OF TOLLS AND AWARDS

On Saturday 5th September we set off for one of our monthly rides and to have breakfast and a swim at Hellshire Beach. It was the usual group of dedicated riders but two first timers (on the Hellshire ride that is) were with us. They were Peter and Grace.

All went well as we did the trip in 2 hours which is less than the last time and there were no mishaps like when Charles crashed into Betty on the last ride to the beach, causing her to have a minor spill.

As we arrived, most of us headed for a swim in the warm, blue, clear, wonderful Caribbean sea that is Hellshire Beach. Real drama started when the sumptuous breakfast was served and Betty and family had not yet arrived. When Charles called to find out what was happening, we heard the amusing tale(amusing to us, not the players!).

Winston had been driving my car over as I had to leave early for an appointment and he and Betty were behind each other. When they got to the toll booth (where the toll fee had been surreptitiously increased the night before) Lisa was no where to be seen but they had to go through in order not to create a traffic problem. Problem was, Lisa had left home without her bag (of money!) so she should not pay to go through the toll!

There was much teleconferencing between her, Betty and Charles with Betty saying she would return through the toll to pay for her. Charles had the brilliant idea that since she is a beautiful young lady she should get out of the car and let the first man she saw know that she had left her bag and had no money to pay the toll. After some balking and I guess because she was holding up traffic, someone paid the toll for her and she eventually arrived.

She arrived after we had all eaten however but before the awards ceremony. You see, when we rode up Long Mountain the previous Wednesday, Barry came up with the brilliant idea that we should start giving out awards to our members. He thought that we would start with "The Most Improved Rider' and suggested that award should go to Charles, Club Bully (his brother's designation) and host extraordinaire (my designation). He was deemed the most improved rider because after weeks of riding up to Maryland on a Sunday and complaining all the way, on Sunday 30th August, from he got on the bicycle he never stopped, surprisingly, not even to buy an orange. Fact is, even when we stopped to take a group photo he could not be found and indeed most of us never saw him after he left Hope Pastures until we got to Maryland.

There was therefore consensus on the awardee and after much discussion as to whether he should get a cup or an engraved chimmy, most of us forgot about it. But not good old Barry, for he went out and bought a trophy, had it engraved and put a picture of Charles on it. After Lisa arrived, the trophy was presented to Charles by Grace who we expect to be the next winner of the most improved rider award. In the meantime, she remains provider of delicious desserts!

But guess what, the next day as we again rode up to Maryland, the awardee stopped several times to rest and perhaps even get a quick nap, for he had spent the entire night before staying up to play cards.

I wonder if we should now start presenting trophies for indiscipline?!!!!

See photos at; http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?id=763366822&pid=3472306#/album.php?aid=140597&id=763366822