Solo Deo Gloria - pt. 2

Got up today and walked down the street to grab a coffee. There's like 2 coffee shops per block here but for some reason I couldn't find the particular one I was looking for, so I ducked into a nearby tea shop. I normally like my coffee black so I can taste what the cup is all about, so I don't know what got into me ordering a latte.  I think I was just trying to be fancy.  Tasted like a cup of warm heavy cream...should've just had a tea.  I walked around for a bit during the day just waiting on my bike to be ready.  I didn't really see much worth noting because I wanted to stay near the bike shop but I did get quite a bit of people-watching in.  Some observations: I'm the only one wearing shorts. Lots of Asians...but not like Chinatown Asians, more like Irvine Asians (I'm part Asian so I can say that). Every one here seems fit and active; just as many pedestrians and cyclists as there are motorists.  Canadians are like Americans but goofier.

So my bike took all day so I decided to pack everything up and get ready for my first day on the bike tomorrow.  Got a cold brew on nitro from Elysian Coffee and while it definitely took my energy to a new level, it lacked in complexity. The nitro adds a natural creaminess (think Guinness) but I think it might take away from the flavor profile.  Finally got my bike around 6pm and had a very encouraging talk with Mark at MEC.  He reminded me of Alton Brown from the Food Network; I like that guy.  He and all the other bike techs seemed to really like my bike...I couldn't bring myself to explain to them how much of a novice I am when it comes to cycling and I don't deserve this setup.  Mark has done some touring and had a lot of great stuff to say about the timing of the trip and how awesome of a ride it is. Apparently he used to set up camp in cemeteries on his tours!  Maybe he liked the peace and quiet.  I however will never be doing that in life, ever.

After I got my bike back in working order, my mood changed dramatically. I was pumped!  So I went on 15 mile ride down to the Univeristy of British Columbia. It was night time and it sprinkled a little, but the bike paths here are great. When I got back home I started packing up my panniers and Roxana knocked on my door. We chatted for a bit and I got her to play me some of her music on the piano (very impressive for not being classically trained). She made me some tea named "Good Fortune" to send positive vibes for my trip. We ended up talking and listening to music for hours and I learned that she has traveled a lot too, used to live in Spain, and was born in Transylvania!  Super interesting girl!  Anyways, it's almost 4am and I need to get to bed. Big day tomorrow!

The backyard.