Bike to Work Day: Winter Edition
I’m not a huge fan of the cold, but when bikes are involved I can’t help but participate. On December 14 the city of Fort Collins hosted Bike to Work Day: Winter Edition. I usually work from home, but any excuse to get out on my bike and drink free coffee is motivation enough for me.
The temperature was a balmy 27 degrees, so I bundled up in a few layers and rolled out the door. The cold hit me in the face at first, but after a couple minutes of pedaling my body temperature rose and soon I was quite warm. I saw a few other bikers out as I criss-crossed my way across town. The traffic was light this early in the morning, and the sun was just rising over the plains.
This morning I woke up and decided on a whim to explore the Poudre Canyon, a 100 mile long canyon north of Fort Collins that follows the Cache La Poudre River. I had planned to work all day, but it was a gorgeous day and I just couldn’t stay inside. I hadn’t been down the Poudre River yet, so I brewed some coffee, filled up my gas tank, and headed north.
Hiking to the Top of Horsetooth Rock
The day after Thanksgiving always makes me want to get out and be active. After stuffing myself with turkey, what better way to work it off than with a moderate hike? I hadn’t been to the iconic Horsetooth Rock yet, so I decided to try a summit bid.
Horsetooth Rock is a famous regional landmark. It can be seen from anywhere in Fort Collins, overseeing all that transpires in the small Colorado town. It’s unique shape lends itself to be described by many different Indian legends. Some say it was a giant’s heart, cut in two with a hatchet. To me it is just a really cool looking piece of rock.
The Kitsap Color Classic – One Last Ride
The Kitsap Color Classic took place this past weekend. I had signed up for the Seattle to Portland bike ride earlier in the year, but had suffered an injury to my shoulder that kept me from participating. When I saw that the Cascade Bycycle Club had this option as an “end of season” ride, I thought it would be a great way to end my summer biking season in Seattle.
Myself and couple other friends met early Sunday morning for the pancake breakfast at the Edmonds Masonic Lodge while we waited for the ferry to take us across the Puget Sound to the town of Kingston on the Kitsap Peninsula. The sky was cloudy and the forecast called for rain. I came prepared with my rain jacket and rain pants, hoping they wouldn’t be necessary.
The Best Coffee In Seattle
For the past nine months my friend Todd and I have met every week for coffee. We made it a goal from the beginning to meet in a different coffee shop in Seattle every week. We have been to every neighborhood in Seattle for coffee, including driving all the way to West Seattle from Greenwood.
I have tasted almost everything Seattle has to offer when it comes to coffee. You might call me a coffee snob. I’m okay with that. I know what I like and I know what tastes good.
Seattle has so many options when it comes to coffee that it can be overwhelming. How are you supposed to know what coffee shop to visit when there are so many to choose from?
After months of sampling cup after cup of delicious coffee from every corner of Seattle, I would like to help you narrow your search for the perfect cup of Seattle coffee. And the winners are…
Bicycling on Bainbridge Island
One of my goals while living in Seattle was to ride around Bainbridge Island, an island situated directly west of Seattle across the Puget Sound. There is no bridge to the island, so you have to take a thirty minute ferry ride from downtown Seattle. Every February they have a bike ride called the Chilly Hilly that circles the island on rural roads. I thought about doing it this year, but I don’t like being cold.
I decided that it would be a great training ride for my Kitsap Color Classic ride that I have coming up. I invited my friend Brian to join me, and on a beautiful Saturday morning we rode down to the ferry terminal in downtown Seattle and I loaded my Specialized Tarmac onto the ferry for the first time.
read more…
I was introduced to Fat Tire only a few years ago. Ever since it has been one of my favorite beers to drink. It is an amber ale with a perfect balance of flavor and refreshment, great after long mountain bike rides on a dusty trail. While in Ft. Collins, Colorado, I had the opportunity to visit the New Belgium Brewery, the makers of Fat Tire.
We arrived early to check in for our tour, and then waited in the lobby checking out all of the gift shop goodies like bottle openers and Frisbees with the Fat Tire logo. Our tour guide ushered us into a large room where we got to taste a few different samples of beer while we listened to him explain the history of New Belgium.
Jay J Matott and the Arctic
I saw a band tonight at Everyday Joe’s called Jay J Matott and the Arctic. They were very creative musically and had a unique sound. It was an album release show, and I can’t wait to load it on my computer. I downloaded it. It’s awesome!
The Fort Collins music scene seems to be alive and well.
First Day in Fort Collins
I had a great first full day in Ft. Collins with my friends Nick and Hilary. This morning I got some work done at Everyday Joe’s, a nonprofit coffee shop like the one I volunteer at in Seattle. After wrapping up a few client projects, Nick and I headed out to Horsetooth Mountain Park in the foothills of the Rockies.
The trail easily meandered through the shallow canyon, but the elevation took its toll on my perceived fitness ability. I can tell I’ve been at sea level for over a year. The 95 degree sunshine felt absolutely amazing.
After a quick dip in the pool to cool off we grilled out hamburgers and tried an amber from the local Fort Collins Brewery. From their apartment we watched the sun set over Horsetooth Mountain. The perfect end to a great day.
It had been a year since I’d dusted off my sleeping bag and erected my tent in the woods. Way too long. My friend Todd and I knew this streak had to end, so we put a camping trip to the Salmon La Sac River in the Eastern Cascade Mountains on our calendars weeks ago. Slowly the days ticked by and every passing moment I became more and more excited about sleeping under the stars.
On a beautiful sunny Friday afternoon I pulled into Todd’s driveway and began loading my car full of camping gear, food, and bicycles with the help of my friend JJ, who was also joining us on our adventure. I’m used to backpacking, where you take only what you need because you have to hike it all in on your back. Todd, however, had car camping down to an art. He had gourmet meals prepared to cook over the fire with ingredients such as spinach, fresh tomatoes, and sliced onion. After one last gear check, we pulled out of his driveway and headed east toward the Cascade Mountains, leaving the city far behind.
