4/2/2012

By: C. Kent, aka (Superman)


Today was going to be a day of change. At least I was looking forward to the change. The weather was supposed to get better. The distance was going to be a bit longer. I was feeling better than I had for the last two weeks. And it was the first ride of the month so I had a trophy to hand out. I left the house and headed for Burger King to see how the group would shape up and if it would indeed get warmer.

I got to the Parking lot happy to see Blood Hound there to ride with us after his hard crash last Friday. Highlander and Tax Man were already there and talking to Wolf while I noticed Pam was back to ride with us. Just as I was getting settled Rocket pulled up followed bay Gambler and lastly Bandit as we got ready to leave. After they were all ready I told them who the new trophy winner was and that he would be getting a new name. Because of his propensity for tricks I decided that Wolf should get the trophy for keeping us smiling and on our toes. Not only that he had been misidentified and henceforth is called Coyote. He may look like a wolf, he may be as fast as a wolf but he has the tricky nature of a Coyote. I explained that to the Navajo the Coyote is known as the trickster, with just a touch of mischief. With that we were all on our way to start the ride.


I pulled us to Acacia and Kirby and then started us towards Cypress. The pace was starting out just a bit quicker than it has been for quite a while but I chalk it to the warm sun. We crossed the railroad tracks and turned west on Cypress and Blood Hound got in front briefly as we got the Johnston. He let me take over as we headed south and then west again towards the airport. I got back in front as we past the airport and was in the number one slot as we closed in on Stetson.

We turned onto Stetson and started the run towards warren. I was feeling pretty good at this point and everyone else looked like they were hitting on all cylinders as we started to pick up speed and closing in on Warren. We paused at the stop sign and I stayed out front and kept us rolling along at a pretty good clip, or at least good enough that everyone was in a pace line behind me.

I stayed in front as we turned on California and started looking for a place to drop off of the front as soon as possible. The problem is most people don’t want to be in front once we get down California and sure aren’t looking forward to being the lead out rider once we are on Stowe. Blood Hound finally got out front and I started to fall back but before I could get to the back of the line Gambler and Bandit started to make the run at Winchester. For a split second I thought about letting all of them go but I got caught up in the moment and gave chase. I ran out of gas before the old steel barn and followed at least five of them to the parking lot for a regroup.

Highlander got antsy and decided to get us started down Winchester and I was the first to follow as he made his way towards the dump road. He let me get back in front as we turned once more west. We past the western bar and I started to fade a bit on the rise before Leon. Gambler came rolling by followed by Bandit. Thank goodness Bandit decided to slow down and pull and he gave me a break till first Rocket then Blood Hound came around. Rocket broke for home on Leon and I told Bandit that he should take off and give chase to Gambler. I took over pulling the rest of the group till Blood Hound pulled around again and chased Gambler and Bandit to Briggs. We didn’t quite catch them at Florida and Briggs and got stuck at the red while we watched then fade into the wind and uphill towards Mapes. When we turned on Mapes they were gone.

Pam was just hitting her stride as we turned towards Menifee. Highlander and I took the lead out and got everyone else down to the intersection and headed back towards Florida. Now the wind was at our back and we really were moving south and almost, but not quite, made the light at Florida. I was still in front as we got to McCall and for the first time since my accident started to attack the hill. I was doing pretty well till I tried to stand up and then my wrist informed me that I wasn’t all healed yet and sitting down was a better idea. But the Coyote can sense weakness and he jumped me and made it to the top first. We made it to the top and then dropped down to the gas station ob Bradley to Regroup before heading up to the end of the street and over to Cherry Hill.

We stayed together all the way back to Bradley and turned south once more towards Newport. Gambler, Bandit and Blood Hound pulled away but the rest of us caught them at Newport and then we headed back towards Antelope. Some of us got stuck at the light by the freeway on-ramp while Highlander and Blood Hound made it through. Gambler and bandit had to head for home while the rest of us stopped at Jack in the Box for coffee and conversation. Once back on the road we headed east towards the saddle in a light wind. After climbing the saddle I decided to stretch it out a bit and made a hard run towards Winchester. Blood Hound caught me about halfway between Leon and Winchester and we traded off leads till we got the light at Winchester. We finally made it through but by the time the rest of the group got there it was red again so Blood Hound and I stopped till the caught up. We all headed for Warren together.

We held together past Warren and I took the lead all the way back to Sanderson. We were now heading north on one of the final legs of what was turning out to be a great day all around. Pam was still with us and holding her own and Highlander wasn’t making a mad dash for home. We got back to Stetson and had to wait one again till it turned green. Once back on our way Blood Hound broke for home on Johnston and we made our way to Lowes and back onto Acacia. I took us back to Gilmore were we made the last turn for the parking lot.

I hope Pam decided to ride with us again Wednesday. Huntress can use the support after putting up with the rest of us without relief for all of these months. Anyway we talked for a few minutes before I headed home to end with 42 miles on the computer and a new admiration for the Tarmac.