Ride 3--Coffee without Walls (1)
Townie and Trek Pure comfort bikes
78 degrees, blustery tropical winds
11 mile round trip to NLO Pcola Bay
Our third ride took me and wifey to one of our favorite spots in the whole world, the Naval Live Oaks on Pensacola Bay. This is a a gem of a place--a place I go to relax, hike, photograph, bike, and swim. It is testament to the beauty of the place we get to call home. It's truly amazing what you can find in your own back yard--no urban sprawl, just yourself and your thoughts, the occasional sea breezes, and sometimes, the distant sounds of people tent camping in the area. What I like best about this park on the north side of Highway 98 is that it's closed to cars--pedestrian traffic only for close to a half mile walk down to the emerald water and undisturbed oaks.
You basically have to reserve the place for group camping in order for them to open the gates to cars, so yeah--since a lot of people don't like to actually walk or ride bikes, they turn their air-conditioned vehicles around at the gate and go to the south side of the trails. We like to use or legs though, so it's prime for us! I never went here too much as a kid--we always had Pensacola Beach, but in my later years, I've come to love solace and peace in a world where I view nothing but violence and hatred most of the time.
The ride was pleasant with the wind at our backs. Neighborhood roads until the final stretch through the park.
When we arrived there was still the smell of campfire smoke emanating from the firepit in the middle of the camping area. No campers though. The site was ours to cook our coffee. In minutes I fired up the MSR portable stove and, along the fire rocks got the water up to a boil.
Unfortunately after filling Jen's cup with water for her coffee, I realized I'd forgotten my cup. These coffee without walls trips cause one's bike to be loaded down with accessories in order to take pics, and also to make coffee, using water we brought, and fire, and stoves--you get it.
Needless to say, I drank out of the stainless steel Stanley after it cooled a bit. There is something delicious about black coffee after earning it on a ride. If only the weather was a little cooler! No complaints though, as Jen and I ate leftover cookies with our fresh coffee.
Amped up a little on sugar and simple black coffee, basically cooked over a campfire :), we headed back to continue our days' activities. A great first coffee-without-walls ride!
