Northern California - Diablo: Henry's Sacrifice Report

So I missed the Virgin sacrifice on Diablo today.:crash:
http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa292/taxi777/Descent.jpg
As I was biting into an apple fritter and casually drinking coffee my phone rings...

Henry: Pete are you riding today?
Dumb Dumb: I'm about 5 miles away at Starbucks having some coffee, ride is at 9:30 right?
Henry: Ahhh...9am
Dumb Dumb: Oh...I'll catch you go ahead

By the time I caught them after taking a wrong turn, getting stuck on my phone with problems and bonking on the way up (San Bruno killed me yesterday) They were resting at the top waiting for DUmb DUmb.

Ramon
Paula
Alan
Henry
Becky
Pete

http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa292/taxi777/EX.jpg
http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa292/taxi777/HenryAlan.jpg

I like these BF rides, always different, always "Epic" in some way. I like the rotating cast of characters too. Always a different dynamic.

Alan was determined to get Henry up that mountain before the end of the the year and He was successful! Thanks everyone for waiting, I almost turned around a couple of times, but I knew you'd wait cause that's just the way you all are.

http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa292/taxi777/MsI.jpg
http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa292/taxi777/PaulaHenry.jpg
http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa292/taxi777/TheGang-6.jpg

It was pretty cold at the top, but could have been worse. We flew in mass down the mountain. I was in the back and it was really cool I forgot to mention to everyone the six of us flying down the mountain like a flock of Ravens. I just wish my hands were'nt so frozen that I couldn't take a picture. We got down pretty quick. Henry drove Paula and I back to San Mateo. I took Henry out for coffee and I rode my bike home from San Bruno, so I ended up getting a 100k in for the day.
Lot a fun for the short time I spent with you guys...of course always a pleasure, thanks Alan for calling it and sorry I couldn't ride with Henry to the top. At least I got to pilot him up Tam for the first time...That was cool too.

Took this pict of the Bart station wall...thought it was cool...

http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa292/taxi777/Macad.jpg

It was k-k-k-cold up there today! Whew.

I picked up MsIncredible at the appointed hour and we had a nice chat on the drive to Danville. Met up with our guest of honor, Henry and Exhorserider (Becky). At about 9:10, Pete and Ramon were still AWOL, so we checked in on them. They were each running late, but we figured they would easily catch up with us, so we headed off.

The climb up was super enjoyable for me. It was about 41 degrees when we set out. Air was incredibly clear and we could see forever. The pace was nice and steady - we stayed together so we could actually converse and catch up a little.

We kept expecting to see Ramon and Pete, but at the Junction, they still hadn't showed up yet. Hmmm. I kept wondering if Pete went to the North side, instead of the South. After a while, Ramon showed up and we kept a comfy pace up to the top. Henry and Becky got to experience the last 200 yards of Diablo. It's always memorable. Pete finally arrived a few minutes later at the top. We clowned around a bit, took some photos, but none of us wanted to hang around too much, cause it was freezing up there. The clouds had started to come in and we were enveloped in damp cold. Henry wanted to get home by a certain time, so we all agreed to forgo the North road. We'll tackle it another day (when it's warmer).

We all headed down together with Paula leading the way for a long while. I was content taking it easy 'cause my fingers and toes were like popsicles. After a time, Henry, then Ramon, then Pete, then Becky took off and zipped down the hill. I stay with Paula, again just trying to keep my fingers from falling off.

Finally made it back to the car. Henry is no longer a virgin!

Thanks to everyone for a memorable ride!!!!

I saw you alll (sans Pete) coming up near the lower switchbacks... later than I would have thought. I went up NGR and down SGR and around... didn't Summit. Congrats to the ex-virgins - picked quite a day for the experience. At least it wasn't windy.

Thanks for organizing this great ride Alan. The day was beautiful and happened just a how Alan described. The company and conversation was so enjoyable, I didn't even really notice the cold much.
Diablo is a really nice climb; smooth roads and not as long as Hamilton.

ExHorseRider and SesameCrunch (Becky and Alan)
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3224/3142828577_54af64902b_b.jpg

MsIncredible(Paula)
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3284/3142828411_81710bcd41_b.jpg

Taxi777 (Pete)
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3248/3143658108_77f57eba0e_b.jpg

It was great riding with you guys again. :thumb: :D

A Paula citing ... too bad I wasn't in town, and missed it. :(

Sweet! Congrats, Henry (and all).

Sorry I missed out. I'm jonesing for a Diablo run (and I've never done it in anything other than blistering heat), but I'm about 1,300 miles away at the moment. :)