Bonus Coffeeneuring, Winter Sphinx and popcorn pursuits.

Another sunny but cold Sunday: I had to get out there.

I rode out to Lawrenceville and on the North Shore, passed a couple getting what I figured was a "We're getting engaged and smooching in front of this spectacular city skyline" photo shoot. I zipped passed, hoping not to interrupt the shot, (sadly, I think I did) and the photographer called out to me (oh jeez, I've really done it now!) "Hey, Colleen!"
Wha!? He knows me? It was NoahP! I turned back briefly, said hello and went on my way.

Stopped at the Dero repair stand at BikePGH! for some air in my tires and walked over to Crazy Mocha for a bathroom and refill of some Brown Gold.

Dancing goats at Crazy Mocha.

My ultimate mission today was to find some bulk organic popping corn and I was meandering towards the East End Co-Op for some. I had prepared and brought containers for it. I discovered that Marty's Market in the Strip removed their bulk foods section, which was distressing. I'd have to go to Whole Foods or the Co-Op.
I found it a greater challenge to get out to the Co-Op and decided to go there. I'd not been out that far on my own; on group rides, yes... but doing it by myself would be a challenge to not make a wrong turn and get lost.

I cut through the cemetery and as I entered I knew it would be glorious with the changing leaves. It didn't disappoint.

I'd wanted to visit the Egyptian-Themed tomb of Mr Emil Winter
The blue skies and vibrant leaves made a nice contrasting background for the white granite of the mausoleum.

I had generally pleasant travels with the exception of this NY state Volkswagen getting much too close for my liking.

I've been seeing "VOTE!" scarves all over the city. I found this one in Homewood

I made it to the Co-Op and by then, I had worked up an appetite. I needed food. For the record: the Co-Op's 'Terrific Tofu Salad' is so incredibly garlicky that even with 2 toothbrushings, a gallon of water and a stick of gum later, I still reek of garlic. It was very good though. Well worth it.

Hippy lunch

Popcorn objective: achieved!

I rode back through Squirrel Hill and Oakland and then out to the Waterfront and back.
I stopped at Target and actually found a bike rack there. It was buried in the shopping carts.

By now I was getting cold and tired and it occurred to me that today was the first day of that wholly nonsensical tradition of Daylight Savings Time and it would be darker earlier than anyone's used to. Every year, I'm caught off guard by how early the sun goes down. Every day for the next week, I'll say at sundown: "OMG, it's only 5:30!"


Again, I'm finding myself in the midst of football tailgating mayhem.
I decided to take the RiverWalk instead of the streets this time, but they're partying ON THE TRAIL?
How is this permitted? I had to squeeze through a line of people getting fixins for their burgers and hot dogs!
Ding! Ding! DING! DING!

I was half tempted to cut in line and grab a burger as I zipped passed.

35 miles and I didn't get lost once!

Coffeeneuring #7 and "Nice rack, officer MILF!"

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"I'm bringing my bike."

The office was having it's annual 'Retreat'. This year it took place in State College. The retreat is a meeting of all the satellite office employees and the folks from the chapter we'd just merged with. This was the 3rd or 4th time they'd planned this elaborate and too expensive (in my humble opinion) overnight 2-day meeting. In years past, I'd weaseled out of bunking overnight in a hotel room with a co-worker. I'm not crazy about the thought of sharing living quarters with someone I'm not related to. Also, 'Teambuilding' exercises are involved in the plans. *shudder* All of these shenanigans are an introvert's nightmare. I was being ripped away from my routine, my bed, my spouse and dogs. I loathed all of it.
Commence the teeth-clenching!

Additionally, they wanted me to share a ride up there with the one employee who has max points on her driver's license for speeding, distracted driving (cellphone use and makeup application at 70MPH!) and various other moving violations! Not only is she a dangerous driver, but she's consistently late, for everything, which is a quality I cannot stand. Nope, sorry... I'll avoid being her passenger again.

The Late Tangent

< tangent > Why do I dislike tardiness? I can thank my father: he always said that the Navy instilled in him an insistence on organisation and an adherence to a schedule. He is always a few minutes early.
When I was a rebellious teenager and at the age where I didn't quite have my act together (some would argue I still don't, but...) I was in the habit of staying out past my curfew and forgetting my keys. I would come home late and find the door locked. I'd have to wake my parents up to let me in and he didn't take kindly to this disturbance from his daughter. At some point, he put his foot down and told me that if I was late (he locked the door at a certain time) and forgot my keys one more time that I would not be let back into the house... that I would have to sleep on the picnic table in the back yard. So, the next weekend, I found myself trying to get comfortable on the picnic table at 1AM and vowing never to be late for anything, or forget my keys...ever again.
They called that 'tough love' back then.
< /tangent >


So, to bring me some sanity and avoid riding with Ms. Tardy-Crappy Driver, I decided to take Fizz. "Sorry, gotta bring the bike with me, can't ride up with you!"

I based my decision on the fact that State College is very bike friendly. There were bike lanes on East Park Ave which would be my route from the hotel down to campus where all the action is. I scoped out GoogleMaps Streetview and from the looks of it, there were bike racks and bike lanes/sharrows everywhere.  I called the hotel and asked if I could bring Fizz into the room with me. They didn't bat an eyelash... "Of course!" they told me. Yes, the bike would be my respite from the torturous, maddening nonsense I was enduring at the hands of my employer.

I arrived and locked Fizz up to the rack provided outside the reception area.

In the smoking area. Yuck.

After our day-long meetings, it was 'free time' for a few hours before dinner time and a party was being hosted over on the other side of town. I biked there instead of using the hotel shuttle. I had plenty of extra time to putz about the town. I just followed my front wheel, there were so many bike lanes, parks and trails all over the campus and city to explore. Wow.

The only hurdle I had to jump was the highway interchanges between the hotel and the campus/town. It's a tad daunting to cross highway exits and entrances to get through the interchanges for most folks, but this wasn't a big deal to me. I also had to dodge a dead skunk there. I'm glad I didn't run the bike over a semi-freshly dead skunk. Phoo!

11 miles for the evening

I explored campus and whoa, lots of bikes being used!

Every rack on campus was so full! This one had a repair station.

I think they play some sport in this building.

Bike Way!

Bike lane!

Bike trail!

One of the many trails through campus/residential areas.

The ride back was in the dark. I employed all of my lights, blinkies and a reflective vest. I hauled it back down Park Ave at a nice clip. All the cars were cooperative and patient, most of them changed lanes fully to pass me. Impressive.

Balanced loads down a mountain= very good.

Yesterday was rough and I slept off my aches and weariness.
I woke up early at the Levi Deal and wondered: when was breakfast? I neglected to ask Jan, the innkeeper about breakfast... I had inquired about dinner having heard that Jan serves an excellent dinner... but alas, she had only made dinner for guests when the Morguen Toole was closed for the fire. I heard she had served polenta and I had polenta on my mind. I grew up having polenta on a regular basis. Polenta and sausage with (tomato) gravy is a Sicilian dish I loved as a child in a home where my mother of Irish heritage tried to learn to cook Italian dishes for my father of Sicilian descent. Her polenta and sausage was very good, the bragiola excellent too. The lasagna: not so good.
I dressed and looked out the window to see Jan working feverishly in the kitchen. Maybe soon? I also saw SNOW. Good lord, it was sleeting and snowing! Are you kidding me?

I went over and Jan had coffee ready. Yaaa! This would count for Coffeeneuring#5

The Mansion is simply gorgeous inside. I poked around while Jan made breakfast and I chatted with the other cyclists staying in the main house who were by now, coming downstairs from their rooms.
It turns out there were 2 other parties staying there and we were all heading down to Cumberland. There were 3 tables set up in the dining room, one had 4 settings, the other had two and there was a third table with one set of silverware. Gee, I wonder who that table's for? The couple from Tuscon invited me to their table so they wouldn't have to talk across the room to me. It turns out they were using Sara P's Bike the GAP services and their bagged lunch was already waiting for them. Gotta love that service!

Jan brought out a breakfast of freshly baked bran muffins, a vegetable egg quiche and (drumroll.).....polenta! It was fantastic. I scarfed down the eggs and polenta and wrapped up the bran muffin for lunch.

I loaded up Fizz and was underway, but the other cyclists got on the road before I did as they didn't have as much baggage. Yes, they poked fun at me for having so much stuff.

I loaded the third pannier on the top of the back rack instead of the front rack today and this was a vast improvement.

I played leap-frog with the other two parties most of the day, but in the end, I was the first one to reach Cumberland. I win!

Sometimes, I watch where I'm going. I'm looking out for things that might puncture a tire, etc...
In my head, you might hear this: "Rock, stick, hole, rock." Today it was "Rock, hole, rock, baby snapping turtle, rock..." Wait, what?
OMG! How cute!

"Lady, one day I'll grow up and have the ability to bite your fingers off. Now, put me down! I'm formidable!"

I replaced him over to the side of the trail he was heading in the hopes he wouldn't get crushed by a bike. I think I came within a millimeter of squishing him.

It was cold, but bright and glorious.

We all helped one another get pictures in scenic spots along the way. I made sure Fizz photobombed all their shots.

I remembered to bring pickles.

This is my "I made it!" pose

I remember this nursery rhyme. I had an ear worm for a while today!

Cumberland was reached quickly.

At the Fairfield Inn, nice amenity!

Damn kids! You're ruining my self-timer shot! Go away!

Much better.

Another 32 miles, but much more comfortable, more 'wheeee!' and much better weather.

I took lots of photos, you can view them at FLICKR

More of the GAP gaps are getting filled in!