Thursdays ride and meeting

The Ride


The ride left David's Place at 6:02pm, it wasn't a full compliment of bikes but that may have had something to do with the reports of severe thunderstorms, high winds and (across the Scotland area) Hail. But at least we have determined that there were four members of the Club  (and one rider) with the intrepiduity (dumbness) to take on mother natures threats. As we pulled out of David's onto rte 85 the light rain actually stopped, the sun came out and we had a nice ride up 85 to route 82, past the Hop yard to route 156 into Lyme. We hooked a right onto Macintosh then another onto Mount Archer. The sun was shining through the trees making everything glisten after the last rain. Mount Arthur took us to Brush Hill then deposited us back on route 82 in Old Lyme. The sky was beginning to darken a bit as we turned left following 82 into East Haddam. When we arrived at the route 82 and route 149 merge, I had a choice, I could follow my original plan and take 149 north along the river towards Colchester or change direction, cross the Connecticut River and follow 154 south to Old Saybrook. 154 west and south was under Blue Skies and billowing white clouds, 149 headed into Mordor, The sky was black with a very ominous yet attractive orange aura about it. I turned towards  Mordor , A little adversity is good for the soul. 
We cruised up 149 which is an excellent road along the river, nice views, great pavement, little traffic. As we rounded the corner into Moodus, we caught a few spaterings of rain. As we passed through Moodus the rain increased, but up towards West Chester it tapered off, and I began to believe that was all there was. A right turn on 16 and the rain came back, and although it didn't down pour, it was a rather constant, stinging wall of water from there, down 11 to route 354, along Old Colchester road and onto Moxley, where it finally abated. We lost Carey because of Dunkin Donuts in Colchester. At one point I pulled up under the bridge on Lake Haywood road to see if the others had a route preference and was told by a soaked-through Kaitlyn that, "She Hated Me".


Arriving back at the Club, Kaitlyn (soaked) solicited her need for someone to help her remove her pants, after a large group volunteered to assist her with that function, Tree was chosen and Kat spent the rest of the meeting walking around pants less.


The Meeting 


Many times I have heard complaints that the meetings last too long because of Tom's stories. Well I am here to set the record straight. The meeting was a short one, just a half hour long. We read the minutes, heard from the Honor Guard Captain, then The Road Captain discussed the reason to ride (with embellishments), we heard the county reports, and the standing committees. Middlesex reported on the Tuesday night ride and dinner, New Haven reported on their ride(s) and dinner. Their assigning a new recruiter and mentioned a prospect. The good of the Club brought more talk about Windham and the reason to ride, there was talk about Ricks Memorial on the 16th, The boating course, and a few other matters. Tom told us of the Oxford Ride, complete with Tom'isms, and we finished up the evening by voting in the Youngs from Westerly RI. (We are giving them a week to adjust before we tell them they hold the South County Chair).


The meeting was a half hour long...so...maybe it isn't Tom, perhaps it has something to do with the members who were not at the meeting, the Members who are at Americade...The E Board members at Americade....Just a thought.


klay