Happy New Year 1987

I got my first "real" Mt. bike in 1986 for my birthday. A beautiful Skyway Sherpa Scout. I rode it with the Gang (chain that is) on many a Klickapudi, Boulder Creek and South Fork mile. As the year grew long, someone asked if I was gonna ride the New Year's Day, "Eye Opener" with John Stein. I had not heard of it so I got the details. Crack o' dawn, Jones Valley boat ramp, rain, sleet, snow... we ride. I shook my head in disbelief as I arrived at the parking lot in the pitch black night of that 6:30 A.M., January First hang over. I had only slept about 3 hours. A small snow was falling. I had been duped! I imagined them all snug and warm in their beds, laughing their asses off at me. I stood there blowing smoke rings, hopping around in a futile attempt to get warm when suddenly, I heard the sound of an approaching vehicle. It was Mike McHenry. He jumped out of his bus and yelled at the top of his lungs, "Happy New Year!" Soon another vehicle arrived, then another. Then Donnie Ferguson arrived, on his bicycle, having ridden in from Central Valley. Within 15 Min's. the parking lot was cluttered with cars and bikes and lots of people. Around 7 A.M. John gave a little welcome speech to approximately 30 riders and then we were off on the barely discernible, but lightening, trail. What happy memories!