Coffeeneuring - final day: Create Wonder * Share Joy

The long ago fallen brown leaves crunch and crackle under our wheels. We pedal on a path of broken pavement, gravel and rocks that borders Pennypack Creek, a thin ribbon of wild, threading through the north suburbs, protected by signs defining conduct.

• Catch and release only. 
• No hunting. 
• Stay on trail.

We stay on trail and ride the line of least resistance on this unknown path. Over the river and through the woods, to coffeenneur we go.

A black Labrador howls a storybook howl - mournful and resonant - a canine vibrato aria filling the afternoon. I howl back in chorus while mashing the pedals of my fixie up the slow climb from the creek. 

The road after the path ends in a T intersection with a busy road. We do not know which way to turn in this unfamiliar place. But the phone is smart and finds a Starbucks 1.4 more miles away. 

After the false solitude of the woodsy path, the strip mall seems as odd to us as we are to it. But the shop has two holiday coffees for the price of one so we are in the right place at the right time. A gingerbread latte for me, drizzled with molasses, and a peppermint latte, sprinkled with chocolate, for her. 

This coffeeneuring season started in Junetober. The weather today, 68 degrees, reminds us of that warm day seven weekends ago.

We tell stories, listen and laugh until the last drops are done.

We ride back into the crackling quiet of the thin woods, past the shallow creek that shares the color of coffee, to finish the seven mile trip that ends seven weekends of seven journeys together. 

Seven short trips, 
not long in time, 
not far in  distance, 
just small sips 
of quiet wonder 
and simple joy 
shared.