By: C. Kent, aka (Superman) I think I rested my legs pretty well this weekend but I still wanted an easy ride for Monday. I put together one that I thought would work and got ready to head out of the door and to the bike shop only to have a drop or two of rain hit me. That was all that ended up hitting me all day but I was concerned as I pulled into the shop to see Digger and Earth Dog waiting for me. Abacus showed up for his last ride before heading back to Washington and Minotaur arrived with him. Bulldozer was the last to arrive so we headed out onto Lyon to get the ride started. I led us to Acacia and toward Kirby feeling pretty good.

As we turned onto Kirby and headed for the railroad tracks Bulldozer and Minotaur pulled up front and started to pull away till we turned on Cypress and headed west. They must have been on a tight schedule because Sanderson was about the last time we were within sight of them as they headed for Domenigoni. I led our group onto Domenigoni and headed us west before giving the lead to Abacus and Earth Dog. Digger fell off by the time we got to Warren and I started to back off to pick him up as Earth Dog and Abacus faded into the distance. Digger was set at his pace so I started a long chase after the dry wash to catch Earth Dog and Abacus. I caught Earth Dog and pulled to Winchester only to pull away and try and close on Abacus. I simply didn’t have the juice to catch Abacus before the saddle and I ended up chasing him all the way to the gas station on Menifee where we were going to regroup. Once we were all together we headed south on Menifee towards Holland with Digger leading the way.

We followed Digger past the park and towards Holland. Once we crossed Holland Abacus and Earth Dog hit the climb a bit harder than Digger could so they pulled away and I led Digger to Revive and over the hill towards Garbani. Earth Dog and Abacus were well out of sight by the time we crossed Garbani and I pulled us all the way to Scott and started west. Abacus and Earth Dog were waiting around the corner and I once again took the lead and pulled us towards Antelope. We got caught at the light and had to wait to merge left out of turning traffic before heading over the hill at the freeway and to the light on Haun for the turn north towards Holland for a second time.

Now the race was on because Earth Dog took off in a sprint north feeling a slight wind at our backs. He passed Abacus and was soon pulling away. I pulled up behind Abacus and then came around to give chase. It took me about 100 yards but I caught Earth Dog and waited till he had to shift up and came around in my 52x11 in full spin. I got away and made it to Holland first and waited for Abacus and Earth Dog. We all waited for Digger before heading west towards Murrieta. We popped over the little hill and headed north on Murrieta to the gas station on Newport for a short water break. We rode together to McCall and headed back east towards the freeway. Abacus and Earth Dog got a light on Digger and me and were on their way to the Hospital Hill climb before Digger and I got to the Valero. I led Digger to the top of Hospital hill and we found Abacus waiting. Earth Dog had to head for the car because of an appointment so the three of us were on our own. We dropped down the back side of the hill and crossed Menifee and then Heritage heading for Briggs.

Once on Briggs we turned south to Simpson and headed for Winchester and the turn towards Winchester Farms and our last break. I got a banana and something to drink before we got back on Stowe and headed for home. We got just a touch of a tailwind on California and a little on Stetson as we headed for Warren. The wind was simply fluky as we got to Cawston and headed over to Sanderson and started towards Lowes. Abacus led us back to the bike shop where we waited till Digger arrived and said our goodbyes. Abacus is heading back to Washington and we more than likely will not see him till next January. Digger rode home and I headed to my house for lunch and to walk the dog.