Midnight Madness:
We started the evening off with a pleasant dinner at the Fish Market right next to the Midway Museum. Eleven of us walked from our parking spots in the Northwest corner of the County Administration parking lot at Harbor and Grape, just like we we did the first year the recyclers did Midnight Madness four years ago. The restaurant may change, but the Recycler Tradition continues.
Paul and Greta rode a 1970′s era Green Schwinn De Luxe Tandem. Neil was a Marshall and had the honor of being the lead out rider. He was in the lead for approximately 27 seconds, when the go-fast riders went blasting past.Steve and Ryan, Francois and Lauren and Dave and Pam, were all there to enjoy the festivities.
The night was warm and the weather was nearly perfect. The uniform of choice could be anything from pajamas to tutus, with an occasional would-be racer in Lycra. The winner of the costume contest was a family dressed as The Grinch and his entourage. There was even a little dog with antlers. I saw Santa Claus with a sled made of beer barrels, followed by twelve beer guzzling reindeer and some read nosed elves. There was a butterfly on a bicycle. And there were several hundred other riders out to have a good time.
Many of the Recyclers proudly wore their Recycler Jersey’s. The ride started just a few minutes late, at about 12:05. Everyone was waiting for the signal, but it seemed no one was in charge of giving it. 
The first riders came in just under an hour. with the rest riding in behind. There were snacks and drinks. Nearly everyone went home tired but happy, after having another great time at the 37th Annual Midnight Madness in San Diego.
The Royal Road:
Loved the Royal Pain ride. Definitely a keeper. We had 9 orange shirts and one “guest”. Dave Crow, Tony the guest (Dave Crow’s friend), the other Dave (was at mid night madness last night), Tom, Charles, Russel, Allan, Santee Mike, Scott and myself.
We were hammering up and down the back roads. We picked an extra rider out on a Sunday stroll who rode with us for a while and said that he would check out the web page.
We all kept together and did the first 20 miles in Recycler record time. Once we got to the coast and turned South, Russel decided that he wanted a coffee break. So he lead us to the Java Depot across from the train station in Solana Beach. Charles, Mike and David took off. Then David C and Tony
took off cause they started out near Dave’s place and had some mileage to do.
The rest of us just leisurely rode back to our cars, mixing in with the other thousands of riders out on the road, and called it a day. Some people complained that this route was too Williamesque, but I think it was a great ride mixing the country riding going North and then the always colorful South leg along the coast…. great tail wind today.
When we got to La Costa Ave, we turned inland and took Vulcan bypassing the 101 traffic but getting stuck at a couple of long red lights.
Nice day for a bike ride. Nice workout…… Jim
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