By: C. Kent, aka (Superman) Today was Memorial Day and I am sure many didn’t expect to ride. It was cool and over cast when I got up but it still was a good day for a ride. I had breakfast, got dressed and watched some news before heading to the parking lot for coffee. I got to Burger King first and for the longest time I thought I was the only one riding. There was a car show going on in the Pep Boys parking lot and as I stood drinking my coffee Digger finally arrived. We were talking when Earth Dog drove up just before Dragon Slayer. To my surprise Tax Man drove up as well. There were just the five of us but we were ready and willing to go so we left the parking lot and headed for Acacia. Dragon Slayer took us to Kirby and then south to Cypress where we made our first turn west heading for Johnston and Sanderson.

Once we made the light we headed through the industrial park and out onto Cawston before heading west on Stetson towards the airport with me in the lead. As we moved past the airport and to Warren I was thinking that traffic was lighter than I expected. We had just rolled through the intersection of Warren and Stetson when Dragon Slayer pulled by me and assumed the lead pulling us to California and south towards Stowe.

As we headed for Stowe I wondered if we would go into the traditional speed run to Winchester. We don’t always hit this section hard but Dragon Slayer was looking strong and I wasn’t sure I had warmed up enough to chase him if he took off. I was lucky today and he picked up speed slowly so as to keep the group together. By the time we past the first dirt road we had gapped Digger and Earth Dog, but we didn’t know why. Tax Man held on till I made the change with Dragon Slayer for the lead as we headed towards the metal barn. Slowly I picked it up till it was just Dragon Slayer and I pulling into the parking lot about 50 yards in front of Tax Man. Only after we had a chance to regroup did we discover that Earth Dog had dropped his light and had to go back for it. That was why the group broke up in the first place.

Once we were ready Dragon Slayer took us to the dump road and turned us west again. I followed him closely and once again we distanced the other three riders as we past the Wild West arena and headed for Leon. Once again we regrouped and then headed for Simpson and then Lindenburger to move towards McCall. As we turned on McCall Dragon Slayer spotted another rider heading north so we gave chase. The other rider gave up and pulled over so we continued on to the AM/PM to refuel. I followed Dragon Slayer north till we were past Mapes and crested Menifee. He pulled till we were by the nursery and I rolled by with Earth Dog on our wheel. I was picking up speed when I noticed Dragon Slayer fading so I backed down before picking him up again and dialing it up as we headed for Central. Dragon Slayer and I got to Nuevo first and waited for the other three before heading for Lakeview and turning north. Dragon slayer took off heading for Ninth Street with Tax Man on his wheel. I stayed back with Digger and earth Dog and pulled them north.

We caught Tax Man waiting at Ninth and I pulled us to Ramona Expressway. Once pointed east I settled into a steady 18 or 19 planning on pulling all the way to Sanderson. As we moved along I noticed we were gaining on a line of cars but I didn’t know what they were slowing down. Turns out there was some farm equipment heading east and blocking most of the road. I thought we were gaining on the cars and soon we were rolling along at 23 or 24 passing them on the right in the bike lane. Earth Dog and tax man stayed right with me and soon we had closed on the equipment and had to go out onto the road to get by them. I slowed a bit and pulled us to Warren where Tax Man took over for me. We rounder onto Sanderson and then waited for digger on Ramona Boulevard under the trees. Once digger was with us we were on our way again and heading towards Lyon.

We kicked it into cruise mode and made the turn on Lyon and headed south towards Cottonwood with everyone in line. We kept it together to Seventh and then to Esplanade in one line. We split into two rows as we moved to Menlo and digger left us. Tax Man took over and got us to Latham and headed back to Burger King where the car show was still going on. Tax Man and Earth Dog had to go out the do not enter lane to get out of the parking lot and I had to ride back to Latham to ride home. It was a short flat ride but it was a lot better than couch surfing on Memorial Day.