By: C. Kent, aka (Superman) Even on Thanksgiving week the question is not if we will ride but rather how many will ride and how far. Today broke looking almost perfect. Cool but not so cool as to keed a jacket. And it was clear for a ride to Lake Perris and back. I got dressed and had breakfast and headed for the parking lot to find out who was still in town and would be joining me for the days ride. Digger was already there while I arrived and Highlander pulled into the parking lot right after me. Art and Rocky got there at the same time as did Closer and Jackal. It wasn’t a large group but it was about perfect for the ride we had planned for today. At 9am we headed out onto Latham and north on Lyon to get the ride started.

I had the privilege of pulling as we headed north and past one street and stop sign after another till we caught the light red at Esplanade. For some reason my breakfast wasn’t sticking with me and I was more than tired as we started off again. Still I had the lead as we headed for Ramona and made the turn west. As e looked towards Sanderson we noticed two riders in front of us. I picked up the pace a bit and our pace line reeled them in only to discover that it was Updraft and Shockwave heading for Beaumont. We chatted briefly before turning onto Sanderson and waiting at the expressway to head west again.

I got us started heading to Warren but before we got there Art took the lead and picked up the pace. By the time we got to bridge the pace line was stretched pretty tight so I pulled the group over to reorganize and get back on the road. When we started back west I kept the pace down till Art once again took over and we slowly picked things up till we got to Hansen and cut over to the Valero station to regroup. As soon as everyone was back together we were back on the road and headed for the climb to Barnesconi and the back gate into Lake Perris.

I couldn’t figure how to get out of the lead heading to the first roller before Barnesconi and I was a sitting duck for Art and then Jackal. But Jackal missed Art’s break and had to react to my attempt to pull art back in. I closed a bit and because I was closing on Art Jackal was not closing on me. I got to Barnesconi right behind Art and past him when he paused to make sure he had the right turn. He caught me and I chased him to the closed back gate into Lake Perris. Jackal never caught me but I was in need of some Benadryl from sucking in pollen on the climb. Once we were on the bike path we backed it down while I suffered a coughing fit and we headed for the north side of the lake and the Marina.

As we stopped to refresh ourselves at the Marina we met and talked to another cyclist from that area who was out riding the trails around the lake. We hydrated a bit and added some fuel to our system before heading back out onto the park road and headed for the south west gate leaving the park. Jackal started feeling frisky and ran things pretty hard to the light on Ramona. We waited at the light and slowly made our way east. I have to wonder why we can ride all the way to Lake Perris with the wind in our face only to turn back to Hemet with the wind in our face. And now the wind was much stronger. We were willing to keep the pace down till Jackal started to make a run at the hill just past Rider. Art was leading and I was in third. When Jackal got up and went around Art I got up to come around him. He wasn’t paying much attention and came out on me forcing me out int the right lane. I fell off and followed Jackal and Art to Lakeview where we stopped once more to organize the last long ride for home.

I followed Jackal and Art as far as the Nutrilite warehouse and noticed the Rocky, Closer and Digger had been dropped. I fell back to pick them up and Highlander came back with me. Closer decided to ride at his own pace so Rocky, Highlander and I took turns pulling all the way to Sanderson where we found Jackal waiting. Art was gone so we turned onto Sanderson and made a run for Devonshire. Digger cut over to Lyon and headed for home. I lulled to Cottonwood and we all took turns pulling to Devonshire before heading back to the parking lot. Once I knew everyone was safe I headed for home and the Benadryl I was in need of earlier. You know what happens when you take two Benadryl right after lunch? Yes I took a nap right in my easy chair.