By: C. Kent, aka (Superman) It was another good looking morning as I looked out onto the street first thing this morning. I had slept well, had a good breakfast and got ready to ride to the parking lot for a shorter ride because of the predicted heat. I was really looking forward to seeing Quicksilver after she had missed a week and wondered how many others would show up for a short flat ride. I got to the parking lot first and got a cup of coffee before Digger and Highlander arrived. They were soon followed by Minotaur and Surgeon. We visited for a while before Gambler and Bulldozer rode up followed by Quicksilver and Dragon Slayer. Not a big group but it was an energetic one. We left the parking lot and headed over to Lyon on Latham to start the day. It didn’t take long before we were across Florida and then Acacia headed for Johnston.

I knew this was going to be a good day because I was willing to pull all the way down Lyon past Whittier without anyone pushing me to go faster. Digger and Highlander stayed right with me as we headed for Johnston and everyone was there as we caught the light red at Stetson. When the light changed I was surprised to see Digger jump out to a lead and pull us all the way to Thornton for the turn east. He was surprised as well and gave the lead back to me as we moved towards State for the turn south.

Once we were on State I pulled us to Chambers before Dragon Slayer took over and got us to Domenigoni. As the pace picked up Gambler moved forward and pulled us to Sanderson and through a green light heading towards Warren. We reshuffled a bit and Dragon Slayer pulled onto Gambler’s back wheel with me in third and Highlander on my wheel. Gambler got us to the dry wash and I pulled by to take us most of the way to Winchester. Surgeon Pulled into second at Winchester behind Gambler and I took up residence at third with Highlander and Dragon Slayer behind me. We moved around a bit but by Leon it was just Gambler, me and Dragon Slayer moving like a real team. At the bottom of the Saddle I thought Gambler gave the sign to ride by and as I did Dragon Slayer came with me. Turns out Gamble was saying he was through and Dragon Slayer beat me to the top of the saddle where we stopped to regroup and wait for stragglers.

It turned out that Quicksilver had Bonked and had to be escorted to the saddle by Bulldozer and Minotaur. After talking with quicksilver it was decided she was going to break off and head for home. Highlander decided to go with her leaving the rest of us to drop off of the saddle and past Lindenburger to turn into the housing tract and start our run to Briggs and south.

I started us off south and pulled past the RV park and all the way to Holland where Dragon Slayer pulled by shortly before Minotaur took off on us. Dragon Slayer closed on Minotaur’s wheel and I played trailer as we moved towards the rise. Once Minotaur shifted Dragon Slayer pulled by and once again I was his shadow. Once Dragon Slayer shifted I went by and took off for Garboni. I was about halfway up the rise before I noticed Gambler and Bulldozer chasing me and was caught right at the corner as we turned west on Garboni. As I followed Gambler and Bulldozer towards Menifee I noticed Dragon Slayer closing so I made another run for it over the rise and to the regroup point just past Menifee. Dragon Slayer took us to Antelope after the regroup and we turn north towards Newport looking for MacGyver.

We never did find MacGyver and I rounder the corner onto Newport first and headed back to Menifee. I managed to get to the turn on Menifee first only to see Minotaur, Gambler and Bulldozer head straight for the saddle and home. Surgeon, Digger, Dragon slayer and I headed north to Simpson and made the turn east towards Leon. We worked well taking turns pulling past Leon and then all the way to Winchester where we stopped to refill the water bottles before heading off to Stowe for the run home.

As we headed east Dragon Slayer took us to California and I got us to Stetson before Dragon slayer took over again and got us to Warren where Surgeon left us and we waited for Digger. While we were waiting Papillion pulled up after dropping his car off at the Honda dealer. We asked him if he wanted to join us for coffee at Starbucks and headed for Sanderson rather than take the airport road. We turned north on Sanderson and made it to Lowes to take the short cut to Acacia.

Once heading east on Acacia Dragon Slayer dropped the hammer to keep his average speed up and headed for his truck while Papillion and I went to Starbucks. We all met a few minutes later and had some iced tea before heading for home and the end of a good week of cycling.