Granby, CO
*Reposted from the original coffee blog: Expedition Cafelier*
A few years ago I read the book: North of Beautiful. While it was an empowering story on body image, my main take away was the adventurous lure of geocaching. I quickly discovered the art of the trade and pursued it from the day I set the book down. Still enthralled by the adventure of caching, I wandered around Grand Lake, enjoying the cool lake breeze, as I happily walked back and forth across town in my pursuit. One particularly tricky cache brought me towards the Marina where I saw a sign featuring The Wake Coffee Shop. I took it into account but determined to find the cache, continued into the shrubs. It took handfuls of weeds and sending beetles flying, but I finally found the cache and headed back towards the shops above. As the afternoon trickled in and it was time to head out of town, the thought of coffee swirled in my mind. I denied my desire but 'somehow' as we drove out of town, we drifted off route and ended up back at the Marina. The car was left parked in a little dirt lot and I excitedly skipped towards the painted coffee sign; all the while towing my pup behind me. The sign pointed into a covered dock where aspen trees decorated the fence and storage ropes hung down from the rafters. All of this was backed by stunning blue crystals shattered off the water's surface by the sun. Curiosity sparked and overjoyed by how the location had taken me off guard, I wandered towards hanging canoes and stopped outside a little wood shack. Stepping precariously inside, wondering if I would be asked to leave because of my dog, I took in the flavorful decorations. Clam shells (presumably that had been found in the 400 ft deep lake) laid heavily against a fire place that had been cozied up with a love-seat. Off to the side there was an old life ring, retired dock signs and a few small tables. The lighting was dim and pleasant and I had no doubt that this was a shop where I would choose to gather up my journals and spend the day writing, talking, praying. Drawn into its warmth, I stepped further inside and was happily greeted by a teenager I had met working downtown the day before. Her friend, the barista, grinned at the presence of my dog and further confirmed my growing like of the shop. I continued to take in the small details that had been carefully placed around the shop while filling my cup and letting its hazelnut scent overcome me. The coffee itself sparked my interest as the roaster named it after a hidden hiking trail. All it took was one small sip for me to know that this was my kind of coffee. It had a well rounded, bold flavor but was not overpowering as to cover the flavors within. It was like chocolate covered almonds and raspberries had met, fell in love, had a baby, and called it Phase II. Happily breathing in the scent of the mysterious trail I longed to find, I shut my eyes and for a brief second sunk into the moment. A tug of the leash gently pulled me back to reality, and with one last sweep, I walked out the door and never looked back at the hidden paradise.
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