By: C. Kent, aka (Superman) Thanksgiving has two distinct purposes. It gives us time to be grateful for all we have and it gives us an excuse to eat like Roman aristocrats and wallow around the TV set like Lions after a kill. So when the route for Friday was planned it had to be planned on Monday or we might have ended up just riding to Starbucks for coffee and then go home. As it was we had a 42 mile trip to Elsinore in the works and I knew I needed every one of those miles to burn off the turkey and stuffing I had Thursday. I was a little slow getting out of bed but once I had breakfast and shaved I felt better. I put on my kit and headed to the parking lot to find out how many others wanted to get a ride in on a beautiful day. I got all the way to Lyon and Florida when I realize I forgot my camera so went back to get it and got back to Burger King about 8:45. Digger, Highlander, Dragon Slayer and Metric Man were already there and RCMP rode up a few minutes after me. Socrates joined us about the same time as Rocky. We were joined by a new rider from out of town named Lin. By 9am we were ready to leave and we saw Papillion waiting at Gilmore and Florida as we pulled out of the parking lot. We crossed the street and headed for Acacia.

We moved west towards Kirby and I started the pull after the light south towards Cypress. It was good to see Metric Man back with us and riding strong after recovering from his accident. We made the turn on Cypress and headed west towards Johnston and again to Sanderson and the stop light there. By the time the light changed and we headed south on Sanderson Dragon Slayer was on my wheel and we were headed for Stetson.

When we finally crossed the light at Stetson Dragon Slayer and I set our sights on Mustang and the segment to Domenigoni. It looked like we were going to catch the light green and I got ready to jump on it just as the light turned red thwarting any plans on the segment. Dragon Slayer did pull us to Domenigoni and got us started west. We took turns pulling to Warren and over the dry wash to Winchester. I found myself in third after Winchester and at Leon Metric Man took the lead, making him the sacrificial lamb heading for the Saddle sprint. After getting us to the bottom of the Saddle I stuck my wheel out to the right expecting Dragon Slayer to mount a attack on the hill. I moved into a sprint and caught Dragon Slayer off guard but not RCMP. I only got to the top first because RCMP came from too far back to get me at the fence. I would come to regret this sprint later in the ride.

We regrouped and got ready to drop off of the saddle to head for Carl’s and a nature break. The front four from left to right were Papillion, RCMP, Dragon slayer and Metric Man. The back five from left to right were Rocky, Digger, Highlander, Lin and Socrates. We dropped off the saddle together and headed for Menifee. Once past that light we made our way to Antelope and over the freeway.

I ended up chasing Dragon Slayer all the way to Carl’s and into the parking lot. After a short break we got back on the road and headed for Railroad canyon. I led us past Murrieta and Metric Man informed me that he would be turning around before Rairoad canyon and heading for home. As we got past Berea Metric Man took off heading for Goetz while the rest of us jockeyed for position before the first climb through the canyon. Picture 36

We took off on the first hill and I got a reasonable jump but ran out of sprint and was caught by RCMP and Papillion. I almost caught them at the next light but we ended up having to stop and everyone caught us. We took off again and I got out front again only to be run down by RCMP and Papillion again before topping the last roller before the drop into Elsinore. RCMP and Papillion turned for home at the light just before the freeway and Dragon Slayer past me and led us to Mickey Ds for coffee and a break. Once back on the road and heading east Highlander took the lead and pulled us to the first climb. After the climb started Dragon Slayer Pulled by Highlander and I took off and tried to gap the both of them. I got away and made it over the climb but caught the light at Stater Brothers red. Still I was leading after the light and made it up the next climb in the lead. I got that light red as well and Dragon Slayer finally caught me just before we dropped down the hill towards Goetz. I finally caught Dragon Slayer just past Goetz and we rode together to Murrieta and waited for another regroup. We decided to try and keep the group together as we headed back to the freeway and then towards the saddle again.

We held together pretty well and only had to modify our pace once or twice as we rode over the saddle and past Winchester. We took turns again rolling over the dry wash and then past Warren. I got the lead back and took us all the way to Sanderson and north. Dragon Slayer, Socrates and I were going to stop at Healthy Pub and the rest of the group was headed for home. When the three of us pulled into the pub we all had a healthy shake before getting back on the road and heading for home. I got home with 50m miles on the computer after leaving Socrates at Palm and Acacia. I am pretty sure I burned at least the turkey and most of the stuffing off in that 50 miles.