I don't think I'm repeating myself but if i did I'm sorry.
Sunday, April 2, 2006
The ride yesterday was cancelled due to heavy rains. Gary, the second officer of the riding club phoned me early today to ask “What do you think?”
I knew what he meant…..I said, “Let’s go for it.”
He said he would call the folks in the valley if I could call dr_bar and “Jake”. I made my two calls and both men agreed to meet at my place at 10am so we could ride together out to the meeting place in Langley. Both of them had been anticipating my call. Dr_bar was dressed and almost ready to leave. “Jake” had been lying in bed waiting for the phone to ring. It rang once and was picked up with “YES!”
I explained that Gary had just called and we were to meet at the Langley Tim Horton’s at 10:30. He said he would be at my place by 10am.
Now, given the lack of advanced warning, I did not have time to make coffee before the two guys arrived. I planned on having coffee at the Tim Horton’s when we got there at 10:30. Dr_bar arrived right on time. However, we sat on our bikes for twenty minutes and still no “Jake”. So, I pulled out my cell phone to call him. Because I had been expecting to leave at any second, I never took off my helmet. Believe me, it’s not easy talking on a cell phone while wearing a full face helmet. I was disappointed when he answered because it meant he was not on his bike. So, I spoke loudly from my helmet and asked “Where are you?”
He said he was on the way….almost there…that he’d had to stop and fuel up…..(insert rolling eyes here)
He finally arrived at 10:35. When I saw him arrive around the corner I just gestured to keep going. There was no time for pleasantries. We could do that later. At one red light though, “Jake” pulled up beside me to apologize for being late. I laughed and said, “I bet you went back to sleep, didn’t you?”
He assured me he did not, so I don’t know what the heck he was doing. I could see that it wasn’t shaving.
I just let it drop. Some things are just not worth getting into even if you are a bit peeved. Someday I may be late, too.
When we arrived at Timmie’s, Vince, our first officer, handed me a r-r-r-r-r-olled r-r-r-r-r-im from a cup. It was for a free coffee. Just what I needed. “Jake” came in and got himself something and as we were turning away from the counter, he asked, “Where are the napkins”?
“Um, in the napkin holders?”
I couldn’t help myself. There was a napkin holder on every single table. I happened to turn around and the people standing in line also smiled knowingly along with me.
I said, “I’m sorry, I couldn’t help it.”
He said, “that’s the second shot today.” (the first had been about him going back to sleep). I told him I wouldn’t take any more shots today. He makes it so easy , though.
We finished our coffees and got ready to head out. Gary led us to the Albion Ferry that would take us across the river where we would meet up with a couple more riders. After we got loaded onto the ferry the lone rider ahead of us asked dr_bar if we were a riding club. He said he wasn’t a member, but that the rest of were. He told the lone rider, we were the SCRC. It turned out the lone rider had been a member of the SCRC in Ontario and had been hoping to find a chapter here. We made introductions all around (his name is John) and invited him to ride with us. We rode to Mission to the usual meeting place at the gas station by the Safeway. This is where the most of us fuelled up. Antonio was there waiting for us, but Joanna was nowhere to be seen. Vince was trying to call her, but could only leave messages. We had been waiting there for almost an hour when they finally made contact. She said she was almost there. She claimed to be in Pitt Meadows. Vince and “Jake” decided to wait for her, while the rest of decided to ride into Harrison to the lunch place.
The pace up until now was fairly quick, but not so fast as to make me keep worrying about police. However, now that Antonio is along, Gary seems compelled to pick up the pace. I had trouble keeping up in some places. When we got the really twisty parts, I just slowed down to a safe pace. The route to Harrison has a couple of very challenging sections that may be lots of fun for those guys with lots of years experience, but they still cause me a bit of anxiousness. I must say though that it gets better each time I ride it. At one point Gary realized he had lost me, so he slowed until I caught up. It took a while but I did catch up with them. It’s the big steep downhill on a tight curve that has me tightening up so I slow to the posted suggested speed.
We came upon a construction zone where the bridge was currently one lane. As we were sitting waiting out turn to cross, Gary got off his bike and came back to me and asked,”Is the pace ok or do you want me to pick it up?”
I said the pace was fine. He was already going fast, I don’t think I would have liked the ride if he picked it up more.
When we arrived at the lunch place, Ray, our usual road captain was there waiting for us. We went inside where they headed straight for the deck where people can smoke. I wasn’t happy about that choice but I didn’t say anything because there was only one other person out there. We pulled a few tables together at the far end of the deck and I took the far end chair. I figured since nobody was behind me it might be tolerable. The 7 of us who were there ordered our food and drinks. We had no idea how long the others would be and since most of us had not eaten yet that day, we needed food. Just as our food was arriving, so did Vince, Joanna and “Jake” who upon sitting down, promptly lit cigarettes.
Sigh……
Now it starts to get interesting for awhile. Prior to Joanna’s arrival on the scene, I had been included in all the conversation. The arrival of a petite redhead in black leather certainly seemed to stir up the men. Suddenly their posture was better and they talked only to her for awhile. It was funny to watch the dynamics of the three single guys vying for her attention. They seemed so animated.
After I finished my lunch I had to leave. I could not tolerate the smoke anymore. Gary asked if I was leaving them. I said, “No, I’m just going outside. I can’t take the smoking. I need to get some air. The smoke was giving me a headache and my eyes were hurting. They thought I was sniveling, but if smoke makes me sick, I need to leave regardless of what they think. I may have to start being more choosy about what rides I attend.
It didn’t take long before the rest of them came outside. I was glad actually. So far a lot of the day had been spent waiting and waiting. I wanted to get moving as the day was getting on.
We headed out of the parking lot with Ray leading the way. At the crossroads, instead of turning left, he suddenly veered off onto a little road and stopped. WTF?
He pulled us all off the main road to see if we needed gas. Sheesh. He could have made sure before we left the restaurant. None of us needed fuel, so we all had to u-turn and head back to the main road. We followed for awhile until we came into Chilliwack, where Ray had issues with a bus. The bus was pulling out from a stop and then wanted to change lanes. It should be noted that here in BC, buses have right of way. Ray should have yielded, but chose not to. At the last second Ray had to back off and let the bus in. Now if Ray had been alone he may have been able to accelerate and pass the bus, but when you are leading a group on a club ride, there are certain standards. Ray should have slowed down to let the bus in to keep the group together. I don’t know what he was thinking. I guess everyone has an off day now and then. Ray is usually better than that. It must have been his new face mask. Being anonymous seems to make people bold.
The group was planning on riding to Cultus Lake which would have added considerable time to the day. It would have also meant getting back after dark. Dr_bar and I decided that when we passed by the freeway, we would veer off and head home. When we got near, we got into the appropriate lane for entering the freeway. We had already informed the leader and “Jake” that we would be dropping out. Joanna saw us change lanes and wondered what the heck we were doing. Then she saw the overhead signs for Vancouver. She knew right away that we were heading back and so she made an abrupt lane change to follow us onto the freeway. I could see in my mirror that a third rider was with us, but it wasn’t until I pulled off the freeway for a fuel stop for dr_bar that I found out who it was. We had been riding staggered when dr_bar suddenly moved along beside me and pointed at his gas tank. I nodded yes and then he fell into formation behind me again.
While we were at the gas station, Joanna said she was glad someone was heading back. She didn’t want to do the rest of the big ride either. I explained that when dr_bar and I ride together, he exits for home at Coquitlam and I keep going to my exit. I told her where I exit so she would know she was on her own from there on. After I left the freeway she would probably have only another 20 minutes until she was home.
The ride home was uneventful….until we got to the approach to the Port Mann Bridge. There had been a several car pile up so the traffic was gridlocked until we were able to finally get past it. On a positive note, I sure do get lots of slow speed riding when those things happen.
When I got home later, I had not felt as positive as I had on previous rides with this group. The excessive speed earlier, the cloud of smoke during lunch and then the poor leadership of our road captain left me somewhat disillusioned about group riding. It doesn’t mean I am going to give up riding. It just means I will be more selective in the future.
I guess everyone has an off day now and then.
My wife has a black leather jacket and chaps, and I think she looks pretty hot in the outfit. (I'll catch hell for posting this if she ever reads this forum, but, hey, it's my honest opinion!) She then ruins the look by putting a yellow and orange safety vest on over the leathers! 
