense of smell has finally begun to return since COVID two years ago. So I revel in the salty, musty smell of low tide, the smell of burgers cooking as I ride past beach front homes, and finally the fragrance of coffee roasting as I sit on the patio drinking my Cortado.

I often find  myself struggling to have more discipline in my studies. My efforts are met with mixed results. In my quest to sharpen Skill A, I rob time or effort from Skill B.

For example, I am enrolled in a certificate program at SEBTS, and I am a participant in a men’s group at my local church studying the 2LCF, and I strive to keep up my Bible reading, scripture memorization. Though these are all related to pursuit of Christian studies each of them compete for my time and the limited capacity of what lies between my ears.

Oftentimes I’ll combine study time with a fifty mile motorcycle ride to a coffee shop and call it multitasking. Sometimes it works and other times I run into my buddy, Steve, who was trying the same strategy. Then we drink coffee, talk, and ride to the next coffee shop.

This week I added another multitasking challenge. In my quest for slowing down my runaway brain from constant distraction, I began copying the New Testament by hand. This forces me to focus on the task before me. It also forces me to tackle a lifelong embarrassment, my atrocious penmanship.

For the time being I am writing in a course paper journal that I typically keep in my computer bag with my laptop. I will use this for a week or so as I learn to form cursive letters after a five decade layoff. When I reach a point where my writing is legible I will begin from scratch in a new book dedicated solely for this purpose.

Though I plan to write the entire New Testament, I am not committed to following the sequence as published in the Bible. Instead I will follow a direction based upon my desire for study. I am beginning with the Gospel according to John.

Over the past several days I have already noticed that my mind is less prone to wander while writing the Scriptures and I tend to dwell more on the words and the thoughts that are being communicated. So I expect I will retain more and I suspect it will also facilitate memorization. Time will tell.

Just recovering from my third trip to the Registry of Motor Vehicles in a month.

59 degrees and my bikes are locked up in the shed. Today’s photo is wishful thinking.

Just a quick run to the farm for eggs, then coffee and notes.

Need I say more? I deserve a relaxing cup of coffee!

A sunny winter ride, followed by a hot coffee and fresh pastry.

Just another pleasant winter outing for salt, sand and coffee.

Coffee and Banana Bread somewhere on the road.