10/22/2010
By: C. Kent, aka (Superman)



We did manage to get in a reasonable ride on Monday but by the afternoon it started to rain, and not some light drizzle but some serious hard rain. It didn’t quit Tuesday but they suggested it might let up by Wednesday. It didn’t let up Wednesday even if I managed to get in 15 miles by myself. It still rained off and on Thursday so I was looking forward to getting out and getting in a good ride today. When I got up to get the paper the streets looked wet but they looked like they were starting to dry out so I went back in and got my riding kit out so I would be ready to ride by 8:30.


I got to Burger King and Dura-max was waiting and Rocket was just riding down the street towards us. Double time pulled up and D’Artagnon and Gambler arrived a few minutes later. To my surprise Sea Lion rolled up just as we were getting ready to leave. At 9am we pulled out onto Gilmore and saw Shadow waiting for us on the other side of Florida. Once we picked him up we quickly ran down Acacia to Kirby and then turned towards Sanderson.

After we started down Sanderson heading to Domenigoni it seemed like we were full of energy from not riding much the week before. It was also good to see Shadow back with us for today’s ride. After changing the start time it was my hope he would be able make it so I was glad for the opportunity to ride with him today.

Double Time took us onto Domenigoni and we formed a pace line heading towards Warren road. We changed places a few times before Sea Lion decided he had tested his recover well enough and left us at Warren Road. As we drew closer to Winchester Gambler, D’Artagnon and Rocket picked up the pace and soon we were closing in on Domenigoni saddle. Rocket and Gambler kicked it up another notch and crested the saddle first. The rest of us joined then shortly and we got ready to head down the other side and head for Sun City.

Rocket decided not to burn anymore fuel so he turned off at Linderburger and left the rest of us to get to LaLadera by ourselves. We more or less regrouped as we rode passed the public park on LaLadera and made quick work of the street as we passed the owl habitat. Up to this point it had been rather cool but there was a complete cloud cover above us all the way. As we cruised past the ground owls it looked like there was just a hint of the sun breaking through the clouds and it might have been getting warmer. Not warm enough to take off arm warmers or leg warmers but warmer none the less.

Gambler and D’Artagnon pushed us over to McCall and then started up the hill in a rush. Shadow chased Gambler to the top where they waited for the rest of us. Once over the hill we soon found ourselves on Simpson and heading for Leon. As we approached the dump road Gambler and D’Artagnon picked up speed once again and it was all I could do to hang on as we topped t rise and made the sprint towards Winchester.

As I turned onto Winchester and headed for Chris’s Gambler, D’Artagnon and Dura-max turned the other way and headed for home. Double time, Shadow and I grabbed some coffee and talked about the pace we had been setting all the way to the rest stop. Double Time wanted to ride back down Simpson when we started home so we did. I got home after a great ride at a pace much faster than I had expected and another 39 miles to add to my yearly total. I will admit I am glad t be part of this group and to consider them as friends.