2/8/2012
By: C. Kent, aka (Superman)


I was a little surprised when the rain missed us Tuesday. It was so late getting here I was afraid it would drizzle Wednesday morning. I got up and looked outside this morning and it was clear and beautiful. It was once again almost warm enough to go without a jacket but not quite. So I tossed on my kit and a windbreaker on and headed for Burger King. I got there to meet Highlander, Blood Hound and Wolf. D’Artagnon pulled up just before Dura Max and Raptor and we got ready to head for a short ride to Cactus Valley. Dura Max decided to join us


Because it was such a small group we took it pretty easy and got to Acacia and Kirby with hardly any effort. We pulled up to the light Kirby and didn’t trip the light so we say through two cycles before turning and running up Kirby to Cypress and the turn towards Johnston. The housing tract was quiet and peaceful as we moved west and the sky was pretty clear.

I fell into line and Blood Hound pulled us to Johnston and around the corner to Sanderson where we once again caught the light red. We didn’t have to wait long before we were headed south towards Stetson. We managed to make it past Stetson on the green but caught the light at Wally World. It was only a few seconds and we were on our way towards Mustang.

Blood Hound lead the way past Mustang and to the light at Domenigoni where we had a short wait before heading back east towards State Street. I got out in front and gently pulled all the way to the road leading to the Marina. I wasn’t setting any land speed records but I was feeling pretty good and felt like I was warming up just fine. After the past the Marina road I gave the lead to Blood Hound.

We made our way down to state Street and then headed south once more to run up to Cactus Valley. Dura Max was hanging with us quite well and I was surprised how strong he looked. In fact at time I thought he was riding stronger than me. He held right with us till we started the left hand climb to the golf course. I fell back and joined him as the rest of the group headed for Sage and the short climb. I believe he was about as fast as I was climbing the hill and I know he was as fast or faster moving down the road to regroup with everyone at the end of Cactus Valley.

We started back towards State Street and the fast downhill just before Sage. I tried to take it easy on the downhill so I wouldn’t just blow the stop sign at the bottom so I guess you can say it was one of the slower runs on that hill for me. It took me a minute to catch Dura Max and finally I got in front of him and pulled till we got back to McSweeney. Wolf and I followed Dura Max through the housing loop and met up with the rest of the group as we came back out onto State Street.

Once back out onto State Street I got a chance to pull and did so all the way to Domenigoni. We made the light there I stayed in front and slowly picked up speed. Highlander pulled up next to me to inform me he wasn’t going to challenge for the sprint and then fell back. No one else attacked so I pulled all the way to Chambers and then to Buena Vista before turning on Thornton towards Santa Fe.

We moved back out onto Stetson and started our way east towards Columbia. We were still running pretty light speed wise and it was getting warmer. At least time to remove any windbreakers we had and we caught both lights before Columbia green. I was pulling as we made the turn towards Crest and we worked our way through the old homes and horse ranches all the way to Lake. Highlander out sprinted me up the hill on Lake and most of the way back to Stetson.

We lost Blood Hound at Lake and Stetson and Wolf and I stayed with Dura Max as Highlander and D’Artagnon pulled away to Fairview. When I got to Fairview I forgot that we were heading to Wilson Mesa and turned the wrong way. Dura Max and I had to chase everyone else all the way to Wilson Mesa. Once we were all back together we started back down Fairview and D’Artagnon decided to make a speed run out or it right away. Wolf caught his back wheel and followed him all the way to Mulberry. I pulled Highlander and Dura Max some distance behind them until they got caught at the light on Florida. We made the turn west and stopped at Carl’s for coffee and conversation. D’Artagnon headed for home as we left Carl’s and the rest of us rode back to Burger King. I left wolf and Highlander as the loaded their car and rode home with 36 miles on the computer. Once again it is good to be a California boy.