Coffeeneuring 2020: Handlebar in Santa Barbara

 Sometimes it seems as if the two are inseparable, the relationship going back decades and, if I know anything about them both, probably has something to do with Italy. You know how it is, ya wake up in the morning, turn over, and there she is, that vision of beauty, anticipation tingles. You reach over cupping with your palm, fingers caressing, tickling and... wait a minute, it's just a cup of coffee! But you are awake now and, since you set the timer last night in anticipation of the early morning ride, the scent of ground and freshly brewed beans has reached your nose, springing you out of bed like some kind of wind-up toy, an image of the day's first cuppa inspiring. 

We've all seen those old-time photos of Euro-pros stopping into the local cafe before-ride, post-ride, even mid-ride to enjoy a boost of caffeine. It is a tradition that has been handed down and shared amongst riders to this very day. I mean, when was the last time you rode past a favorite local coffee joint and not seen a cyclist or two, or more, sitting outside, steam rising from a ceramic mug or paper cup? You can't recall such a sight, can you?

A few years ago someone came up with the term Coffeeneuring, the act of riding to a place, any place really, where you can stop and savor a smooth cup of covfefe. That cup can arrive after standing in line at a coffee house, bagelry, or donut shop. But you can also pack a thermos full, or even bring a backpacking / bikepacking stove, some ground beans and a little pot to brew up a fresh cup high on a mountain top, beside a calm lake, roaring river, or sandy beach. What ever your choice of destination, the coffee is the thing, the raison d'etre behind the outing.

Anyway

I finally... finally, made it to Handlebar Coffee Roasters in Santa Barbara. I don't know how many times I had attempted it in the past but, for one reason or another, it had just never worked out before this most recent trip. So we sat outside, at a little table, a cup with one of those foamy hearts floating atop the brew, and a bag of beans to bring home. Mmmm, it was good.

State Street was pretty low-key in the morning, but by lunch things would be different

Handlebar Coffee Roasters - Gino Bartali on one window and Major Taylor on the other

Across the street is the Presidio of Santa Barbara

the onto the Obern Trail up to UCSB - dirt verges, that's why I rode the Hakkalugi

where is everybody?

technically, I don't think we were supposed to be on campus, but we weren't quite alone

Storke Plaza and Tower

the Lagoon

I was sad when I saw this - one of my Anthropology professors was Michael Jochim; later I realized it was Michael A. Jochim, not Michael W. Jochim. Still sad, but not in the way I thought

a portion of Goleta beach - not a lot of wave action on this day

Tamera was beginning to doze off with all the serenity, so I had to go over and wake her up

the motto of UC, as seen on the Great Seal, is "Let There Be Light" - kind of appropriate to have that solar flare

back along the Obern and Goleta Slough

a little more dirt...

before getting back on the repaved path, where the leaves of cottonwoods and sycamores and willows are beginning to fall

lawn signs sure, but until now I had never seen a Get Out and Vote banner strung across a residential street

what does a Backroads guide do in her off time - bike tour, naturally. Tamera found someone to talk to - Allison, of Backroads, usually leads tours in Europe, but... pandemic, was instead riding from San Francisco to San Diego

bike hoodums of State - har, har - no, just kids out in the day

Santa Barbara