You could feel the warmth already rising off the asphalt in the cool morning air when 10 riders showed up for the expected Hidden MeadowTrail ride on Sunday. But Reuben had other ideas and, like sheep, ewe know that we ruminated a little but nevertheless followed him. Andy, Rod, Joe, Nelson, Mario, Mark, Sergio, Patrick, and Robco followed Reuben via the pavement onto the DoubleTree entrance over to Palo Comado Canyon. We pedaled up the canyon to the connector trail that brought us to Shepherds Flat where the flock was able to graze before heading over to Gas Pipe. Down that exciting singletrack to the Las Virgenes Fireroad which eventually brought us to the hottest part of the morning ride--the painful climb up Little Baleen. Down to Chesebro Canyon we headed where Joe split off from us to head back early. The rest of us planned to pedal up Sulfur Springs Trail back to Shepherds Flat to then retrace our path back home. But Nelson's rear derailleur derailed our plans at this point. His pully cage somehow got sucked up into his rear wheel spokes and tore off his derailleur at the hanger. We shouted after Joe to see if he could wait to ride back with Nelson, but he was already out of earshot. It was here that I finally snapped the only photos of the day.

Mark, Sergio and Patrick had to get going and so continued on up Sulfur Springs while the rest of us waited for Nelson to finish his repair. With the repair made we--now Andy, Reuben, Rod, Mario and I--all decided to accompany Nelson back over a couple of the fireroads that linked Chesebro, Palo Comado and the street. Even with the single speed Nelson was able to power over most of the uphill and we made it back to the cars at just about the same time that the other 3 got back. It was getting pretty hot and I think that all were glad to be at ride's end. Some left, a few ate.