Birthday Bike Ride and a gift it was

What a night to be had.
While we were initially taken aback by the rain that fell on us during our pre-ride dressing routine, we were quickly treated to some superb conditions (and at least this guy was over dressed)
The night started out w/B, C-Man and me meeting on the Mosquito lot. We had a brief discussion about C-Man’s on-call status at work and decided that instead of taking two cars for 3 riders we would throw in “all for one and one for all” – this meant that if C-Man got a call, B and I would have to leave. The Riding Gods favored us and the only calls and texts to c-man were well wishers for his birthday. Happy B-Day Councilman!
I think some smart ass or two sent him a fake “help, our network just crashed” texts, but we were all quick to point out that such pranks were very sophomoric and belonged in some flat Landers riding group not up here where the air is thin and the egos are big.
So, upon arriving at the Knot Lot we were greeted by The New Scouts, yes, newly dubbed. Said scouts (No Sauce and fill in taco handle here), were ready and seemed unconcerned about the weather. Although T1 (fill in new taco handle here) realized quite quickly that clothing selection is better made trail side than at home and when it come to Tuesday weather, you are best throwing the kitchen sink into the Dodge and make your selection lot side.

We rolled out the back door, crossing Cappy’s Hiccup and headed down the horse trail “towards” the spillway bridge or so T1 (fill in new taco handle here) thought. I say towards, b/c that is where T1 (fill in new taco handle here) rolled off too. The other 4 of us took a hard left at the bottom towards the goat trail that runs across the damn embankment itself. B went in search our newest Scout. We collected ourselves and headed out over the spillway crossing after all and up to the switchers near the spill way ( does this section have a name, spill ride, spill thrill?) crossed the road and took the single track which was in primo conditions towards Fleming. No, Fleming was not in order, just past damn #2 we crossed the road an jumped on the lake loop in counter clock fashion – oh sweet single track. We were headed for the lips. We took them down. The trails were smok’n fast and as good as I can remember seeing them in any month of the year let alone June. What a treat. (although I did complain a fair bit about all the wet branches soaking me w/every turn – price you pay as ride leader I guess).
After the lips we continued counter clockwise around the lake. Conversations were plentiful and spirits were high. The temps were great and even if you were wet it did not matter, the trails were sweet. We took a new secret trail up to the bottom of the Wedding March/Rock Garden-RG1A split, then continued up the Wedding March to the Wedding March-Qualifier cut-off. Cruised over the cut-off and down the qualifier to the Knot lot. Bobby was never seen, but his handler was there to instruct him and protect us in spirit… “Don’t do it Bobby”, “We’ve talked about this Bobby”, “Come on, Bobby, wouldn’t do that”.

Peter, if you are reading this and have read this far, you know by now that the trail conditions were sweet, beyond sweet, they were epic. But still the same, good thing you stayed home b/c the pace was solid and we didn’t stop for mechanicals (real or faked) and we didn’t do a short ride, so you would have been dropped.

Conversations on the trail centered around boy bands, C3 (Classic California Climbs) and comparing Wolf Blitzer to Anderson Cooper and of course the ever present trail conditions. We discussed the merits of Wolf’s beard and name and how they contributed to his fame during the first Gulf War. I reviewed the more important or “classic” qualities of a C3 while we rolled up the newly made over lower half of the qualifier and B was intent on assigning a boy band to each “wave” of scouts. We didn’t put this later idea to vote.

Taco Time. The tacos were greasy, the sauce was plentiful and B revisited the Ghost pepper sauce w/out incident. We mused about our fetish friends and wondered how their endeavors were going and missed their presence. Someone made some comment that had heads spinning and can’t be repeated but we all had a hell of a laugh – straws were involved. C-Man was the man of the hour and was treated to his tacos and Rye, and was gifted an Ace (which whoever picked up his tab actually was the recipient of). He celebrated his 29th birthday and I learned that he edges me out by months, not years but is yet my senior, if only by a few months (I’m still 28). It was quite nice to see our double qualified, hard working and fun loving politician really enjoying what to me seems the best way to spend a birthday evening (leaving room for night time excitement still). As we wrapped up the evening and waited for someone to finish their pay beer, we learned a bit more about the secret live of the Taco Bitches (read: Red Hawk and no, they don’t go to Bird Church), had some great laughs and then rolled on down the hill – some to continue their celebratory efforts at other locals.

NoHandle
PS: This RR stuff is a lot of work, now I know why it takes so long to get one together. A nod to our founding father Lars and all the Wednesdays and Thursdays he did this work solo. You are much better writer than me.