By: C. Kent, aka (Superman) The weather wizards once again kept changing their minds and indicated there was only a ten percent chance of rain. That was what they said the Friday we were pounded with rain on. Worse yet it was going to be cold, not freezing but cold. The made some vague references to wind but nothing I was willing to hang my hat on so I modified the ride and posted a flat ride with plenty of break off points. Satisfied that at the first hint of rain we could bail out and head for home I headed for Burger King and coffee with Digger. It was cold but I have been out when it was colder so other than a base layer and a wind vest I was good to go as I headed to the parking lot. It was warmer than I expected but I wasn’t ready to shed the vest just yet. Dragon Slayer and Bloodhound were waiting with Digger as I got there and soon Highlander was there as well. Gambler and Tate arrived and I thought that was going to be the whole group. But I got a text from Isaac, (Mantis) saying he was two minutes out. As we waited Huntress arrived and we waited till Mantis pulled up before heading down Gilmore and onto Acacia to make it to Kirby to head south. It was just a hop skip and a jump to Cypress and we were on our way west to Johnston.

Once again Bloodhound was leading us as we got to Johnston and Sanderson and he dropped us down to Wentworth to head west once more. I was a little worried that he might set the pace too fast for this early in the ride because that sometimes happens when I put a simple ride together wishing for an easy day. But he kept things in check and got us past the airport and back out onto Stetson. We made good time heading to Warren and heading to California.

Bloodhound let me pull to Stowe and I started us towards Winchester when Dragon Slayer pulled by me and started to pick up the pace. Gambler came by and I grabbed a wheel and followed him more than halfway to the old tin barn. I took a turn and pulled to the barn and Bloodhound finished it off by taking us to the parking lot for a regroup.

Once we were back on the road we headed for the dump road and west again. We were all together till we got past the houses on the right side of the road and then we separated into groups. Digger and I rode sweep but we caught everyone no Briggs and Florida waiting for the light. Somehow only Huntress, Digger and I made it before the light changed and we got away and made it to Mapes before the rest of the group caught us. Huntress and I made it over to Menifee and I pulled the group down to the AM/PM where Highlander was waiting for us. I guess he must have turned before Mapes. Once we were all back together we headed south on Menifee all the way to Simpson and then ontoLindenburger to Domenigoni.

Once heading east we headed for the back side of the Saddle and I waited at the top for the stragglers, some got caught at the light. Digger, Tate, and I chased Highlander, Dragon Slayer and Huntress to Winchester and then we rode as a group all the way to the dry wash well behind Mantis, Bloodhound, and Gambler. Before we crossed the dry wash overpass a lone rider that had been going west past us without saying a word. I tried to get Dragon Slayer to lead me out to give chase and by the time we were at Warren I was on the guy like white on rice. I stayed on him and then rode by him saying hello as I headed for Sanderson and waited for my group so we could rejoin Gambler and his group at Searl. From there we went to State street and north to work our way to Thornton and finally to Stetson.

Some of the group wanted to ride up to Ramona Bowl so I had Bloodhound lead them up to the bowl and back down to Crest. Digger and I met them at Columbia and Crest and all of us worked our way back to Lake and Stetson. Gambler broke for home and Bloodhound took off for Fairview where I expected Huntress and Highlander to be waiting. No one was waiting at Fairview so I pulled Mantis, Tate and Digger up to Florida and finally to Carl’s Jr for coffee.

Bloodhound left first and we followed a few minutes later by going up to Lincoln and heading west ourselves. Huntress turned off first and Highlander started to pull away before we got to park. We closed a bit as Dragon Slayer joined him and lost Tate next. We caught them at San Jacinto and stayed together till Palm where Digger and I turned leaving Dragon Slayer, Highlander and Mantis to make it back to Burger King on their own. I got home with 47 miles on the computer and a need for a hot shower and lunch. It never got real warm but it was a great day for a ride.