The train from San Francisco to Denver, was likely some of the most beautiful country I've ever seen. A 9:10 am departure from Emeryville, CA, Fri. May 18; brought us along the bay area for the better part of an hour, and into an ascent up the Sierra Nevada Mountains. I've got a handful more pictures to put up of that climb, as well as descriptions of my two favorite people aboard the train, two elderly men, who worked for a local railroad museum near San Francisco, along for the ride, to teach passengers about the history of the transcontinental railroad. Likely the most enthusiastic and lively individuals regarding trains in the entire U.S., as well as the most competitive, which made for the most informative and entertaining ride over the mountains and down into Nevada, as they bickered about facts and landmarks like six year old geniuses, before detouring above and around the Rockies, due to construction on the mountain tracks. Briefly Wyoming, and we were southbound into Denver, CO from the northeast. Slightly ironic, yet good for spotting buffalo, arriving in Denver Saturday evening, just after 5 pm.
I was picked up by Tommy Thwaites of Coda Coffee, and driven to their roastery, just outside the city. Coda is a wholesale roaster, based in Denver, who has purchased coffee from Cuatro M, for four years now. They have been a big part of some of our community initiatives, donating much of their profits back to the communities that surround the farms where they purchase their coffee. They have named this project Farm 2 Cup and been active in visiting both the farm and local communities in not only El Salvador, but also Guatemala, and Honduras.
I spent most of the evening, touring their roastery, brewing a Kenyan coffee in the Trifecta, and discussing a range of things related to not only their end of the business, but also the growing end, where Coda has begun looking into the development of organic fertilizers; and have shipped some down to Finca El Manzano in El Salvador, where we've been observing the results.
We closed out the night in downtown Denver, touring the new kiosks and shops Coda has begun to open up throughout the downtown area. A new venture, but exciting to explore the possibilities within the cafe side of the industry. We eventually met up with Tim Thwaites at Mellow Mushroom. More awesome conversation commenced, along with laughter, which resulted in my eventual spraying of a mouthful of water all over both Tim and Tommy, (brothers by the way); not exactly the most charming gesture toward business partners, but none the less, an indication of how much I enjoyed the company and hospitality of these two guys.
Hope it wasn't the last time I'll get to laugh at these two guys stories. I love the work their doing in Denver, and in El Salvador, and only hope that we continue this relationship into the future.
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