Coffee Ride to Java Blue Coffee Market - Montgomery, NY
The Ride
I’d started this ride another day on the R18 Classic. Due to an electrical fault that stopped the ride early, I had to abandon that initial ride. I used the S1000R today to try it again.
37.2 miles was the Beeline to Montgomery, NY, in Orange County, home of Java Blue Coffee. See our article on discovering new roads with Beeline. Java Blue Coffee is part of the Upstate Coffee Crawl series that started with Foundry 42.
Departing from Cross River, I headed north on Route 121 to June Road and connected with Route 202 by the Diverting Reservoir south of Brewster, NY. I came along the backside of Brewster to connect with Route 312. After this I hit several stretches of roads I had never ridden on before beginning with Ice Pond Road crossing back and forth under 84 several times till I reached Route 52. Route 52 essentially mirrors Interstate 84. Route 52 joins with Interstate 84 for the Mid Hudson bridge between Beacon & Newburgh.
After the bridge, I turned onto Route 52 and split off at Meadow Avenue. This crossed Interstate 87 and continued west. At Lakeside Road, I turned right, heading north, and it reconnected with Route 52 heading west at Orange Lake.
REVER is a mobile app designed to help you track, plan, or navigate your ride. With the app, you can easily plan your route, view maps and directions, and track your distance using GPS technology. The app is an excellent tool for anyone who loves to ride and wants to keep track of their progress and distance.
I crossed the Wallkill River through Walden, NY, before turning south along Route 29 (River Road). True to its name, River Road follows the Wallkill River along the west bank. It intersects with Route 17K, which crosses the river into Montgomery, NY. The weather was threatening, with dark, overcast skies, but I was fortunate that there was no rain on my way up. The actual track recorded by Rever was 62.3 miles. See the route below.
The Coffee Shop
Montgomery, NY, is a small village near a river. The original name of the village was Ward’s Bridge. This is the name of the bridge I used coming into the village in honor of one of the town’s first settlers. The village saw growth from the stagecoaches using the Newburgh and Cochecton Turnpike. Several historic district buildings were from this era to service the travelers through the village.
Orange County Airport is just 1 mile to the southwest, which I’d flown into several times while training for my private pilot’s license. The larger commercial Stewart International Airport is further east, closer to Newburgh, NY & I remember having to avoid hitting that airspace when landing & departing KMGJ. Montgomery is a bit north of 84, so it is easy to take the highway if you are pressed for time.
Java Blue Coffee is on Union Street, part of the historic district of the village of Montgomery. This is a quaint street with several other shops, including a country store that calls itself a mini-mart, a florist, and a barber directly next door. The feel is one of old country stores as most of the structures date from the early to mid 19th century. A white sign hanging from the overhang at the entrance features blue lettering inviting you to the shop with fresh coffee & fresh foods and a blue rooster. A similar stencil is on the front window.
Inside Java Blue, a narrow hallway with a few tables on either side is just beyond the entrance where you order. If you head down the hallway, it opens up, and there are some larger spaces and a door to outdoor seating. Completing the experience was country music on the radio.
A chalkboard helpfully includes the Wi-Fi info, and you can grab a seat from various examples of wooden & metal chairs to choose from. A small kids’ area consists of an old school chair with a built-in desk alongside some activities to keep the little ones occupied.
Behind the counter, a chalkboard provides the menu. Coffee options include several latte options, espresso, and cappuccino. Flavor shots are available, and any drink can be made iced. There is also a fresh juice bar with lots of flavor options.
If you are hungry, there are several sandwich and salad options, soups & quiche. Some baked goods are also available, and I picked from that case to complement my coffee choice today.
The Refreshments
I ordered a latte and a chocolate chip cookie and was able to use Apple Pay to complete the transaction. It is mostly take out here, so my latte was served in a paper cup. Several other patrons were at the tables with their laptops out, so people did dine in as well. I do prefer ceramic cups for the experience, but my latte was good. The cookie was delicious and the sweetness added to the latte’s natural flavors was a nice pairing.
As I got ready to leave the coffee shop, it had been drizzling outside, so the bike and pavement were wet in the shot outside the coffee shop. The weather forecast was now calling for continued rain on my way back home, so I skipped exploring the historic district for another day. It is a charming little village with just one traffic light and well worth the ride to explore this tiny slice of history.
