5/6/2011
By: C. Kent, aka (Superman)



Much like the Phil Collins song it was just another day in paradise when I looked outside to get ready for our Friday ride today. I must have been over eager to get started because I got the Burger King right after Blood Hound and we were the only ones standing there for quite a while. I was relieved when Surgeon and Highlander pulled up to join us. Dura-max and Ocelot pulled up next followed by Rocket, T-3 and Gambler. I was surprised to see RCMP roll up to join us. Raptor came by in case we had any fun riders that needed a leader and other than visiting with Barracuda and Sea

As always the ride down Gilmore and Acacia are times spent warming up and in conversation. We have a running joke that even if I post an easy ride for Friday it often turns into a drag race. My plan to avoid that was to let the A group go once they hit Domenigoni. From what I can tell we were divided more or less right down the middle with about the number in both the A and B group. I was thinking about that as we turned off of Kirby onto Cypress and headed towards Johnston.

The pace started to pick up early as we rode down Sanderson and the A group started to line up behind me as we got close to Mustang. Blood Hound and Rocket passed me and Gambler, RCMP and Surgeon were right behind them. That left me with Highlander, Dura-Max, T-3 and Ocelot making up the B group.

Once we headed west on Domenigoni the two groups started to pull apart with the A group fading into the distance. The B group wasn’t as tightly packed in a pace line so we spread out quite a bit. Finally T-3 closed on Highlander and I with Dura-max and Ocelot closing as we got to Warren. As the light changed Dura-max and Ocelot rolled past us like a small freight train. If it weren’t for the light at Winchester we might not have caught up with them till the top of the saddle. As it was we all regrouped at the saddle and then headed for LaLadera where we regrouped once more.

We left the park at LaLadera and headed north towards the Ground Owl area at a far more relaxed pace than most Fridays. I found myself riding with RCMP and Gambler as we made the turn back east with Surgeon and Blood Hound leading the group.


As we moved back out onto McCall I got a call from Quick Sticks saying he had climbed Antelope and would be waiting for us at the top of McCall. Highlander, T-3, Gambler and I followed Surgeon back towards Bradley and over the freeway before beginning the climb up past the Hospital on McCall. To my surprise we not only regrouped but met Shadow and Quick Sticks at the top of the hill as well. After a quick regroup we headed down McCall towards Heritage and towards Lindenburger.

We stayed together for a short distance before the A group once again decided to pick up the pace. Shadow and Quick Sticks decided to go with them and pulled away as well. The five original B group riders stayed together and managed to form a pretty good pace line that followed fairly close behind all the way to Simpson.

Once we turned onto Simpson the A group decided to make a run for Winchester before heading north towards Stowe. As the B headed towards Winchester we took turns pulling till at last we too headed north towards Stowe to make the turn east to California. Our plan was to meet with the A group at Hanger 1 for coffee before heading home after a great ride.

Highlander and T-3 decided not to stop and Quick Sticks had to return home before we got there. The rest of us took a well deserved break for coffee and in Surgeons case a piece of pie. After a few minutes it was time to head back to Burger King and home. I left the main group to follow Blood Hound down Johnston and east towards home. My computer showed just over 37 miles as I pulled up to my house. Yes it was just another day in Paradise.