Despite weather that turned cold, wet, even sputtered snow upon us, we had a great weekend of rides. Who'd have thought we could actually get in the McGary Grade ride in January? Yet, we ended the day in bright sunshine.

Granted a covering of white discouraged us from starting up the Spiral Highway this morning, but it didn't prevent a 60 mile day.

Chris called to check on the roads. From my window the roads looked fine and I said so. At ride time at the boat launch, however, the splash factor looked bad. We headed toward Steptoe Canyon, never a first choice, but a road rough enough to minimize splash for Chris and me. Steve never minds 'cause he has those fenders.

The snake was mirror still as we started. At Steptoe Canyon we decided to turn back and add the Evans Loop. It was a good plan. We figured we'd have just time to leave us 45 minutes for lunch before the second ride.

Chris, concerned that Steve and made an outstanding run at his flatmaster title last week, demonstrated once again that no one touches Chris when it comes to a flat. In the open road between Red Wolf and Evans Chris pulled up short. Sure enough a double flat like Steve's last week. These cuts in the tire were about an inch apart. A long Rema patch covered both nicely but we no longer felt we had time for the Evans loop.

Turning back to town, Steve, wanted variety and asked for an alternate route through Clarkston. I don't like riding against the through streets so I took them up the steep hill by Bennett's Lumber, turned right at the top and along the fields to Libby Avenue. I was looking for Dustan Loop and should have gone that route and then down 16th. It would have taken another 10 or 15 minutes. As it was we hit 13th and then down 16th and across Fleshman. It made for variety but gave us a full hour for lunch.

Chris bailed on us to spend time with Green Bird before settling in at a friends for the Super Bowl. Steve and I lunched alone and expected no one to join us for the second round.

We were wrong. Helen was bundled up and ready to go. New stiff gloves made shifting difficult at first. And there was Debbie, Scott in tow. He'd had about 2 hours of sleep and is coming off a serious knee injury requiring cortisone and two sessions of fluid withdrawal. Says he has a twinge now and then. Didn't seem to bother him today. He liked the chase to Asotin and he and I explored the hard pack dirt above the pavement end on Asotin Creek while waiting for Steve and Helen.

Helen had stopped to report a calving to the farm family. We are happy to report mother and calf doing fine on our return.

Helen left us as we started up Clemens for Critchfield and Evans road. We had a nice tail wind from Evans back to town and finished once again in bright sunshine.

Steve and I are enjoying the variety of folks who have joined us this off-season. Every week we get a new surprise. We must have been too slow for Steve Pfaf last week, though, as we saw him riding the other direction as we headed to Asotin this afternoon. Dave Tibbals says he'll try to join us more often on Saturdays and we look to see Doug Garnes out again.

Next week is Guard weekend for Steve and the weather forecast now is discouraging. If you have suggestions for a ride, though, send them to me or Steve. He'll send out invitations for whatever I decide to do. And unless the weather is hopeless, I'll want to be on my bike and I do hate to ride alone. Join us.

For the Ride of it.