It seems like every time I think it’s going to be a quiet ride of 3 or 4 people, a dozen or so show up in the Ralph’s shopping center parking lot off Avenida Encinas.  This week was our turn to head south, and Jill and Heather K had scoped out a new spot in Solana Beach for us to try – Solana Beach Coffee Company (http://www.solanabeachcoffee.com/).

The group at our turnaround, and sometimes picture spot, at the end of Stratford Court in Del Mar.

As I’ve said before, and I’m sure I’ll say it again, the Friday ride is always one of my favorites.  You actually get to take in the beauty of the ocean view and smell the salt air, rather than have it sear your lungs.  Maybe you can even “look for dolphins” (which is my own personal joke because the group of women I first rode with when I first moved here used to always tell me, “You’re riding too fast!  You missed the dolphins!”).

It seems like every week, someone new tries out the group.  This week, a woman I met about two years ago at Bressi Ranch when I was wearing a fresh-off-the-presses Team Fun kit finally had a chance to join one of our rides.  We even got to add an additional “Heather” to the mix, as evidenced below in the picture of Three Heathers.

Heather Hunter, Heather Bruemmer, and Heather Krauss at Solana Beach Coffee Company

Team Fun ride leader Michell even made it all the way up from North Park to join us for a bit, snagging some awesome group shots before heading back home.

The Solana Beach Coffee Company gets a thumbs up as a coffee stop, with the exception of perhaps providing a few more umbrellas for these bright mornings we’ve been having (although perhaps we are about to long for…).  Easy in, easy out location with plenty of seating and places for bikes.

We meet every week, same time, same place – 9am at the Ralph’s shopping center parking lot (near El Pollo Loco) off Avenida Encinas in Carlsbad.  Come join us on a Friday when you have some free time and are looking to loosen up your legs – Swami’s and Friends of Swami’s welcome (but no enemies – that wouldn’t make for a very congenial ride, I would think).

Next week we will be heading to Nautical Bean in Oceanside Harbor.

Great group. I had so much fun meeting everyone. – Stacy