By: C. Kent, aka (Superman) Friday’s are sometimes a relief. I don’t have to plan for a hard ride and sometimes we only need a short easy ride to finish off the week. This was one of those kinds of Friday’s where quality overshadowed quantity. I headed for the bike shop more relaxed than most days. Digger and Earth Dog were the first to greet me followed closely by Tax Man, ME-109 and Ferret. The last to would more than likely spend most of the day scampering out front like fast hunting dogs while the rest of us followed like hunters listening for the trumpeting to tell us where the prey was heading. It was all set u0 to be a good ride by 8 am as we headed out onto Lyon and north. I spent some time on the front and got us safely past Devonshire and Menlo.

It was an easy morning with a light wind and not much heat. I continued to pull as we got to Esplanade and had to wait for the light. It was not my intention to set the pace but I had that position none the less and kept it till we got to Seventh and Earth Dog took over and jumped out front. He stayed about 20 yards out front till we got close to Ramona and I finally came up on his back wheel. We pulled around the corner onto Ramona Boulevard and headed for Sanderson. Once again Earth Dog took the lead and pulled us all the way to Sanderson and towards the Expressway where for the first time in a long time we caught a green and Tax Man took the lead. He didn’t keep it for long before Ferret and ME-109 pulled by and headed off into the distance. I tagged on to Earth Dog and Tax Man as we headed for Warren until we dropped Digger at the rise in front of Warren where I let them go while I slowed to pick up Digger. Tax Man waited for us at Bridge and pulled most of the way to west towards Hansen. We were closing in on Earth Dog but we were headed into a slight head wind so I pulled out front to give Tax Man a break and finished the last half mile to the light and Lakeview Market. We regrouped with Ferret and ME-109 before heading over to Lakeview and south towards Nuevo.

I took the opportunity to take the lead once more and pull us towards 11th street and the post office. I was starting to slow a bit when Ferret took over and pulled us to Nuevo and made the quick jog over to Central. After we headed west again Ferret Flatted and we stopped to wait for him. ME-109 and Earth Dog had to come back from Menifee but Earth Dog left again when Digger headed to Menifee to get a head start. Once we were all back on our way and chasing the two rabbits I got us to Menifee and started south while ME-109 and Ferret picked up speed and headed towards Digger and Earth Dog. I pulled Tax Man to Mapes and over to Brigges only to meet Digger and Earth Dog coming back north to the Elementary School because the road was closed. We headed over to Menifee and South with me pulling all the way back to Florida. Once we were heading south again I was out front and headed for the railroad tracks.

Earth Dog took a short cut to McCall and we came out onto McCall behind him and followed him all the way to Briggs and north to the Dump road. It is still dirt at the end of the road and Tax Man slipped a bit and got a bit dirty but we made it to the dump road and headed towards Leon. Earth Dog pulled most of the way and I started to chase him past Leon and to the top of the rise where he stood and I thought he was going to sprint the Flag sprint. I jumped around and took off on him and Tax Man followed. But when I looked back Earth Dog wasn’t chasing and Tax Man and I waited till he caught us just before the Pentecostal Church. Earth Dog pulled us from Winchester to Winchester farms for a food break and a regroup. Once refreshed we headed back out onto Stowe and headed east towards California.

Before we got to California Digger fell back as Tax Man and Earth Dog headed for the barn. I decided to stay with Digger and we made it to Stetson and rode back to Sanderson together. We decided to ride back on Johnston and he left me at Lyon. I rode back to Palm and home in time for lunch before taking the dog for a walk. Not a bad day for a ride at all.