On schedules

[Marco S Hyman <marc@snafu.org>]

The forecast says rain, with storm like conditions at the coast. Yet
the rain has stopped, at least temporarily, at my house near 92 and
280 when I open the garage door around 7:00 AM.  Decision time: old
bike, new bike, or car.   My Darien suit will keep me warm and dry;
a car is not needed.  I'd like to ride the '66 BMW, but the potential
for gusty winds leans me toward the heavier '99 K1200 LT.  The windshield
on the LT is another plus.  I put on the Darien, start up the K1200 LT,
and ride off to the gas station.  The tank is filled.  A short ride later
I'm at the the Ralston entrance to 280, waiting for the group.

Given the weather conditions I expect few, if any, bikes.  At about
the proper time a car passes the Ralston entrance with the passenger
window rolled down and an arm sticking out in the wind, waving.
That must be the group.   I wave back, start the bike, and head on
to 92.   I move over to the left hand lane to stay on 92.   The car
stays in the right hand lane.   It looks like it's heading for 280
southbound.   That's not the way to Duarte's in Pescadero.   It is the
way to this small essay on Schedules.

[For proper mood place tongue firmly in cheek before reading]

When you ride with us you ride alone.   With that as our operating mode
there are two key items needed to keep the group together:  1) departure
time, and 2) knowledge of the destination.  These bits of information
allow choice; the choice to meet at the departure time and ride together,
the choice to leave at different times, and the choice to take alternate
routes to the destination.

Departure times are a matter of tradition.   Sunday morning breakfast
rides leaves at 7:05, sharp.   All other rides leave at either 5:00 AM
(Death Valley early group), 6:00 AM (Death Valley late group), or
7:00 AM (Gardnerville, Kings Canyon Camp-out, etc).

Destinations come from the schedule.  Much thought and many hours are
put into the schedule.  Mistakes are sometimes made, e.g. scheduling a
small Gilroy restaurant during Garlic Festival weekend.   Such errors
are corrected the next year.

Schedule changes are some times necessary.  Restaurants burn down
(Skippers in Moss landing) or close (Just Breakfast in Santa Clara).
When a change is necessary the web version of the schedule is
updated, a notice is added to the main web page, and e-mail is
sent to the mailing list.   That is the procedure followed just
last month to notify the group about the replacement for the
recently closed Just Breakfast. 

And then there are ad hoc changes.

The schedule, both the web version and the mailed hard-copy, has
this entry:

    Mar 4    Duarte's Tavern    202 Stage Road (92/1)    Pescadero

So why did the group -- in a car, no less -- decide to go elsewhere?

Had they gone to the scheduled location they would have had the
pleasure of breakfast with Bern, Sheila, and Rob.   Sheila and Rob
even fought over the check:  thanks for breakfast, Rob.

FYI: the ride to Pescadero was a bit blustery from about San Gregorio
to the Pescadero turn-off, but otherwise not too bad.   I rode back
Pescadero road -> 84 -> 35 -> 92.   No wind.   On and off rain.  Lots
of debris on the road, but nothing to compromise safety.   Actually,
it was a fun ride.

// marc