Every ride leader was supposed to submit a list of folks who were on the ride and give a brief description of anything interesting that happened to the newsletter editor/publisher. For a majority of the rides, either Donna or I or both of us were usually in the group thereby freeing the ride leader from those reports. This was another place to interject my personality into the newsletter.
WHENCE & WHITHER:
…Dec 31, Brian Bogardus led Donna Bogardus, Clint Johnson, Sherri Lott, Steve Nolan and Ohio branch member Bud Puskarich on one of the quicker Moonlight Levee Rides in club history. Everyone, except Bud, felt it was a little on the cold side, the temperature was around freezing. He said it was positively sub-tropical compared to the weather he left behind in the Buckeye state. In celebration of the evening, two roman candles (1 dud) and a large bottle rocket were launched back at the South Carolina side of the Savannah River.
…Jan 1, Bud Puskarich, Jay Rumsey, Jaye Pearce, ride leader and cookie bringer Doug Walker, Joey Hopkins and all three of the club’s two seaters, the Bogardi, Steve Nolan & Sherri Lott and Gene & Gloria Luder gathered for the traditional ride to Aiken State Park. Unfortunately, mid-gather, it started to rain. After waiting and waiting, hoping for a clear spot in the skies, it was decided that it wasn’t going to happen today. Donna Bogardus elicited from those who could, a promise to meet at the same time tomorrow and try again. Even though we did not ride, we still ate those delicious homemade Walker cookies. We might have been dumb to attempt to ride in the marginal weather in the first place, but we were not stupid.
…Jan 2, Seven of yesterday’s eleven, plus three different riders rode to Aiken State Park and back today under much better conditions. On arrival they had to settle for store bought cookies, some of which were so tasteless and unappetizing that an orphaned and nearly starved hunting dog (ol’ 293) refused to eat them. Gene & Gloria Luder, Diane Gilden and Bobby Harison went on the official Sunday Fun Ride and staked their early claim on 1994’s Sunday Wonder T-shirt with 10 big miles.
…Jan 8, The Bogardi and Jay Noonkester showed for the mountain bike ride today. They made a single, cold and slightly muddy loop of the Horn Creek Trail at Lick Fork Lake.
…Jan 9, “It was no summer progress. A cold coming they had of it, at this time of the year; just, the worst time of the year, to take a journey, and specially a long journey, in. The ways deep, the weather sharp, the days short, the sun farthest off in solstitio brumali, the very dead of Winter.” Bishop Lancelot Andrewes
…Jan 15, In weather that was at least ten degrees below the legal limit (so it really didn’t officially happen and I shouldn’t even be writing about it) one other rider showed up to join leader Gene Luder in a 20 mile ride, Jaye Pearce.
…Jan 16, “The parching air Burns frore, and cold performs th’ effect of fire.” John Milton
…Jan 22, Crystal clear blue skies and upper 40’s greeted the group today. Unfortunately today’s ride leader Woody Huffines had a dose of the flu and couldn’t come out and play. But before his voice totally gave out he deputized Doug Felix as substitute ride leader. Doug found the Bogardi, Jaye Pearce, Bill Young and Clint Webb eagerly awaiting him at Odell Weeks. With so little route preparation time and the posted distance being 25 miles, a century loop was in order, and #4 it was.
…Jan 23, On what started as a sunny ride Alice Walker lead husband Doug, Steve Nolan, Bill Young, Dennis Ducate, The Bogardi, Clint Johnson and all three of the Club’s Js (Noonkester, Pearce & Rumsey) out through Couchton and Montmorenci , then home. Three people showed up with handwriting samples, and Dennis had the early lead in the sloppiest contest until Steve showed up with a note that he either worked on all night or had Jeffrey forge for him two minutes before the ride.
For the January 23rd ride, the title and description I totally made up were: Handwriting Day Ride Please bring a hand written note to Alice Walker telling her why you would like to ride in today’s ride. Prizes will be awarded for the neatest and also the sloppiest handwriting.