"You are no longer allowed to set up a newbie ride in the fall! Your luck SUCKS!" came out of Godfathers mouth once he took off his helmet at the gas station in Bowie. And he's right on the money. I am now 0 for 2 for newbie rides recently - and I am the godfather of the North Beach Ride. Every once in a while, I get a hair up my azz to rally up a newbie ride. I do it becuase people took the time out of their busy schedule to do the same for me. So, I like to return the favor. Originally, about 35 people were supposed to show up. I also posted the ride up on .NET. Realistically, I expected to have about 50 (damn lurkers!). I was watching the weather and the storm was supposed to blow over before Sunday. I was planning to cancel the ride early Saturday but I just kept on getting the feeling that I should hold off..And I'm glad I did.
I woke up late (WHAT A SUPRISE) because I didnt get to sleep till about 2:30 thanks to my neighbors and a lot of beer. I look up in the sky and its REAL cloudy. Roads real wet too..IBut it doesnt feel like rain just yet. But I wonder how my Bridgestone BT002 will do in the rain. I got to the original meeting spot a little after 11 at the BP and Jonathan750 was anxiously waiting. Godfather just hit up Jonathan and told him that hell meet us at the Exxon. I received a page from Doublins and he texted that he was on his way up. Aroudn 11:40, Jonathan750 and I are waiting by the treeline when we hear Doublins pulling through the circle. I see him looking around but were blending into the treeline. I then realize that he doesnt see us. Well, he goes around the round-a-about and starts heading towards the Exxon in Bowie. "Aww..***!" We both jump on our bikes and take off after Doublins.
We pull up to the Exxon and Doublins sees me. We all pull in the back meeting spot at the Exxon and start waiting for people to show up. One by one peole start trickling in...Badazz...Godfather...Greygixxer..Now theres six of us. At first, we werent going to do the NB route. "Roads too wet.." came out of everyones mouth. "Who's leading..." Badazz looks up and points over to me.. "He called it...His ride.." I look up and its still real cloudy but it shifting. "FAWK IT..NB it is. Lets go." We all jump onto Governors Bridge Rd. Its REAL WET AND SLIPPERY! I do a little slip action and realize, and DOublins and Badazz yelling didnt hurt either, I was going way too fast. So, I slowed my butt down and conccentrated more.
The roads weren't that bad. But the road conditions definitely wasnt good for newbs. The bad thing about it was that each of us were kicking up debris from the road to the other riders behind us. Tree branches everywhere along with whatever that crap was growing from them..Looked like apples. The sun tried to peek its head out on the way to North Beach. But, where there was tree cover, was WATER. Not many puddles but the road was wet. I LOVE my Bridgestones. They STUCK to the ground. Parts of Patuxent Road were dry...RIght at that 10mph turn was REAL WET. But we all went through with no problem. Polling House Road was more of the same..Open Sky - dry road. Tree cover - WET. We start riging through Deale Rd, Solomons Island Rd at a good but cautious pace and it was fun. Couple of blind switchbacks with a wet road never hurt nobody! We start picking up the pace little by little. I look behind me and theres badazz leaning off his bike like hes at Summit. We arrived at North Beach and my head is a ringing. I forgot my ear plugs at home. SO, we stop at that Bar/Resturaunt right at the stop sign once you enter North Beach and got a little food.
Once we get back on the road, were off into Calvert County. No rain and the roads were drying up. We were able to get a good pace going and it was a blast. I dont remember the name of the road but its the one we make a right at after Ledo's Pizza. The roads pretty much dry and no traffic. Back and forth, left and right....Up and down....FUN FUN FUN. BUt, were still being a little cautios because you never know what the storm left behind. Now were at Rt. 2 before you know it with grins on our faces. Since we got a late start, I had to call my ride short. We start heading down Rt. 2 since it was the quickest way home. A couple of times, I dont know how it happened, the throttle just opened up for a quick little blast..
Well, were headed down Rt. 2 and I look up. I see a REALLY dark cloud coming. Then, a couple of drops hit my helmet. My spider senses go off and we pull into the CItco Gas station at the circle. And then God opened up the flood gates. It started to POUR! So, we sit there for a good 30 minutes. The rain starts easing up and Jonathan heads out. The rest of us still wait to give the rain a chance to leave out. The rain stops and the sun comes out "WHAT LUCK!" Godfather takes off to go home in the other direction. Doublins and I decide to continue our trek down Rt. 2. I look up again and see another cloud. Were about to cut right through it. A couple of rain drops hit my shield and BOOM - The monsoon starts all over again. We ride through it and come out the other side. Doublins turns off and I ride away on Rt. 3. Everyone is home safe and sound.