Just another trip to Tops...

I decided to buy "panniers" or "saddle bags" for my bike so that at school I have a means of shopping without a car.  We drive over to the bike shop and when I ask about the bags I am showed a row of options.  I pick out a handy pair of red bags that looks something like this.  While looking for that link I found this that is a bit more what I was looking for initially but I think what I got will work out quite nicely.  

I hooked the panniers onto my bike and took it over to the bakery and then to Tops.  No problems along the way until I reached the Tim Hortons Corner (dum, dum, dum, dum, DUUUUMMMM!!!).  I pull into the left turning lane and a man who appeared slightly out of it was pulled along the curb.  He calls over some  comment about staying on the side of the road and I politely tell him I  am turning left and therefore need to be in the left lane.  He stated he too was going left but he just went out around the outside.  I instantly start to wonder what happens when we both try to turn left and images of the confusion as a car tries to turn right flash through my head.  As soon as the light turns green and the coast is clear I continue onto Tops.  After picking up the two things I needed I leave the store and there is my friend, reeking of alcohol, watching as I hook my pannier back to my bike.   

"You got that ok?"

"Yup, I'm fine"  I reply though I'm thinking he wouldn't be any help in his drunken state if I did need it. I seriously worry about his ability to stay balanced on a bike and hope he isn't going back the same way he came.

He courteously lets me go first and I ride off into the sunset... no not really...  I jump down the curb send my rear light flying into the middle of the road.  I watched painfully as the light got run over not once but twice. I discovered that though the panniers work great, my light setup could use some work... and a new light.

Thunder

woke me up.

And in 30 seconds Saspy cat is in my bed

Similar I imagine to the way I would run to my parent's room when thunder struck as a child.

Then I realized Dad had tilted open the sunroof last night on the way home from the dance.

And I didn't remember him closing it.

No wonder it's raining.

It always rains when Dad leaves a window open.

Better weather predictor than weather.com

I attempted to find the keys to close the window

they must be in his pocket

I don't have the heart to wake him.  

The rain is gone for the most part so what really can I do at this point?

Sit back and enjoy this lovely Sunday morning.

Elm Street Bakery

I have always considered East Aurora to be one of those ALMOST perfect towns: walkable, friendly and historical East Aurora has a particular charm you just don't seem to find everywhere. I could go on for hours about all the things I love about this town, but I'll save that for another post.

What is the ALMOST I speak of? 

East Aurora has lacked a bakery.  I have always dreamed of living somewhere in which I could walk to get bread in the morning for breakfast, or muffins or grab a cup of coffee with a slice of coffee cake. A place that would allow me to live as the French do: never eating a day old piece of bread.

Well, as of July 16th, 2011 East Aurora became a little bit more perfect in my eyes:

I woke up early Saturday morning, jumped on my bike and rode the half a mile to the bakery in order to make them aware that they are wanted in East Aurora.  We were most certainly not the only ones who had decided to make this point.  When we arrived the bakery had every outdoor table filled and a long line of eager patrons waiting to taste the bread.  These lines persisted for the entire day!

We decided to get a few different items in order to get a good idea of what they have to offer.  We got zucchini bread, coffee cake and a loaf of Three-Seed Sourdough bread.  They also had lemon blueberry muffins, cookies, and a pastry I can't remember the name of.  They were serving Gimme! Coffee from Ithaca, NY which made it feel even more like home.  They will eventually be roasting their own coffee but their roaster got waylaid en route from the factory.  I'm really excited to try their coffee roast!

I have to say the sourdough bread was the best sourdough bread I've eaten outside San Francisco, no joke.  It had the distinct sour taste that sadly most breads who claim to be sourdough actually lack.  I can't wait to return tomorrow and replenish the loaf that is now just a memory.

I found out that it wasn't really necessary to make the bakery feel welcome: they completely sold out on Saturday and didn't open on Sunday because they didn't have anything to sell!  I'm so glad that the bakery received such a wonderful welcome and I look forward to seeing what it becomes in the future.