By: C. Kent, aka (Superman) It was supposed to be another hot day on Friday and I had every reason to believe the weather wizards would be right on this one. Knowing that several of our riders would be doing the Big Bear ride with CAS I thought it best to post a shorter ride and get home before the heat really set in. I posted the Cactus Valley ride and headed over to Burger King to see just how many people would be joining me. Digger was waiting and talking to a new rider that was joining us, Karl. The three of us were still talking when Earth Dog arrived. It was a bit surprising to see Gambler arrive and we were expecting MacGyver, but he never showed. Closer was with us again and Ferret joined us as well. It was a small group but we were just planning on getting an easy spin so it was about the right size. By 8am it was clear there would be no additions to the group so we headed out onto Gilmore and started towards Acacia.

As has become my habit I was more than happy to let Digger ride next to me as we headed towards Kirby. There was a rather large truck following us but he decided rather than try to pass us and turn at Kirby heading north he would block traffic for us so we could merge to the turning lane and head south. As we headed towards Cypress Digger took the lead and got us around the corner and headed towards Johnston. He led us t the light at Sanderson while Earth Dog pushed the button to so we could get the green and head towards Stetson.

So far the pace was easy and we got to Stetson just as the light turned green and headed towards Mustang. I realized the A group was small today but I told Gambler he could hit the Marina with whoever wanted to join him and we would meet him on Cactus Valley road. As we turned onto Domenigoni at the light and headed for Searl Gambler and Ferret moved to the front and headed for the Marina. Digger pulled the rest of us to State Street and we headed south towards Newport. Closer developed a pain in his him and abandoned the ride but I didn’t realize it so I stopped and Digger had to tell me about the move. Karl and Earth Dog continued on to Sage and over the rise on Cactus Valley. Digger and I stayed together to the hill and Karl came back for us. We then headed to the end of Cactus Valley road before turning around ad heading back towards Sage. Gambler and Ferret past us heading east just as we started west and we managed to get all the way back to State and Newport before they closed on us. We regrouped at McSweeney and headed for Domenigoni and State to get to Chambers.

This was a slight downhill so I led us all the way to Chambers before turning east to Buena Vista. The whole group was together and we turned on Thornton and made our way to Santa Fe and Stetson to head east once again. Earth Dog pulled ahead and took us to San Jacinto and only slowed the pace as we got to Columbia to make the turn towards Thornton again. We cut over to Crest to start working our way towards Lake.

It was getting hot but up to this point we were cruising together. That worked well till we got to the slight rise on Crest before Hemet Street and turned south. Digger fell off the back as the rest of us made it to Lake and over the rise back to Stetson. Gambler, Earth Dog, Ferret and Karl pulled away on Stetson and I didn’t catch Earth Dog till he stopped at Fairview. We all regrouped on Wilson Mesa where Karl left us for Bautista and the rest of us headed north to Florida. Gambler and Ferret left us at the corner of Fairview and Florida. The rest of us stopped at Carl’s for coffee before heading for home on Lincoln. Earth Dog fired up the horse to head for the barn while Digger and I simply cooled down heading back to Palm. I got home looking forward to a cool shower and a light lunch.