Coffeeneuring #5: Coffee with Calvin - Saturday, October 26th

This summer, I rode my longest brevet to date.  1418km on London-Edinburgh-London.   Long before the event, the organizers started a Facebook page for people to meet and talk about the event.  A real community developed, and by the time I reached the start line in July, I felt like I'd made many new friends.

One of those friends was Calvin Boo, a randonneur from Singapore.  We never managed to meet face to face during the vent.  But when he sent me a note in September letting me know that he was planning a visit in October, I didn't hesitate to offer to show him the beauty of Oregon by bike.  Along the way, we could visit some far flung coffee shops for Coffeeneuring credit!

I met Calvin in town at the bike shop where he rented a very well equiped road bike.   Rando friend Jeff A met us there, and together we boarded the MAX train to the last stop in Hillsboro.  A 5 mile ride took us to North Plains, where we met up with Bill and Ray.

A pre-coffeeneuring coffee on the way to pick up Calvin.  Black, like the cup.

Multi-modal coffeeneuring!

Together, the 5 of us rode the quiet country roads to Banks and the start of the BV trail.

L to R: Bill, Jeff, Calvin, Ray and yours truly

Coffee posse.

Calvin's pre-visit research had turned up the Banks-Vernonia Trail as a route he was interested in.  Luckily, the BV Trail is one of my favorite rides.   It's a gorgeous rail trail with few road crossings.  No matter the time of year, it's like riding through fairy tale forest for much of the route.

Though it had been overcast much of the morning, I'd remained optimistic that the sun would come out.  And so it did!

At the far terminus of the trail is Vernonia, with the Black Bear Coffee Company.   Many NW rando rides use Vernonia as a control, and countless other recreational riders stop in there during day rides as well.   It's a perfect coffeeneuring destination.

Like turtles on a rock

My usual non-fat vanilla latte.

Before swinging around for the return trip home, we stopped at the park in Vernonia to look at the old train engine.

The sun was low on the horizon as we returned to the beginning of the trail.    A few miles from home, Jeff escorted Calvin back to the MAX while I returned home.

Total mileage for the day: 77 miles (including trips to and from MAX)
Primary Strava ride file here: http://www.strava.com/activities/91515773