I was out riding early Friday morning, just kind of thinking, praying and pondering as I was cruising down the road. Have you ever done that? I know you have. Almost everybody who enjoys riding loves the time spent on the machine alone with their thoughts. There is something very therapeutic about the quiet and the physical exercise combined that calms the soul. I thought I hadn't been out very long when I looked down at the little computer mounted on my handlebar and noticed that I already had logged 31 miles. I was a bit shocked but accounted it to my mind thinking on things other than the amount of miles I was accumulating. However, I decided to head for home as I didn't need many miles the day before a long ride. As I pulled into the garage, I glanced down to see I had a total of 41 miles. About twice as many as I wanted, but no big deal I thought.
Well...little did I know, (remember), that a good friend of mine, Chad Edgar, who has been wanting to ride for a long time, would call and and say he was available for a ride that very evening. So, off we went on a "short" ride Friday evening in the 20mph wind. We did 18 miles and it was a blast riding with El Chaddo. However, now the legs were a bit more weary than I had wanted the day before a long ride.
Saturday's ride was an absolute delight. We had a great group as we started out under sunny skies for Innerarity Point. However, there was a nasty wind that according to the weather forecast, was going to get nastier. The wind was out of the west, therefore we decided on a route to the west, i.e. Innerarity. Several riders should be awarded the "Big Pull Bull" (BPB) Award for their monster pulls into that increasing headwind. I think we all had a real sense of urgency knowing the wind was forecast to increase hour by hour...and it did! BPBs go out to; David "Lawman" Carroll, Harland "Happy" Williams, Dana "The Animal" Foster, Istvan "Count Fishbone" Peperancz, Chip "Circle K" Wilson and Tim "Crusher" Fox as well as a few others who took shorter pulls into that blower.
Once having arrived onto Innerarity, we made the left hander for the first time instead of going right at the end of the road. (Nobody knows why we went this way, it just seemed like the right...uh, or left choice at the time.) Back on the Point road itself and through the gate The Animal dropped the hammer! With that Tailwind Express nobody had time to ask for tickets...you were either on board or you were off the back! Come on somebody! We broached 30mph a couple times, but never dropped below 27mph. "Who let the dogs out!" (Man, I love this kind of stuff.) You know, the only thing better than going ballistic is going ballistic with a tailwind. Oh yeah baby!
I don't know how long it took us to get out to Innerarity, but I know it had to be less than half the time to get back. Great ride with a great group! I had 60 miles just as I pulled into the garage...and the legs hardly noticed it. I think I'm in love?! (Uh...with the tailwind that is...lest The Animal get any ideas.)
Now we come to Sunday. The Full Moon Ride was maybe the best yet. I think if we had started maybe 20 minutes earlier it would have been perfect. We had one of the smallest groups, around 10 to 12 riders. It was cooler than expected and there was a pretty good breeze, (headwind) on the way out to Fort Pickens. (No fee at the gate!) However, we stayed together almost the entire ride averaging around 15mph on the way west and 17mph on the way back to Casino Beach. Fantastic ride under absolutely clear skies with a beautiful full moon over the Gulf to light the way...literally! All told, 36 easy cruising miles. This is, without question, one of the highlights of every month...even if it is a bit breezy.
Wonderful windy weekend widing! (Uh, I mean riding. Sorry my Elmer Fudd accent took over there for a second. Must have been the 145 miles in the wind you wascally wabbit!)
More this week as well. (Hopefully, not as windy.) Tomorrow night we have an easy paced ride and Wednesday is the ever popular WERAD! (Wednesday Evening Rendevous Avec Douleur) Check out the Rides Calendar for all the details. And, as always, I'll...
See you out on the road,
Bob
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