By: C. Kent, aka (Superman) It was going to be a special day for more than one reason. First it was a birthday ride for Highlander. Second it was a training ride for new riders planning on attending the Century ride in La Quinta. I honestly didn’t know how many riders would show up but we had a 75 mile ride planned and I felt up for it. We were starting at 8:30am but for some reason I was up before the alarm this morning. I ate breakfast early, shaved dressed and headed to Burger King for coffee. Digger and I were having coffee when Dura Max stopped by on his way to meet up with T-3 for a separate ride. Highlander and Bloodhound were there as was Quicksilver. Gambler, D’Artagnon, Bulldozer and MacGyver also showed up. Huntress got there just in time to see Highlander give Quicksilver the trophy for the month. As soon as the award was made we headed for Latham and then to Lyon to start our long trek.

We really had two groups today with a strong A group and an eager B group. Highlander wanted to change the route a bit to save his energy for the distance and Quicksilver was chomping at the bit to hit the hills. So there was a compromise and some of us would hit the climbs and some would take the bypass and meet on the other side of the hills. As we were negotiating how this would work Bloodhound moved us down Lyon to Ramona and headed us west towards Sanderson.

After we reached Sanderson and the Expressway I expected the pace to pick up but I was determined to keep the pace reasonable enough so the new riders could finish with a reasonable amount of energy left. I shouted at Gambler and the A group as they passed and said some of us would be riding around Lake Perris and some would ride by the lake on Ramona. They pulled away for us and soon I found myself pulling the B group all the way to the climb the turn on Barnesconi where Highlander and Digger stayed on Ramona. After Quicksilver and I made it around the lake and headed back towards Ramona we were met by Highlander and Digger only to discover we had missed the A group at the Marina. No matter, I knew they would catch us before Goetz.

Highlander talked us into taking Perris Boulevard and so we headed west on Ramona and made the turn South. We didn’t make it all the way to the City Hall however because they are still working on Perris and re had to detour to Redlands and head south again. We stopped at a gas station for a nature call and while we were waiting the A group rode by heading back to Perris Boulevard. We left the station and got to Case and then tp Goetz to see the A group moving off into the distance. We found out they had picked up Coyote in Nuevo and he fell back to us as we moved towards the Goetz climb.

Highlander and Digger made the turn at the light on Ethanac and I noticed D’Artagnon turned around and went with them. Quicksilver and Coyote stayed with me as we attacked the Backside of Goetz and planned to regroup on Newport once we made it over the hill. I felt pretty good on the climb and somehow got to Newport first. Coyote brought everyone that was left over to me and we headed east for a regroup at Jack in the Box on Antelope.

It didn’t take us long toget past Bradley and then Haun and finally over the freeway to Antelope. I got a text saying the A group was heading for home. We took another nature break at Jack in the Box and then headed south on Antelope. We ran right into a head wind and I ended up pulling us to Scott where we stopped for a bit to eat. When we headed out again the wind hadn’t improved much so I just put my head down and pulled us to the hospital and then over to Whitewood. We stayed together as we dropped down to Murrieta Hot Springs. It was then just an easy run to Winchester and then back up to Benton to rehydrate. After a quick stop we were back on the road heading for Max Gillis.

We had been told the Leon was open so we headed west to Leon and then back north towards the construction zone and then Scott road. Once we got past the construction zone Quicksilver started to pick up the pace and soon we had dropped Digger, and at first I thought she was going to drop me. But as luck would have it I stayed with her till we got to Scott. Highlander went by us to wait at the top of the rise and we collected digger and caught up with him before we continued on to Menifee and headed north. It only took a few minutes before we crossed Garboni and dropped down the hill before Holland.

I pulled away on the downhill do to my new and improved aero designed body, or weight one of the two but Highlander caught me before I got to Newport and we headed for Lindenburger. Quicksilver and Digger caught up with us as we made the turn toward Simpson and once again I pulled us east towards Leon and our last coffee stop. Just before we got to Winchester I checked with Highlander to see how close we were to his age and discovered we had two miles to go, just enough to get us to Stowe.

So we moved onto Winchester and finally got the wind to our back so we could easily make it to Winchester Market and have a chance to relive the past 72 miles and allow our bodies a chance to recover before getting back on the road. And once back on the road Highlander’s odometer rolled onto his age and all of the miles back to the parking lot would be a bonus.

We managed to get over to California and headed for Stetson. I once again pulled to Stetson and then stayed with Highlander all the way to Warren. I kept waiting for Highlander so go into his heading for the barn mode and was determined to stay with him. We all got back to the cars where we said our farewells and Digger headed for home. I followed a few minutes later headed for my home and got there with 83 miles on the computer. I felt good right up till I had a shower and lunch. After lunch it was all I could do to stay awake.