By: C. Kent, aka (Superman) After a rather lack luster Friday I was looking forward to the Monday ride to see if a weekends rest would put some spark in my legs. I had a rather easy ride planned and got up in plenty of time to make it to the parking lot. Still I was running a bit late as I pulled up next to Digger. For the longest time it was just Digger and me but soon Earth Dog drove up as well. To my surprise Tax Man pulled up and it looked like it would only be the four of us just before 8am. Shooter got there right at 8am but he was ready to go by 8:05am as we pulled onto Gilmore and headed south. As we made our way to Acacia and headed towards Kirby I felt pretty good and had high hopes for a better day riding than I did Friday. We made the turn onto Kirby and started to Cypress.

We worked our way west through the housing tract and made our way to Johnston and turned south on Sanderson. Once again Digger moved to the front and pulled us past Stetson and towards Mustang. I was beginning to feel like I was getting tired already but I stayed with shooter as we followed Digger as we turned towards Searl. We caught Digger just before the stop light and I pulled us to the beginning of Seven Dollar Hill. To my surprise the gate at the bottom of the hill was closed and locked, the sign said closed Monday and Tuesday but not if that was going to be every Monday and Tuesday or just this week. We returned to Searl and headed back out onto Domenigoni and east towards State.

As we closed in on State I noticed Tax Man had already turned for home leaving just the four of us to ride south and head for Cactus Valley road. I lead to Newport and Shooter took us to the turn off of State onto Cactus Valley. I followed as best as I could till we got to Sage and Shooter pulled over to wait for the rest of the group while I attacked the hill and headed for the end of the road. Shooter caught me just before the last rise and we regrouped.

We headed back west towards the hill and Sage. I was ready for the segment as we crossed Sage but I simply couldn’t seem to get my legs up to speed. I kept the pace all the way to State and north but even though I got a PR for the run it was all I had to get there. I was more surprised than anyone that it was a PR. None the less Shooter and I rode down to McSweeney and ended up waiting for Digger and Earth Dog when we came back to State. Digger and Earth Dog rolled on by shooter and me and we had to chase them back to Domenigoni and then Shooter took us to Chambers and made it back over to Thornton and East.

I was moving along reasonably well but still feeling a bit underpowered. Still I followed onto Stetson and we turned on Columbia so we could work over to Crest and head east to Lake. Shooter got us back to Stetson but flatted a few yards after we left Lake Street. He refused help so I continued on to Fairview and made my way to Wilson Mesa and through the housing tract for another regroup. We took off north on Fairview and made a hard run for Florida and a stop at Carl’s for coffee or a cold drink and conversation before heading back out on New Chicago to Lincoln and west.

We made it to Park and around to Devonshire to continue on our way back to Burger King. This time Digger stayed with us and we rode together to Santa Fe where Earth Dog was one light in front of us. Shooter finally caught him at State where digger and I got another red light. Digger left at Palm and I turned on Lyon before heading for home and a cool shower.