Tag Archives: Central

Happy Trails

Tea 2 Comments

I took a nice bike ride recently on the Northern Central Railroad Trail or NCR for short.   It was an enjoyable ride that goes over 20 miles into Pennsylvania.  There’s a few pot of golds at the end of this rainbow.

CafeSignRailTrailCafe2

I’ve made the several hours ride to the Rail Trail Cafe before, so this was gold I expected to find.  But this ride never gets old and I always look forward to grabbing a beverage, a snack, and a few minutes to enjoy the view.   This time I look a lot longer, took some pictures, and then appreciated my surroundings.

The staff here is top-notch.  They’ve always been so friendly and welcoming.  There is a very folksy and small town vibe here and in the surrounding neighborhood.  Even though they probably get outsiders on bikers, on a daily basis, they seem appreciative of everyone that pays a visit.  It’s a good area to regroup, relax, and recuperate.

It was a warm Summers day and that means a cold, refreshing tea.  And it was needed.

And speaking of gold, what kind of teas did I happen to see in their refrigerated beverage section?  Well none other than Gold Peak Tea.

I’ve seen their drinks everywhere, including many restaurants, adjacent to the soft drink machines.  As this is a beverage many establishments use as an alternative to sodas.

Their brand is not one I’ve had frequently and if I have I may have had it by default because I wasn’t in the mood for soda. This is not a dig at them, but just a statement.

GoldPeakDietGoldPeakDietOutsideBackOfLabel

I grabbed the Diet Tea from the fridge and as a snack I ordered a homemade Rice Krispies Treat.  It was fuel need for the bike ride back. The treat was fantastic.

RiceKrispieTreat

The tea was satisfying but I wasn’t wowed by it.  I don’t think it had anything to do with it having zero calories and added sodium.  I just thought it did the job and nothing more.   That doesn’t mean that you won’t like it or that their other flavors aren’t any better.

It’s going to be warm for a while and I will absolutely try some of their other flavors again.

Train

I took my time enjoying the riders and pedestrians go by.  And to my pleasant surprise, a train passed through as well!

I will be back soon as I love riding through here.   I leave you with some photos of this peaceful experience.

NewFreedomRailTrailCafeRailTrailMuseum

Stay healthy.

Best,

Ideen

Enjoying the View

New Orleans, Tea 3 Comments

I visited New Orleans recently and of course I’m going to seek out places to drink tea.  Now if you’re reading this, and you live in this beautiful city, or have visited, you may think there’s some obvious choices.   Well I’m not always about the obvious.

P&GDoor

After a gorgeous day of sightseeing and wandering, I come upon a charming coffee shop, Pulp & Grind.    How I ended up in the Warehouse District, I don’t know.  But that’s the fun of visiting a city with little to no planning.  I discovered a gem of a spot.

Of course I was in the mood for tea.  There’s never a bad time for a cup.  And it was a bit humid out, so a little refresher was in order.

Since I’d never been there before, I took a little more time perusing their menu items on the big board.  I’ve had Wheatgrass shots before and getting one here was the perfect way to rejuvenate me and get my day doing again.  I wish I had taken a picture.

In researching their shop, I see they’ve only been open a few months.   They had some fruit and pastries on display, but I didn’t have the biggest appetite.

I was in New Orleans and all I’ve been doing is eating some amazing dishes.  So all I could take was a piece of small chocolate at the register with my cup.

PulpDailyDose

So I got the White Jasmine.  I’m going to believe it’s either a tea that is sent to them or from some magical place.  Well I’d really like to believe the latter.   The city itself is magical and full of a unique energy I have never felt before.

PulpTeaUpClose

The tea was just fine.  It wasn’t anything special or blew me away.  But for where I was, I didn’t care.  I sat and enjoyed my snack and hot cup, and enjoyed the view outside.  I wasn’t in the touristy part, near Bourbon or Frenchmen Street.  That would take place before and after this tea break.     But aside from these few photos, I just sat and admired the scenery for at least a good 30 minutes.

PulpOutsideViewOutside

The tea soothed me, the view outside soothed me, and  being in a vibrant and amazing city soothed me.

P&G

I will add the staff and locals inside were very nice, all smiled, and said hello.  It’s not something I’m used to.  I’m usually very friendly but it’s not always reciprocated.   A friendly response make everything look, taste, smell, and feel better.

And I felt so good.

All The Best,

Ideen