Some of the most important equipment for a regular bike rider is not
bicycle specific and one of those things is something to protect the
lips. Even in August riding across Coastal Georgia and South Carolina I
learned the value of having something to counter dry, cracking lips. By
day three I added a tube of generic, mineral oil based stuff that I
found in a dollar store. It did the job and I have carried similar
products in my handlebar bag since. Of the numerous ingredients in a
typical lip balm one is commonly listed as an “active ingredients”;
mineral oil or another petroleum product.
Because I like to buy locally and have been using Cross
Creek Honey’s soap, which is available at the Saturday
morning Farmers’ Market in Haile Village I decided to try their Don’t Bee Filthy branded
Honey Kiss Lip Balm. Jennifer makes this along with the other Don’t Bee
Filthy products; soap, lotion bar and bees’ wax candles. The
ingredients’ list is short; Almond Oil, Honey, and Cross Creek Beeswax.
I like that I’m not so going to ingest mineral oil, microcrystalline
wax and copernicia cerifera. Those things might not cause me harm, but
I am certain that almond oil, honey and beeswax won’t.
The only thing that really matters, I guess, is whether it works and it
does; at least as well as commercial varieties. I applied commercial
products about every 90 minutes of a recreational ride and Don’t Bee
Filthy lasts as long if not longer. Honey Kiss Lip Balm cost $3 and is
at least as valuable as a good pair of gloves.
Something that won’t improve your ride but is worth riding to the Haile
Village Farmers’ Market to acquire is KN Candied Jalapenos. Few things
do as good a job of turning mundane or boring into “damn, that was
good.” Combining hot and sweet isn’t unique, but blending the two
tastes so that neither overwhelms the other comes close to being an art
and Al, the man behind the product, does a good job of creating a
masterpiece of taste.
Al tells potential customers that his creation is “a lot like a bread
and butter pickle” and it is, with the addition of jalapeno heat.
Lovers of heat consume the jalapenos much like a pickle while others
use them as an addition to other things. My favorite use is as a finely
chopped addition to tuna, potato, chicken and egg salad. The sweet heat
amplifies the overall taste of each.
The single negative about KN Candied Jalapenos is that they are not
available every weekend as Al serves multiple locations. This is a
minor inconvenience since I visit The Village weekly and it might mean
you’d have to settle for fresh produce, coffee or some of the other
locally produce products.
I'm not a Vegan and I've never played one on TV, nor have I recently
stayed at a Holiday Inn Express.
When I visit the Haile Farmers' Market
I don't go with the intention of buying something from one of the
several vendors offering Vegan products. I have my favorites and
staples: Caprihaven Dairy Goats; Cypress Point Creamery; Tree City
Coffee; Firefly Farm and Cross Creek Honey. Additionally, there's
always a good chance that one of the local growers will have some
appealing produce which can include Southern Peas, Romanesco,
scallions, peppers, carrots and other things depending upon the season.
Recently I've added another favorite; Sweet
Thursdays Cafe, another cottage kitchen making something
worth getting.
Having something to add to a morning-break cup of coffee is pleasant
and biscotti are frequently the perfect thing. Christy the owner and
baker of Sweet Thurdays makes a damn good biscotto which is like a step
back to childhood when you dunked everything . . . well . . . I did!
This week I chose two 2 packs of her Double Chocolate. Last week it was
Cherry Chocolate. I have never cared much for hard bits of stuff in
dunkable confections, so nuts, typical to many commercial biscottis,
while acceptable, don't win full favor. I was pleased with Christy's
offerings.
Lest anyone question the relationship between Coffee and Bikes . . .
