Don Senneville and Jim White
We thought it was time to visit Bartlett Lake after the horrendous lightning-caused wildfire back in August. We got our coffees to-go (old standbys: Macchiato and Americano with cold half ‘n’ half) and took the drive, the road open after the long closure. We stopped at the Cave Creek Ranger Station to say hello to Ranger Rita. The station wasn’t open yet. (It wasn’t open on the way back, either.) We kept going. The scene, mostly on the west side of the road – for miles – was one of devastation. It rendered us speechless for a while. But that never lasts long. We were looking forward to a visit with Alabama, the person who runs the Bartlett Lake Marina Store.
Sure enough, there was Alabama from Louisiana who’s been to Talladega and Sugar Beach on the Redneck Riviera (EVERYBODY calls it that, one of the most beautiful stretches of white sand beach anywhere!), and now she presides over Bartlett Lake. We first met Alabama months before the big fires. We all bonded over Southern accents and bait. Above the register a sign read “No Fishing with Live Bait”. Pretty close to that sign was a fish tank full of live minnows! Curious, we asked why the minnows? As she began to tell us the names of each minnow, we realized, oops, not bait, but pets who create fertilizer for her plants. Beyond befriending minnows, Alabama has meticulously organized the Store to easily see each individual item, like one or two of everything. Her enthusiasm and pride in her job is contagious. Over the cash register, there is a 3X4 foot portrait of the founders of Bartlett Lake. It shows the founders, Bryan and Eric Church, along with the 90-something year-old lady founder, Sarah Church, who reads and laughs at The CUP! We placed a few current issues of the Sonoran News in the paper stand, which still contained last May’s issues of something. Which brings us back to the fires.
Alabama was evacuated twice! She took the minnows with her. She speaks as if the fires were apocalyptic, which they were in scope, for sure. The desert was scorched, but still beautiful in the morning sun. Stunning landscape on the way home, and our coffees were still warm when we left beautiful Bartlett Lake, which now has an espresso machine.
Speaking of espresso machines. Our friend Ron, the “Karefree King of Koffee”, uses his Breville machine as a brush and his coffee cup as a canvas. Every day Ron creates a new “cup” using several bizarre tools, then photographs the top and posts to Instagram. (neurocyants on Instagram) We have been studying the last two years’ worth of his work, 604 images, and we are flabbergasted! One of our favorites is the Eiffel Tower. Ron has also shared this talent with local baristas and interested coffee nuts by offering workshops and demonstrations of this unique art form. Try ordering one of his coffees at Starbucks! Like a macchiato, light foam, and a picture of the Mona Lisa on top. Don thinks it would be a sacrilege to drink one. We are hoping to include a picture of one of Ron’s creations in each issue of The CUP. Our lawyers will get back to us. What kind of person does this sort of thing? Ask Ron, we know he hangs out at the Holland Center with his wife and occasionally frequents the Organic Bread Bakery and Cafe next door. BTW, the Cafe’s owner, Iwona does it all. Check the menu. Good coffee too! Send us your thoughts to Don and Jim at The CUP, [email protected].
