2/17/2012

By: C. Kent, aka (Superman)

Looking outside this morning was almost as if I had been asleep for the winter and woke up in the spring. The sky was clear and blue and it was warmer than it had been all week. It wasn’t yet toasty s I started out with a jacket and rode over to meet everyone at Burger King.

Highlander and Chinook were waiting for me when I pulled into the parking lot. Barracuda and D’Artagnon arrived next. Traveler and Rick showed up for the C ride. Dura Max and Ocelot got there just before Huntress and we were ready to go. We quickly made our way to Kirby and headed south.


We were supposed to make this an easy Friday ride and as we turned onto Cypress everyone we chatting easily and no one seemed to be pushing the pace. Highlander pulled up next to me and took us to Johnston and Sanderson. Once the light changed we all made a quick turn towards Stetson where I took over the pull and took us to Mustang and then Domenigoni.

Once I dropped off on Domenigoni Highlander took a turn and got us past Warren. I normally worry that Domenigoni will turn into a drag race and when D’Artagnon got up front that was the thought that ran through my head. But D’Artagnon kept us at an easy 21-24 MPH all the way to Winchester where we were joined by another strong rider I didn’t know. When we got to Leon we could just see Traveler heading up the saddle and the pace picked up a bit so I attached myself to D’Artagnon’s back wheel and cruised to the top with hardly any effort. Huntress attacked the hill for one of the best rides I have ever seen her do. We regrouped at the top till everyone arrived.

Highlander got out in front and dropped the hammer heading for Carl’s for a nature break. We were almost to Bradley before I caught up to his back wheel. D’Artagnon pulled past us and took us all the way to Carl’s. We took a break there before heading across Murrieta and up to La Ladera following Dura Max. Once we turned on La Ladera we more or less closed ranks and headed north to work our way to McCall.

As we moved North Huntress decided to pick it up and Highlander went with her. No one else gave chase till the last stretch between Cherry Hill and McCall. By the time we rounded the corner and headed east again we closed with the leaders and caught the light at Murrieta. Barracuda took over with D’Artagnon. We caught the last light past the freeway green and made a run at the McCall hill. I stayed with the two leaders for about half of the hill and shortly after I dropped off the back Chinook caught me. When I hit the spot where the hill tapers off Huntress made a charge at me but I was lucky enough to have too much of a lead for her to cover. We met up with Barracuda and D’Artagnon just before Heritage and once we got to Simpson Chinook took the lead for a pace line that lasted well past Leon where D’Artagnon took over followed by Barracuda and Highlander. The pace got a bit hectic just before Winchester but we all held together and made it to Chris’s for coffee and conversation.

We had time for one or two cups of coffee before we decided to head for home. We waited for D’Artagnon to finish a phone call while Highlander rode on to Stowe and waited for us. As soon as we rounded the corner we set a steady pace and headed for California.

As we turned one more towards Stetson Highlander and I got to the front and made the turn towards Warren Road. The weather at that point was close to perfect and finally Barracuda got in front and pulled us to the Airport Road where he continued on and we turned to work our way over to Sanderson. Somehow Highlander and I made it through the light at Sanderson and got a good lead on the remainder of the group. We turned onto Gilmore just before D’Artagnon and Huntress caught us. The three of us made it back to Burger King before leaving for our separate homes and lunch. I had 39 miles on the computer as I walked in my front door. There is a good reason we live in California and the weather is a big part of it.