Well another year is upon us...

2012 rolled in just like any other day, no difference except maybe for the few of us that did not weather New Years Eve all that well.

The Club had it's first ride of the season, meeting at Norms Diner at 10am or earlier, some later. We had a great turnout, riders from New London, Windham, Branford, Middlesex, and Tolland/Hartford Counties were all present. The day started off cold and the roads wet from the night before but by 9am most of the black ice had disappeared, by 10am it was all gone. The temperature went into the low 50's on a sunny bright day.

Norms was packed, and as people finished we moved outside to allow others in to eat. Tom lead the contingent down one of, if not the worst paved road in Groton, Thames Street. The bikes were up front followed by 4 cages and two Road Guards to the rear.

All heads turned as we rolled into Eastern Point and parked the bikes. Every year we seem to find one more nut in the Club. Three years ago it was Dave Adams who decided to join the insane, strip down to a bathing suit and head for the ocean waters. Last year Dave was joined by his brother Doug in the loony run. This year, we found we have two more nuts amongst us, Dave was joined by Kaitlyn Perkins and Chris Llorett.
The run went off on schedule everyone ran in, everyone ran out clamoring for towels and blankets, but..two of the winter revelers continued to swim around out in the cold.

Our people came ashore and stayed ashore. Wrapped up or re-dressed they joined us and stood around a while talking as the crowd thinned. Tom again mounted his trusty steed, Old Red, and led the Club along the area's pristine paved bi-ways to Dunkin Donuts on route 82 between route 154 and the Goodspeed (East Haddam Bridge). Myself, having other commitments headed to the Dunkin at Five Corners in Groton. Having shed the jacket and chaps the ride there and back along route 1 to Stonington was a lot more comfortable. Joined at Dunkin by the three Divers of Daring-Do and one member who was dealing with the after effects of New Years Eve Alcohol intake partook in a cup of Joe and some more talking. Then... Dave headed off for a ride and I towards home as the cages headed to points unknown.

I have been on this ride to watch the rush to hypothermia four years now, and I can honestly say, the pictures I took look pretty much the same every year. A lot of standing around with no crowd on the beach, then the beach fills with the intrepid yet demented, Then there is a lot of splashing water, and shrieking, followed by more splashing as the herd heads back to shore, then there is some wrapping of blankets, some jumping up and down, and then we leave.

So...here is this years contribution, but, I warn you, you've seen it before.