Waking up on Saturday morning I was not well. Sore and tired, sneezy and congested. I wasn't certain I could make the whole ride. I might have even returned home once I determined I wasn't leaving anyone riding alone.

Then I backed "Mr. Black" out of the garage and allowed him to warm up in the 28 degree weather as I continued my layering of clothes and packing essentials in his bags. Shortsightedly I included a cell phone and a digital camera with dead or near dead batteries.
Purposely getting an early start so I could get a biscuit and some coffee I pulled out of my driveway with a rumble to towards the meeting point. Each block I traveled I felt the crisp fresh air and my congestion trying to clear so I took the long way to the meeting, rolling on the throttle. Like me and other internal combustion engines, Mr. Blacks power plant loves gulping fresh air especially when it is cold.
I reached the Grand's on Brownsville Rd. and Hwy. 92 first and needed tissue and some pain medicine along with my morning coffee and biscuit.
Friends and fellow riders began to show and gas "Kendra", "Eore", "Jenna" and Chad's bike ?...uh.. Kodak? Duane's Dad, Mike and his luxury liner aka a Goldwing was already gassed and dressed for a cool morning.

There was six bikes and eight friends in for the ride, two pairs and four riding solo. Great weather, very few incidents and all returned home safely. I will divulge that a nice front porch dining break in Warm Springs at Paradise Cafe was excellent and though the time we waited for our lunch was a little long, it allowed time for an integral part of any great ride and that is the time to talk about the day and tell a few stories about our other rides.

I won't go into much more detail about the day because that might take away from the pleasure we all had. Plus I probably could not put into words the emotions that I experienced on this ride. We traveled, nearly a couple hundred miles and you'll just have to be in on the next one to know the joys.

Though it was by accident, not having my camera or my cell phone was a blessing in disguise because the memories are strongest when felt than when seen.

Returning home early Saturday evening I was sore, tired sneezy and probably more congested. I was proud I had made the days ride but unlike the beginning of my ride at the end......

Thanks to friends Ali, Alyssa, Chad, Duane, Jeremy, Mike and Vern I was well.