By: C. Kent, aka (Superman) To tell truth I didn’t expect to ride at all today. After I went to bed last night it rained hard and was still raining till early morning. The sky didn’t start to clear till after 7am and I got a text from Digger saying he would meet me at the parking lot. I quickly got dressed and headed to meet Digger and see if anyone else was riding. As we had to both of our surprises Highlander showed up. I knew he had asked for the ride but normally he is somewhat reticent to ridt the when the streets are damp. MacGyver rode up with Rooster and last but not least Jackal drove up. Just six of us but it was going to be a long ride and we could only hope we beat the rain. We finally pulled out onto Gilmore to Acacia and then to Kirby to get the ride started.

MacGyver and I decided to do most of the pulling for the day in the hope of making the ride as easy as possible. We chatted easily as we turned on Cypress and headed towards Johnston. We started to catch the lights red as we stopped on Sanderson. We headed south towards Stetson and soon we headed past Wally World. I pulled to Mustang and MacGyver took over when we got onto Domenigoni. We held a steady 18 to 20 all the way to Warren and headed for the dry wash. As we crested the overpass Digger fell off of the back while I followed MacGyver towards Winchester. I looked back and noticed Digger falling back so I went back to get him as Highlander, Jackal and Rooster faded into the distance behind MacGyver. Soon they were out of site and Digger and I could no longer see them when we got to Winchester. We got to the Saddle for a regroup a few minutes after the main group and had a snack.

When we started down the back side of the saddle Highlander informed us we needed to stop at Carl’s for a nature break and the small store at the Chevron for Highlander’s food. Jackal needed some vitamin I for some leg pain and we waited for Highlander to come out of the store before heading out onto Murrieta and over to Newport to head west. Digger started early so we knew we would be chasing him all the way through Railroad Canyon. Before we got to Goetz Jackal told me he wanted to stop to help Rooster with a flat tire and Highlander told me he would meet MacGyver and I at the end of the Canyon where we expected to find Digger.

MacGyver pulled me all the way up the rollers and over to the big downhill. We dropped down to the Mickey D’s and found Digger waiting for us. A few minutes after we stopped Highlander arrived and I planned to wait for Rooster and Jackal. Highlander was pretty sure they had turned around and we were about to leave when they both showed up.

I pulled us down to Corydon and made the turn west to get to the back side of Lake Elsinore and head north. I took turns pulling with MacGyver and we kept the pace steady at between 18 and 20 mph with everyone following till digger fell off. We were still together till we had to stop when I sounded like and got a flat going over a pot hole. I don’t know about the noise we heard but my tire was fine and we continued heading into a slight side wind all the way to where the Ortega highway spills out into Elsinore. Rooster had passed us and picked the pace up slightly and Highlander fell back with Jackal and MacGyver and I chased Rooster east towards Lake. Finally we got a tail wind and all I could think about was fish Tacos at the place Huntress and I had found the last time we made this ride. MacGyver, Rooster and Jackal went all the way to Jack in the Box while I turned onto the north side of the street. I waved at them and MacGyver waved back but headed for home. Jackal came over to see me and I tried to wave Highlander down but he continued on to Jack in the Box. Rooster had gone with MacGyver but came back with a flat tire. Jackal saw Highlander leave and head east and chased him down only to find he was heading for home as well. I did manage to wave down Digger when he got to us and the three of us had fish tacos and changed Roosters tire, three times. After we finished lunch we headed back out to Lake Drive and headed towards Downtown Elsinore. We got back to Railroad Canyon and headed for Murrieta giving Digger a bit of a head start. We caught him just after the downhill after the fire station and I had to stop for some Tums at Murrieta to take the Salsa that seemed to be stuck in my chest. We then headed back to Haun and over the freeway to Antelope.

I had pulled pretty much all the way only stopping now and then to collect Digger when he fell back. We headed back to Menifee and started towards the Saddle again. Jackal wanted to attack the climb segment and needed a lead out. I got him half way up the hill and then fell back to pull Digger back to Jackal and Rooster and we all four rolled by Leon together. It didn’t take us long to get to Winchester and continue towards the dry wash with me pulling. I got us over the dry wash and to Warren and was feeling stronger than when I started in the morning. The only problem was it was looking a bit like it wanted to rain. I got us to the light on Sanderson and pointed us towards Stetson. Once we got to Stetson Rooster left us and I continued to lead us back to Lowes.

We moved around the back side of Lowes and out onto Acacia to head towards Kirby. The three of us rode to Gilmore together and we dropped Jackal off at the parking lot and I followed Digger to Latham and Lyon before heading for home myself. I managed to get in 63 miles today. I was a bit later than I had planned but it was a good way to start the week. Within thirty minutes after I got home the sky opened up and it poured like someone turned on a hose. We made it just in time.