By: C. Kent, aka (Superman) Well the weather wizards predicted that today would be warmer than Wednesday and I was looking forwards to it. I put together a new shorter ride so that people that wanted to could get home and stop by Quicksilver’s house before she moved up to Redding Saturday. Still when I got up it didn’t feel warmer so I dressed in layers and headed for the parking lot to get ready for the ride. Digger was there when I pulled up and he looked ready for a cold ride. He was talking to Centaur who we haven’t seen for months. Highlander drove up and he was dressed for the cold. Metric Man joined us not quite as ready for the cold as we were but warmer than he normally dressed. Earth Dog was dressed for the cold as was ME-109 and to a degree Ferret. About 9am we all headed south towards Acacia to get the show on the road. It didn’t feel one bit warmer than Wednesday. We made the turn on Acacia and then stopped at Kirby to wait for the light. As we turned south I took advantage of one of the few times I could get in front to get a picture. It seemed like we were either very cold are heading to rob a bank with our masks on.

We made our way to Cypress and headed towards Johnston and Sanderson. Once we were pointed towards Domenigoni Digger took the lead and started a very long pull. That pull turned into a big mistake on his part because he pulled us all the way to Domenigoni and then west till we crested the rise heading to Warren. Once he fell off of the lead it was clear he had pulled too long and he quickly fell off of the pace. Soon Ferret and ME-109 took off for the front and quickly left us. Highlander took us up and over the dry wash before Metric Man took us all the rest of the way to Warren. Centaur and Highlander took turns when Metric Man pulled away after Winchester. He slowed for us but left us again at Leon and he stopped to wait for us at the top of the Saddle. We rolled by him and shouted that we regroup at the gas station on Menifee and that is where we found ME-109 and Ferret. We took a snack break at the gas ststion before heading back out to Menifee.

We didn’t get far because the light turned red on Domenigoni and Highlander was the only one to make it through. It took a long light before we were able to give chase to the quickly fading Highlander and we fell into a loose pace line as we headed for the stop sign at the park where Ferret and ME-109 caught sight of Highlander and gave chase like hounds to a rabbit.

Highlander was halfway up revive when ME-109 and Ferret crossed Holland and pulled quickly away from the rest of us. Ferret seems to have caught Highlander before the stop sign but ME-109 flatted and we had to wait for him at the wide spot after the stop sign. Once we were all back together we headed for Scott and got in the left turn lane. We say Barracuda and Papillion as we waited at the light but the were heading for Starbucks and didn’t join us. We made the turn east on Scott and formed a slow pace line heading towards Leon. Ferret and ME-109 left us once again but Metric Man took over pulling duty until just after Leon where Highlander took a turn. As we headed for the grade leading to Winchester I noticed Digger was slowing again so I decided to back off myself rather than chance of wearing myself out because of the cold that the weather wizards had assured me would be gone by now. We ended up stopping and regrouping at Winchester where ME-109 discovered a damaged chain and called for a ride. The rest of us headed for Holland and points north.

We were pretty much in cruise mode as we got back to Domenigoni and broke into two groups heading for Winchester farms. Metric Man had to wait for us as we crossed Domenigoni and we were separated by a light all the way past Simpson and headed for the dump road. Metric Man pulled us to Winchester Farms where we took a break and talked for a few minutes. Some of our group got cold and started for home and we more or less split into two group as we headed east on Stowe to California. I had recovered well enough to ride with Highlander and Centaur back to Sanderson where we parted ways and I headed for home and a hot shower.