Ramona A. Warren Memorial/E. coli Ride

I know the title is a bit odd, but allow me to explain. On Friday night I rented a van and took me and my new bike down to Hollister, my hometown. I woke early on Saturday, ate some eggs and toast in my childhood kitchen, tightened a few bolts and headed out on my first bike ride in months. A 42-mile loop via Quein Sabe Road and Hollister Hills.

But this wouldn't be just another ALC training ride in the line of the hundreds I've done in the last three years, no sir. That morning my Dad would explain to me exactly where my Mom was born, we determined it was just beyond DeRose and Pietra Santa Wineries in a small shack they may still be there. Toward the later part of our ride the winery would in fact be a re-group stop for us. We met at my old high school, just yards away from where I ran track and watched so many Haybaler football games. The riders had come from Santa Cruz, San Jose, San Francisco and even Fresno. Most of them would be visiting and riding in San Benito County for the first time. The air was cool and we did our routine stretching, read the rules of the road and went over the route just like any other ride.

But this wasn't just another ride for me. I've been sick, without a bike and without transportation just to get to the big "H". The odds were against me. Determined, I bought a new bike just the day before, began to feel better almost immediately, cleared my calendar and rented a car just in time. When the Training Ride Leaders were introduced and just before we left I paused and told the following story to the group:

'I created this ride on the ALC calendar a year ago with David G. taking over as the point person. He is doing a terrific job beyond me (creating 3 annual rides in '07 - with this being the first). This is my hometown and my Dad and eldest brother live just blocks away. We will be traveling right by where my mother was born, she died last year and this is be my first ride here since she passed and I am riding in her honor (I have a photo of her attached to my bike). For me, this would be anything but routine. I really appreciate everyone coming down and I know you're going to love this ride. I can almost gaurantee you'll see more animals and nearly as many wineries (slight exageration) as you would in Napa.'

One person asked for my Mom's name, and I proudly said, 'Ramona, thanks for asking.'' Later , another rider, struggling up the rolling Hollister Hills told me she was inspired by my mom and it helped her to continue on. Later she would hug me as did others.

We would all meet again in Paicines for our lunch stop where just the day before the spinach ecoli outbreak was linked via DNA testing. It was a national headline story in the tiny town which was now put it unfortunately on the map. And that's just where we were headed. We didn't eat the spinach at the Paicines Market but most did partake in decent burritos and burgers where just feet away was the unusual sight of numerous cars that must have been press covering the big story. There was a buzz in the unlikeliest of all places. And I'm not just talking about a bunch of strange men (and two women) in spandex and bright orange jackets.

Near the half way point a speedy rider not connected with ALC came flying by. We recognized each other as old friends from Hollister, Kevin Colton, and reminisced for nearly an hour about all the mutual friends we had in common and biking in general. This gracious guy was interested in our ride and I got to hear about some of his relatives I know that I lost touch with. It was a pleasant surprise and a part of why I enjoy "going home."

This wonderful day ended with a full meal at David's house with his partner Bill generously staying home cooking all day. Bill is famous for his cheesy bread which I had been thinking about since the year before. Oh, and ahi tuna to-die-for. A great group of tired people reminiscing about the days ride, biking in general, Paicines, Hollister, Ramona and E. coli.

So now you know the rest of the story.