Saturday was the most beautiful day for a ride. Just gorgeous! We took a pretty relaxed approach to the day, as one should for a weekend. Breakfast was a banana bread breakfast pudding. I am so liking these! Plus some cafe au lait.
John then planned out our route. We decided to go a different way down and hug the river, which was a great idea (that means less steep hills). It was beautiful. Most of the first part of the ride went right along the river. I think I found where I want to move to. Better ask for another raise… 😀
In part of the Hudson, there is an island and somebody has a house on it. They built a little covered bridge to get there.
I would love to have a covered bridge at the entrance of my driveway! I am so jealous.
Want to live here?
Indeed.
At mile 11, we stopped for snacks.
My favorite – dates!
If you look close, you can see my black moustache. Smarty me fiddled with my chain and I propped it up with the gloved part of my hand to keep my fingers from getting dirty. Well, during the ride I proceeded to wipe sweat off my lip with my gloves and smeared chain grease on it each time. Good thing John was with me and told me or I would have gone around town that way. 🙄
There was hardly any traffic for the first 18 miles or so and I was loving that. We both agreed this was our new favorite way to Saratoga.
We arrived downtown at mile 23.5. Since I am in the midst of the no grain challenge, we had to think about where to eat. Stopped at Esperanto.
But then I got waylaid by this sign and it’s creepiness and had to take a picture.
Esperanto has different dishes from all cuisines. Most of them had some sort of wheat or rice base. I decided on the coconut chicken curry. I asked for them to hold the rice.
They seemed to feel I needed some grain with it, because while they left out the rice, they put some tortilla chips on the side LOL. I gave those to John. This was really tasty. It had carrots, potatoes, and chicken in a coconut curry sauce. The picture doesn’t look so good, but it sure tasted good!
We strolled downtown for a while doing some window shopping. In Saratoga, window shopping is about all we can afford. Cute jacket on sale that was still $100 after being marked down 50%. Then there are the places I am just not sure about:
😯
We stopped in at a glass studio where one of John’s poker buddies has his stuff. He is a glass artist and does some beautiful work.
Then it was time for dessert! I had a coupon to try Plum Dandy. This is one of those build your own yogurt places. I have never been to one before.
Here is half of the topping bar. The chocolate and sprinkles and candy were on the other side.
My yogurt was cake batter flavor and I topped it with strawberries, fresh blueberries, toasted coconut and little yogurt and passion fruit pearls.
Those were like the big tapioca pearls, only they had a liquid center when you bit into them. I kind of liked them – very different. My biggest beef? Only 1 size bowl and it is so big that you want to fill it up with yogurt. It was really hard not to do that. We still spent $10 for 2 yogurts.
John got all kinds of chocolate stuff, addict that he is.
Yogurt fueled to go on, we headed home the same way. The only busy part was getting out of town and for a few miles down the main road. Then it was back to peace and quiet and farms:
We stopped at mile 39 for my other favorite ride fuel:
This was right on the bank of the river at someone’s boat launch.
My buddy 😛
The only thing I don’t like about going this way is the last 1/2 mile to our house. It’s a steep hill and a tough slog, especially after already doing 46 miles, but we made it!
Ride stats:
Total miles: 46.8 (eh… 47)
Average speed: 14 mph
Top speed 31.5 – woohoo!
Calories burned: 1504
This was such an awesome day! I immediately came in and had a protein drink and another date before showering.
I do have a hard time eating after ride days and tend to really nibble, but here is what I had. Dinner was carbs and fat (it’s what I wanted):
Teddie crunchy peanut butter is my favorite!
Then I had a latte at home later with some cashews to get my calories up.
This is where I would normally be eating cereal and chocolate. I am not avoiding chocolate or anything, I was just craving salt as I sweated profusely on this ride. It’s really important to listen to what your body wants when you expend a lot of energy.
I just thought you might like to see what I do eat after a ride refueling carbs without grains!
I don’t know where to start…what a fabulous day!
Bacon Hill, fake moustaches, a delicious looking curry, cool glass, froyo…the fun never ends!!!
Glad you had a wonderful day!
Love the glass art, especially the first piece shown!
You know, as much as I love fro-yo, I’m never tempted to overfill the cup. I actually like being able to choose how much (or how little) yogurt to have, plus I like the roominess of the larger cup. At TCBY, the toppings are always spilling over the top of the smaller cup. I don’t like waste, especially when it’s crumbled Reese’s cup. 🙂
How neat that you found a new way to Saratoga. Completely random fact: I went to junior college in Saratoga…California, that is!
John’s friend’s glasswork is gorgeous.
How fun that you finally got to try a self-serve yogurt place! The extra weight comes from the toppings – Jeff always loads his up with fruit (and sweetened condensed milk!) while I just have the yogurt (honestly, I get enough fruit, and I try to stay away from the candy toppings) – his weighs more than mine. And I’m with Cammy – the big bowls make it so you don’t lose any of your precious toppings. This one froyo place that we occasionally cheat on Red Mango with has three bowls – the biggest is gargantuan! I stick with the smallest, which is still pretty big. Geez, how do you like me hijacking your comments with a froyo dissertation? 😉
I like the topping options here. They were fun. I do like my other yogurt place, though 😀
I just LOVE reading all your bike recaps. They always seem so fun and adventurous! I am getting my bike this week and my goal is to get a few rides in during vacation. I couldn’t believe you got cake batter yogurt. I was grocery shopping today and bought cake batter kefir on a almost-birthday whim. Sounded funny. Can’t wait to try it!
There are a lot of covered bridges in Oregon. Such a scenic ride!
Good job to you and the honey on that ride! Love the covered bridge and for some reason that creepy kiddo sign. Good looking latte. Even without the Pixie background.
What a great day! And a great day of eats too. Laughed at Shelley’s froyo dissertation. I don’t have much to add LOL.
Just saw Allison’s comment–that IS funny that you chose cake batter. Kinda like a cupcake substitute I guess.
the build your own yogurt places are all over austin—and took all my momey this summer 🙂
The build your own yogurt place looks great! Love it.
What a beautiful ride, it’s so pretty where you live, always a pleasure looking at the photos.
Thanks – it is a pretty area, when it isn’t covered in snow. Okay, that is pretty, too – I just don’t like to have to shovel it!
Lori, I want to come & sight see with you! You have the best rides & the most beautiful pics & some “interesting” ones too! 😉 Can you get one of those things that attach behind the bike & pull me – I hate to bike ride! 🙂 Hey, more calories burned! 😉
Loved the pic & the glass art work! Thx for sharing!!!
Please do come! I’ll roast some coffee and take you for cupcakes 😀
Looks like an awesome ride! That boutique sign made me laugh!
What a fantastic ride. Thanks for sharing your photos with us Lori. Feels like we were right there with you. LOVE the covered bridge, the lingerie sign and the glassworks. John’s friend is very talented!! Hope you have a wonderful Monday – and thanks for your motivation/advice on my blog over the last week or so!!!! So glad you to have your input!!!
You’re welcome Roz!
I love your life and the place where you live. You get to see so many interesting things. That covered bridge would take up my entire drive but I still want it.
Glad you had such a wonderful ride with NO FLATS! Love the chain grease mustache. 🙂
Thanks Kelly. Our life isn’t all that exciting, but we do live in a nice area 😀
What a nice post…looks like you had nice time:)
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