Thursday, December 05, 2013

Visiting Motorcycle Bloggers and Coffin Factories

I understand this is the place to be, if you like motorcycles. coffee and
NE Minneapolis.  I'll be back.
Last Saturday morning, I woke up bright and early...

Well, let's be honest here. It was November 30th in Minnesota, it was dark and early when I woke up.

Anyway, I woke up early to go meet up with RichardM and Coop at Diamond's Coffee Shoppe.

RichardM and his wife Bridget decided they needed to escape the cold of Alaska by coming south a bit. How could they have known that Minnesota would actually be colder than Alaska? Luckily, they're hardy folks, the sort that don't let a little bone-chilling cold get them down.

Coop is one of the local Middle Coast bloggers.  He lives pretty darn close to the Wisconsin border, so he had to come a fair way in order to meet up with us.

I almost felt like I was cheating with my short drive to Diamond's.

I was a little bleary-eyed when I rolled up to Diamond's, but something about the building seemed familiar. Then I looked across the street, recognized the building over there, and realized where I was. The Thorp building is sort of an industrial/artist/commercial space that is very, very cool. I spent the better part of an afternoon once exploring the entire building with my brother Noodles and his wonderfully patient wife. I'd like to have a space there except for two problems:
  1. It's not on the west coast, and that's where I would like to be again. Though, perhaps I could commute as needed...
  2. I don't, yet, have an actual need for an artist/industrial/commercial space. Give me a week and a supply of coffee, I'll figure that part out. 
Where was I again? Oh yeah, getting coffee with moto-bloggers.

So, have you met RichardM and Coop? Because they are just awesome guys. Two hours flew by, and then all of us needed to get on our respective ways.

I'd spotted another interesting building on the map when I was figuring out how to get to Diamond's and since it was only two blocks away, I had to swing by and check it out...

Incidentally, across the street is a residential neighborhood.  How'd you
like to have grown up across the street from the coffin factory?
I bet Halloween kicked ass.
A pretty interesting morning, I have to say. I'm hoping I'll be able to catch up with Richard again at some point, and I'm sure I'll bump into Coop again soon.

5 comments:

RichardM said...

It was great fun to meet you as well, though we did have to look through the antique shop across the street (fortunately we came out empty handed!) and look for a geocache.

Nice that you got in at least one more ride. I hear that winter may be finally arriving.

Trobairitz said...

Time flies when you are having fun - and you can't help but have anything but fun with that group.

Like that last shot. Old building have such character.

Unknown said...

Lucky:

You were Lucky to have the shortest commute. So nice to see the roads clear without snow.

It was great that you all managed to meet, and yes, time flies when you are having fun

bob
Riding the Wet Coast

Coop a.k.a. Coopdway said...

Meeting you and the Alaskan contingent never would have even crossed my mind, certainly not on a November day in Minneapolis though it was really fortunate that it happened.

You had mentioned being at least somewhat familiar with the area but I had only partly remembered why.

Tomorrow is the monthly Pancake Day at Diamonds, so if you feel hungry tomorrow.....it's already sounding like it will be a good turnout from those that ride. I see it's predicted to be way up to a positive 4 degrees F tomorrow morning.

Sash Johnson said...

I love the photo of the casket building. I dig those old places.

When you are ready to relocate out to the West Coast, let us know. We're happy to help. :)

Smooches,
Sash
www.SashMouth.com