On the ride: Ellen Rene, Sally Cunningham, Jim Frisone, Frank Rene, Mark Minear and Mike Cunningham

Date: 19th May 2012

Where: To the Lasalle Shrine in North Attleboro where we met for the start of the ride and had the bikes blessed. (Does that make my Honda Catholic?). We thought there would be a lot of bikes, but there were a lot more, perhaps as many as 300! Due to a mysterious mechanical malfunction Jim’s bike refused to start after being shut down. Perhaps it was tired, as a result we lost our pole position near the front and were relegated to the tail end of the ride. There were around 50 bikes behind us when we headed out.

All went well for a while, riding in parade through towns ignoring red lights (legally) and a police escort. Shortly after rounding a corner we all pulled up as another rider had ridden off the road, apparently into the trees on the other side of traffic.

After a few minutes, the rider emerged, sans bike, shaken but not stirred as James Bond once quipped. Everyone breathed a sigh of relief. Then we realized that we (our little group of Christians), were at the head the pack. So started the balance of this ride with Jim Frisone and another unknown rider leading the entire pack of 50 bikes on our own ride to the campground where the ride would terminate. So with no escort and a lot of new friends we rode off around all over; some concern was reached when we saw signs for Plymouth and Cape Cod, but our knowing leaders led us to the campground. (Once was lost and now I’m found) In fact we were the only ones there! We had beaten the official ride by at least 30-45 minutes. Helping with the food set up, we had finished lunch when they all arrived, along with Mark, who had missed us at the start, even though Jim’s misbehaving bike had moved us to the back of the bus.

After a welcome reunion with Mark, we then headed back along the freeway to save some time. After a few miles Jim came up and told me to slow down at the head of the group. (Normally I get into trouble for not going fast enough) 😉

Anyway, turns out Mark’s bike had acquired “the shakes” at anything more than around 55mph. We adjusted speed accordingly and got off the freeway at around Clinton MA.

We then had a lovely back road ride through the roads of Bolton, Harvard, past the St. Benedict Abbey, Littleton and finally ending up with our ice cream reward at Kimballs in Littleton. Thanks again for the ice cream Jim! What a wonderful day with friends.