By: C. Kent, aka (Superman) I like Mondays and I like warm days and this was a warm Monday. I put together an east ride because they weather wizards had predicted a North East wind and I figured we would at least have the wind to our back on the way home. I got dressed a bit lighter than over the last few days and headed for the Bike Shop to meet whoever was going to ride with me. The great thing about meeting at a bike shop is if you forget anything you have a last chance to pick it up before the ride. I met up with Dragon Slayer as I pulled u to the shop and Papillion was talking with him Papillion wasn’t going to ride but it was good to see him anyway. Highlander, Cutter and Earth Dog arrived next followed by Tax Man. It was a small group but it was a great morning for a ride. The only drawback was that Cutter had caught a bit of a cold over the weekend and he was having some trouble breathing. Still he was game as we headed out to Lyon and rode down to Acacia to head for Kirby. We were moving along pretty well as we turned onto Kirby and headed for Cypress.

Highlander took over pulling early and took us west on Cypress and headed for Johnston. Once we turned on Johnston was got caught at the light on Sanderson while Highlander and Dragon Slayer made the light. We caught them at Stetson and once again Highlander and Dragon Slayer did the pulling on the way to Mustang where I pulled up next to Dragon Slayer and rode with him to Domenigoni and got caught at that light. We had to wait for two cycles to make the left turn and head for Searl. As we made the ride past Searl I looked back and noticed we had dropped Cutter so I went back for him and the group waited for us and pulled us to State street and headed south towards McSweeney. We turned into the housing tract and made the loop towards State again.

Once we were headed north it didn’t take long before we got back to Domenigoni but I was the only one that stopped at the red light so I had to hustle to catch the group as the headed for Chambers. Earth Dog was well out front and I was feeling pretty good so I started a lead out and pulled Dragon Slayer up to him and Dragon Slayer pulled us up the grade and to Chambers before heading right to Buena Vista so we could stop at the Golf Course on Thornton. After we were back on the road Dragon Slayer and I followed Highlander onto Stetson and headed east. When we got to Columbia Highlander and Tax Man stayed on Stetson while the rest of us headed for Thornton. We pushed it pretty good all the way to Lake and turned towards Stetson again shortly after Highlander and Tax man rode by. Dragon Slayer gave chase but didn’t quite catch them before Fairview. We regrouped in Fairview and then headed for Florida. Cutter and I got caught at the light while the rest of the group made it through. I watched as Earth Dog rode by a parked Dragon Slayer sitting in front of the fire station. I stopped to talk to him and Cutter followed after Earth Dog. Highlander and Tax Man had stopped to use the bathroom so the four of us had a long chase trying to reel in Cutter and Earth Dog. We finally found them after crossing the river bed and making the light on Soboba. Dragon Slayer made a great pull west on Soboba down the hill and past the driving range. I was feeling frisky so I took a turn at pulling and gave it back to Dragon Slayer. As we got to the hump in the road I jumped out again to see how had I could hit the rise and managed to gap the group over the hill and half way to State Street before the beta blockers shut me down. But I felt good about the effort. Once we took a break at State Street Highlander led us back to Ramona and got us started east. Once again we spread out and this time Highlander fell back to pull Cutter. Dragon Slayer was up with Earth Dog and I was leading Tax Man till we got to Main street where I slowed down and Earth Dog pulled away with Tax Man. Dragon Slayer decided to make a run to Carl’s after Hemet Street and Tax Man seemed to slow to wait for Highlander and Cutter. By the time they got to Carl’s three of us were inside and having coffee. Cutter had a broken spoke and we were going to take him to Casino to get it fixed while Tax Man and Highlander had to leave for home and an appointment. After the spoke was fixed Earth Dog, Dragon Slayer, Cutter and I headed for home. I led us back to Lincoln and headed towards Park.

We stayed together till we got to Devonshire and Earth Dog headed for the barn. Dragon Slayer pulled Cutter and I all the way back to Lyon and then over to the bike shop before we all headed for home. I got home feeling tired but good than I had pushed myself and still felt good. I didn’t even get to take a nap.