4/09/2012

By: C. Kent, aka (Superman)


This week is shaping up as a strange weather week. So not knowing what kind of weather we would have for Wednesday or Friday I wanted to get in a good ride today. Lake Paris is always a favorite and it was going to be sunny and warm so I was looking forward to about 50 miles and fast paced ride. I pulled into the parking lot to see Coyote and Blood Hound talking. To our surprise Surgeon pulled up just as I did. Highlander and Tax Man were next and at first I thought that would be the whole group. But no sooner had that thought entered my head than Dura Max and Ocelot rode up. Eight of us rode down Gilmore to Acacia and made the turn onto Kirby.


I was a bit surprised at how quickly we were moving down Kirby knowing how long the ride would be. But shortly after snapping a picture Blood Hound pulled in front of me and took us past the railroad track and onto Cypress. We didn’t slow down much heading towards Johnston and like most days we caught the light red at Sanderson and waited till it turned green. Once it did we took off at a pretty good clip in order to catch the light green at Stetson and head past Wally World and south towards Domenigoni.

Once out onto Domenigoni and headed west I was impressed with the steady pace line we established. I got the lead and pulled the group past Warren Road and over the dry wash. I gave it over to Highlander and he took us towards Winchester. Blood Hound pulled away by himself and we decided to hold back and not give chase. Dura Max, Ocelot and Coyote took their turn and Coyote was pulling with Surgeon second as we hit the saddle. We regrouped at the Saddle and discussed the rest of the ride.

The next leg was a run down the Saddle to Lindenburger and over to Heritage and through the housing tract there till we made a quick turn on McCall and then the turn north on Menifee to ride up to the AM/PM and a quick refueling break. As soon as we could we were back on Menifee and I took a long pull all the way to Nuevo. We soft pedaled till everyone was back in line and then rode up to Evans and north again towards Ramona expressway.

Once we got ready to turn onto Ramona Dura Max and Ocelot told us they would not be going up to the lake and would be heading straight down Ramona towards home. We waved good-bye and headed towards the entrance to the park and the west end dam. I wasn’t as concerned with the climb today because my hand felt good enough to allow me to shift and I knew I would have more choices than I have had for the last two weeks. Highlander, Surgeon, Tax Man and I took the most direct to the Marina and Coyote and Blood Hound took the main road to the marina entrance. We took a break overlooking the lake before getting back on the bike trail and heading around the east end of the lake.

Once out onto Ramona Expressway we made a long hard run back to Sanderson. I caught Highlander and Tax man on the downhill coming out of Lake Paris and pulled all the way past Lakeview and the next stop light. Surgeon took the lead at that light and pulled for about two miles before I got back in front and got us back to Bridge before giving up the lead again. We got the light red at Warren and I got the lead back abd pulled us most of the way back to Sanderson. Highlander and Surgeon finished off the pull and once again we regrouped under the trees on Ramona before cutting the pace back a bit and heading for Lyon. We were on the last leg and heading for home as we past one street after the other heading back to Latham.

Blood Hound left us at Latham and the rest of us made the last right turn heading back to the Pep Boys driveway and the end of the ride at Burger King. Surgeon and Coyote still had enough energy for a final sprint but none of the rest of us felt the least bit like joining them. I talked with the group for a few minutes before heading for home myself where I had over 50 miles with a 17 MPH average. Not bad for an old guy with a sore hand.