By: C. Kent, aka (Superman) I didn’t even think we would get in a ride today. It rained hard last night and it was supposed to rain this morning. When I got up and looked outside there was a massive sucker hole in the sky and my street was just a bit damp. Digger sent me a text and asked if I was planning a ride so I got dressed and headed for the bike shop. I decided we could do a short ride east and we were joined by Dragon Slayer and Highlander making it a rather small group. We were at least dressed for it and so we headed north on Lyon and headed for Ramona Boulevard. Dragon Slayer got up front early and started spinning us north towards Esplanade. I was surprised that we were moving so quickly so early and everyone was still in line. We didn’t get too wet as we got to Esplanade and moved on towards Seventh and the Cottonwood. I got up front after Cottonwood and pulled us to Ramona and started us east. The wind was in our face early and Dragon Slayer got the lead back just before State Street. We had to wait a minute because Digger missed the light but soon he was with us and reading towards the Expressway. Once we got to the Expressway Digger headed east while the rest of us headed for Soboba and the ride to the Golf Course. Dragon Slayer pulled us over the first little roller and down towards the second. He took us over the second and I took the lead till we say the driving range and Dragon Slayer took over again. Went we got to the last rise before the end of the golf course I got out of the saddle to test my legs and Dragon Slayer pulled Highlander over the rise and towards the trees. Dragon Slayer stopped at the light on Lake/Main and we did a short regroup before heading over the bridge and to Ramona.

Once we crossed the bridge and headed east again Highlander told us he would be leaving us at Hemet Street. We could see it was raining at the foot of the mountain range and knew that Cranston Station was right in the rain curtain. We decided to head straight to Carl’s and we could see Digger in front of us. We caught Digger just before Highlander left us and we continued on past Hemet Street and onto the next stop light. Dragon Slayer took over pulling and soon got us to the curve in front of Cedar and that stop light. I looked back as the wind picked up and saw Digger had fallen back a bit. We didn’t have that far to go so I closed with Dragon Slayer and we led the way to Carl’s for some hot coffee and conversation. The rain sure looked like it was east of us so we thought we could finish our coffee and head west and beat it home. As we got out to the bikes Digger left us like a Le Man’s start and was gone before I even had my gloves on. Dragon Slayer waited till I was ready and we headed to Lincoln and headed west.

We were moving at a pretty good clip and could see Digger several blocks in front of us. Digger and I closed pretty quickly and pulled onto Park about one hundred yards behind Digger. We caught him just as it started to drizzle. It quit for a moment and we caught Digger just before he left us at the jog over to Devonshire. As we headed for Yale on Devonshire it started to rain lightly and I pulled us to San Jacinto before heading to Santa Fe. Dragon Slayer pulled to Latham and then west to Palm where I left him and headed for home thinking of a hot shower and getting out of my wet clothes. I got home with about Twenty Three miles on my computer and just a bit cold. I had to take the dog for a short walk but as soon as that was done a shower warmed me up. It started to rain about a hour later and I was glad we got home when we did.