By: C. Kent, aka (Superman) It was another Wednesday and another chance to see if I was up to playing with the group on a longer ride. I put together the French Valley 45 and got ready to do my part to help the B group stay with the As for part of the ride and finishing the rest. I had breakfast, shaved, got dressed and headed for Burger King to see who would be riding with me. Digger and Dragon Slayer were there and Highlander drove up as well. It was a slight surprise to see Anaconda but at least it would be company for Huntress. Bloodhound, Gambler and ME-109 rode up as well. Tax man and Minotaur showed up giving us a reasonable A and B group. Seeing no one else at 8am we headed down Gilmore to Acacia and over to Kirby to start the ride.

We headed for the railroad tracks on Kirby and Bloodhound soon passed me and I started to chase. I stayed on his wheel till we got to the corner of Cypress and let him go as we moved through the housing track and headed towards Johnston. Digger and Tax Man pulled up to me and chatted till Bloodhound turned around and fell in behind us. Tax Man took us around the corner and to the light on Sanderson. We waited to see if it would turn green before heading across Sanderson and toward Industrial so we could turn on Cawston.

Once we pulled onto Stetson I locked on to Bloodhound’s back wheel and followed him to Warren. Bloodhound started to pull away after Warren and this time I let him go. Me-109 decided to go after him and they both made it to California Street first. Gambler took over pulling the rest of us and Minotaur fell into his draft with me on his wheel and Dragon Slayer in my draft. Slowly Gambler ramped up the pace and as we got close to the Metal Barn Minotaur started to fade so I pulled around and locked onto Gambler as if my life depended on it. I was only in Zone 4 and I was feeling pretty good so I held on to the parking lot at Winchester Farms where we regrouped. Once we were all ready to go Dragon Slayer started us south on Winchester heading for 9th street and our next turn west.

Once we were on 9th I fell back and let Gambler, ME-109, Bloodhound and Dragon Slayer go. Minotaur chased them to Leon and I pulled Huntress, Highlander, Tax Man, Anaconda and Digger towards Leon myself. Tax Man and Highlander planned on leaving us on Lindenburger rather than take the hill to Menifee. Huntress, Anaconda and I headed past Lindenburger and pulled up to the light on Menifee just after Minotaur. We then headed south on Menifee and I managed to run down Minotaur just after Newport so I could catch Gambler, ME-109, Dragon Slayer and Bloodhound and have them stop at the park to wait for Highlander and Tax Man.

As we waited for tax Man and Highlander Digger rode by heading for Holland. He almost made the corner before we turned to follow him. I told Gambler to take the A riders and head for the Gas station on Winchester and Benton and I would follow with the B riders. Highlander, Tax Man and Huntress were going to leave us at Scott Road so I pulled the group up the hill and gave chase to a fleeing Digger. I had to push a bit to close on Digger and Minotaur and so I separated myself from some of the Bs before we got to the Light at Scott and the three riders left us. Dragon Slayer took of pulling duty and took us to Keller and then to Baxter at the hospital. The drop down the hill separated us from Digger and Anaconda as we turned on Whitewood and headed towards Clinton Keith. Digger wasn’t able to close but we kept Anaconda with us as we crested the hill and started to long downhill towards Murrieta Hot Springs. I had to stop at the corner and text Huntress so Digger caught us at the light and followed us back to Winchester. Dragon Slayer and Minotaur made the light on Winchester while Digger, Anaconda and I didn’t so we had to watch them ride away up the hill. Anaconda and I simply put a spin on the hill and saved our legs for later in the ride. Anaconda and I stayed together past the Airport and made it to the Gas Station on Benton to find Dragon Slayer and Minotaur waiting. Gambler and his group were long gone so we took a hydration break before getting back on the road and heading north on Winchester towards Thompson. Digger was losing ground as we rolled by Thompson and headed back to Scott. The ride between the two streets slowly picked up speed with Dragon Slayer setting the pace.

We followed Dragon Slayer for quite a while till I took over and headed us towards the flea market and the west entrance to Diamond Valley Lake and I took over the pull to get us to Domenigoni.

Once we got down to Domenigoni we turned east and headed back towards Warren Road. Anaconda stuck right with as we crossed the dry wash and the Warren to make our way to Sanderson. Once we were heading north again on Sanderson Dragon Slayer pulled us all the way back to Acacia where I took over and got us to Kirby. Dragon Slayer and Minotaur took us back to Gilmore and Florida before we all regrouped at Burger King. Digger headed for home and I stopped with Minotaur at his car before heading for home myself. I got home exactly at the time the rain started and walked onto my porch just as the clouds opened up. I had a quick lunch as I downloaded my Garmin and settled is for a restful afternoon.