7/13/2011
By: C. Kent, aka (Superman)


I was looking forward to today’s ride because it is long and interesting. It was a bonus that it had cooled off from last week and another bonus that it didn’t drizzle or get foggy like they predicted. All it would take to make it a great day was for us to have a good turnout. When I got to the parking lot Dura-max and Surgeon were already there and several others showed up only moments later. By 8:00 am we had 13 ready to go and we picked up T-3 on our way down Gilmore.


We made the turn onto Acacia and quickly made our way to Kirby but caught the light red and had to wait till it turned green. We rode south on Kirby and turned on Cypress to work our way over to Johnston and finally stopped at the light at Sanderson. While we were sitting there a blimp flew by and just seemed to float in the air as we turned onto Sanderson and headed for Domenigoni.

We started out on Domenigoni at a pretty moderate pace but soon the group broke in two. Rocket, Cossack, Blood hound took off followed by RCMP, Jack Rabbit and Shadow. The rest of us took turns pulling till we caught them pulled to the side but in control of whatever made them stop. We continued on with the other 9 riders and made to the top of the saddle for a regroup before heading down the back side of the saddle towards Murrieta and our next break.

We lost Tax man at Lindenburger and the rest of us tried to stay in sight of the lead group as we slowly came up to Antelope. The lead group caught the light at Antelope red and we were able to all pull up with them before it turned green. Highlander and RCMP lead us over the freeway and the rest of us followed them down towards Haun.

Once we took a nature break at the Carl’s on Newport and Murrieta we moved on to attack Railroad Canyon. Once again we were spread out in a long line with the best riders in front and the rest of us following as best as we could. We did stop to regroup at Micky D’s and then headed south on Mission Trail for the south end of Lake Elsinore.

Everyone seemed content to follow me down Mission Trail but I am not so sure they enjoyed the pace as much as having someone lead them to the next turn. After all some of us have only been around the Lake once or twice and not many have the streets memorized. Still they stayed close as we turned onto Corydon and started back west to get up to Grand and the back side of the lake. I was pretty sure from all the noise coming from back in the pack that we would split again once we were on Grand and heading north.

Just as I had suspected we broke up into close to the same groups as we had on Domenigoni and moved quickly north towards Ortega Highway and the north side of the lake. Once on Lakeshore drive the following group tried to regroup and we ended up finding the A riders at the AM/PM on Main. By the time we pulled up the A riders were rested and ready to go. Cossack was showing off his perfect form just as I pulled up.

Still everyone was willing to hang around for a while and talk before deciding to get back on the road. Cossack had an appointment but still waited till we were all back outside of the store and everyone had a chance to say hello before Shadow, RCMP, Rocket and Cossack took off and headed back to Elsinore.

A few minutes later the rest of us headed in the same direction and enjoyed riding by the lake and through downtown Elsinore before getting back to Railroad Canyon. Once in the Canyon Surgeon, Bloodhound and Jack Rabbit hit the hill hard and none of the rest of us caught them till we got to Murrieta where they were waiting for us. They pulled away again after we passed Antelope and we had to chase hard to even get close to them by the saddle. Once over the saddle Bloodhound and Surgeon pulled away and Spartacus took over the pull till we got back to Winchester.

By Warren we saw Full Throttle and Dart break off for home after we stopped to transfer some extra water to Dura-max. T-3 continued on and we gave chase as she got close to Sanderson. But close only counts in dancing and hand-grenades and she rounder the corner at Sanderson on a green light and we caught it red. She was far too far away to catch before we got to Stetson so in effect we were dropped and she was looking pretty strong. Dura-max, Highlander, Spartacus and I hurried on to Lowes and then to Acacia before making the last turn onto Gilmore.

The ride was just about everything I had wished for. It was well attended, good weather and everyone seemed to have a good time. I know it was just shy of 60 miles from Burger King and back but it was 63 by the time I got home. Yes it was a great ride and yes we will have to do it more often.