We will always have Perris

By: C. Kent, aka (Superman) Friday seemed like a good day for a ride to Lake Perris and back. There wasn’t supposed to be much wind and it wouldn’t be hot. If we did the shorter of the two rides to the lake and back we would have a chance to make a flat run west and three little climbs that will get your heart pumping. I headed for the bike shop eager to see who would join me. Digger was there and Earth Dog showed up. Abacus and Highlander arrived as did Barracuda. Just to make sure the ride wasn’t too relaxing ME-109, Ferret and Bulldozer showed up. Dragon Slayer was with us and it looked like a good group to head out of the parking lot with. So I took us out onto Lyon and headed us north towards the Expressway. We got spread out because of a stop light but soon were all in line heading for Esplanade.

We caught the light red, like we almost always do, but it didn’t stop us long before we were headed north again with Highlander and Earth Dog leading the way. I was still a bit cool but I could see it might warm up before we started back from the lake. Looking out it was just one of the pretty Robin’s egg blue skies and clear looking mountains in the distance. This is the kind of day you want to hide from the people living back east when it is cold, snowy and foggy. It is the kind of day that makes others wish they lived here almost no matter where else they might live. As we got to the corner on Ramona Boulevard and Lyon I took over to get us around the corner and headed west.

I did lead them all the way west to Sanderson and then to the light on the Expressway. We just had a chance to put our foot down before the light turned green and we started a run to Warren. Ferret and ME-109 pulled by increasing the pace and Bulldozer took off after them with Barracuda and Dragon Slayer in tow. Highlander headed for their back wheel with me right behind. However once we got close to and past Warren I noticed Abacus was part way between Earth Dog and me so I fell back to pull and watched the rest of the group go. Soon we caught Highlander and there were four of us after Bridge chasing the big dogs west. It took us a while bt we joined them at Nuevo Market and waited for Digger. Once Digger arrived I led the group over the bridge and to the base of the Bernasconi climb. I fell back but ended up trying to catch Dragon slayer’s back wheel as we crested the first Roller and headed for the second.

I made it over the second roller with Abacus gaining on me. Once we were on the downhill I knew I had a good chance of getting to the Lake Perris east gate entrance before he could catch me. I made all of the lights green and did got to the entrance road first and waited for Abacus and Highlander. Earth Dog had stayed with Digger so we headed for the east gate and up to the marina to join the big dogs for snacks and conversation. It took a few minutes before Digger joined us with Earth dog and once they did we spent a few more minutes feeding the squirrels and one very friendly Raccoon. The A group left first because Ferret had to get home for work and we followed a few minutes later. Abacus and Earth Dog took us back out of the park onto Ramona east and started us back towards the rollers. Highlander got a flat and we waited for him just before Rider. Once the flat was fixed Earth Dog took off and headed for the first roller chasing digger who had a head start while the tire was being repaired. Highlander, Abacus and I crested the roller about the same time and headed for Bernasconi. We didn’t see Digger and Earth Dog at Lakeview but we did at Hansen so we joined them and then started the run back towards Warren.

We did the best we could trying to hold the pace down so Digger could stay with us. It was going to be his longest ride since have two stints in. It wasn’t working for Earth Dog and he decided to stretch his legs a bit after cruising all morning with Digger on the way out. We took turns pulling till we got to Warren and found Earth Dog waiting. We then headed south on Warren and dropped abacus off at Cottonwood as we headed back to Sanderson and headed south for Devonshire. Digger left us at Menlo while Highlander, Earth Dog and I headed for Devonshire and east to Gilmore. We dropped down to Florida and back over to the bike shop before leaving for home and a hot lunch.