Remembering Ray by Alan Samry
The bike ride started in Gulfport, Mississippi. The Slow Bicycle Society on the Eastern Shore started out with a about 10 or 15 riders that day. Most in the group are 10 or 20 year older than Susan and me, but don’t let that fool you. They are all in better shape. We were heading east to Biloxi and then coming back. The ride down was nice wind at our backs coasting past miles of shoreline, casinos and still some blight leftover from Hurricane Katrina some six years in the past. We got to the bridge that takes you over to Ocean Springs. Only two of us made it to the top of the bridge. Raymond Parker and myself. At the top we straddled our bikes, took a drink of water looked around, at each other, gave a nod of accomplishment and stayed a few minutes in silence enjoying the view.
We coasted down, headwind in our faces now and joined the others. We stopped for lunch on the sound in Biloxi. A few pedaled ahead that day, having to get back early.
We got on our bikes for the ride back, heavier from a seafood lunch. Ray was the point man if I remember correctly. I kept pace with him for a while then he slowly pulled ahead. It was getting hotter on this ride, and we were still a few weeks before Memorial Day weekend, with no shelter from the sun.
Valerie and Ray’s wife Marie approached Sue and I, we rode together some chit chatting along, and they too kept up a brisker pace and slowly pulled ahead.
Then, I suspect I slowed some, and Sue and I kept a slow but steady pace into the wind and the setting sun. As long I saw Ray, I knew we were okay. Slowly he pulled away from us, keeping his pace, I suspect. Then we stopped for another rider, who said she needed a break. We offered to wait and ride with her, but she told us she was okay and to go ahead. When we got back on our bikes, I looked ahead. Ray was gone.
We kept pedaling, I remember my thighs were burning for the last mile or so. Finally, we rolled into Gulfport, about thirty miles round trip, the most Sue and I had ridden since we lived on Cape Cod. Another rider came up shortly and said the rider we passed was now asking for help. I don’t remember who headed back, it might have been Ray, or Bill.
After everyone was accounted for including the sweeper, the last person riding in, we headed out to our favorite place. Dairy Queen.
I don’t remember what Ray ordered, maybe just a cone, but I got the Reese’s Blizzard. We rehashed the ride, made small talk with the other riders before we got back on the road to Baldwin County, Alabama.
I hope to meet up with Ray again one day where it is not so hot.
I hear heaven is the place with cool treats.
Hoping this post finds all our Slow Bikers doing well!! On Mar. 18, 2020, SBS posted that planned rides would be suspended due to the Covid pandemic. Some restrictions have been eased but we must still be socially responsible. Biking is a great social distancing activity and our members are encouraged to post meet up rides during this time if they wish. However, due to heat and vacations, SBS will not plan any rides for the summer months as has been our tradition. We look forward to regrouping in the Fall!
As a health precaution, group rides will be suspended until the Coronavirus crisis has passed. We look forward to celebrating our wonderful friendships and good times with a ride in hopefully the near future! Take care!
Saturday March 14th: ‘Easy, Peasy, Gulfy Breezy
Sunday March 8 at 3pm: Old Towne Daphne and Daylight Savings Begins
Sunday, Mar. 1 at 4:00 – Bluff to Grand Hotel
Join us for a casual ride from the Fairhope Bluff to the Grand Hotel and Back. Meet at the Marietta Johnson statue at 4:00. We will ride approximately 10 miles at a leisurely pace on sidewalks and the Eastern Shore Trail.
For those of you who ordered a new Slow Bicycle Society T-Shirt – The manufacturer has our Safety Green Glidan Professional shirt back-ordered so they should be ready in 6-8 weeks. Remember: 1. Patience is a virtue. 2. The best things in life are worth waiting for; 3. Don’t shoot the messenger.”
Slow Bicycle Society 