 Where's John? Who's John?
Our rides usually end with a beer or two. With this bunch, rides start and end with suds. So the group, including three new Spokane-based riders (13 in all!) got off to a slightly later start than usual, but a good start nonetheless.
Rick led a brand-new tour proceeding south along Cheney-Marshall Road to Sherman and Curtis Roads, with a return past Eastern Washington University, then Betz Road to Melville. The route included bits of most of what makes the Spokane area so picturesque, including lakes, pristine wetlands, wheat fields, and small-town main streets; for scenery and lack of car traffic, the route seems likely to become a group favorite.
Three things, ranging from comical to somewhat more serious, to seemingly inevitable, marked this week’s ride, in order: a bee, a breakdown, and a bust.
Shortly after arriving in Four Lakes, Erin (who, riding a longhorn-emblazoned P200 with sidecar) was seen pounding his own head repeatedly; this, according to Erin, was because a bee had gotten stuck in his helmet. Second, John, self-described “red-headed stepchild” on most rides (his under-powered Vino to blame), broke a transmission belt atop the Sherman grade and was unintentionally left behind. Third, two of the 2% crew decided to run a red light on the approach downtown. Each received a $101 ticket.
Comical? Erin’s bee, obviously. Wish we'd shot a movie of it.
John’s breakdown worked out OK, even though the group didn’t realize he was missing until much later in the ride. (A ride home with a companion and a quick cell phone call had both he and his bike back in town even before the group arrived).
Seems like we see blatant red-light running every day in Spokane, so it might be considered a bit unfair for two scooterists, riding at the back of a large group, to get nabbed and ticketed for such an infraction. But it also seems that 2% Bryce, one of the two caught, has a reputation for running red lights on every ride. This time, by chance and unknown to the two, a patrol car was right behind them when the light turned. Unfair? Maybe. Inevitable? Probably so.
The group reconvened afterwards at David’s Pizza for slices and PBR, and talked bikes, cops, upcoming rides, and next year’s Amerivespa .
All in all, it was one of the best Thursday rides we’ve had this year. Let’s hope for many more like it before the 2006 season closes! 
August 3rd Ride - Flash Photos
|
News 
