June RAP: Aimless

June 05, 2021

June RAP: Aimless

The RAP (aka: Ride Around Pomona) returned this morning. And it did so with a bang or, more accurately, a hissing sound (I guess, since I wasn't in hearing range at the time), and with clattering, crashing sound (which I was close enough to hear, and see).

A quite sizable group turned out for the pandemic return of the RAP; there were familiar-faced riders on familiar bikes, there were new riders on old bikes, old riders on new bikes, even new riders on new bikes, and old riders on old bikes, which pretty much covers the spectrum. I think the regulars have gotten so used to the monthly rides being themed that when one comes along that is "aimless," we still try to figure out the theme as we ride along.

Anyway, this was one of the non-themed ones and so we wandered, following Marcus as he wove a path all around the city, up one street, down another, over by Ganesha, then up to some heights for the usual group shot. While I don't think the route was completely unplanned, I do think there was quite a bit of improvisation to accommodate a morning of unusually heavy load of freight traffic on the iron rails. And, you know, that is okay by me. - the aimless ride is always a good way to discover new places, see new things - like Hamilton Park - i've been busy drawing up construction details at the office lately for Hamilton, the latest of the city's parks to come up for refurbishment. And like the art - Pomona's downtown arts district, where the ride starts always has a lot of art to see, from the Millard Sheets fountains (all nicely restored now), to large building-sized murals. Today there were also painted k-rails, paintings hung on fences, and portraits of the Goddess Pomona hung on buildings.

It is time to look forward to these monthly excursions again. Come out and join the fun - the first Saturday of each month (the July RAP may be postponed a week to accommodate Independence Day weekend - watch for announcements).