On schedules

Last updated (UTC) $Date: 2007/06/07 03:11:01 $

Marc wrote to the mailing list:

From: Marco S Hyman <marc@snafu.org>
To: Sunday Morning Breakfast Club <smbc@snafu.org>
Subject: On schedules
Date: Sun, 04 Mar 2001 11:24:50 -0800

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

Dave responded:

From: David Gallegos <dgallegos1@prodigy.net>
To: Sunday Morning Breakfast Club <smbc@snafu.org>
Subject: Re: On schedules
Date: Sun, 04 Mar 2001 12:24:11 -0800

You are right Marco,

 I will take full responsibility for allowing Carl to change the destination
without giving you proper notice and for not having a justifiable excuse.
Next time he changes the schedule I will insist that he burn down the
restaurant before he makes the change. There are times like this that
edicated riders like you must remind the rest of the membership what we
are about, who we are, what great traditions we represent as a group of
individuals riding alone as a group. 

Today was a perfect example of how well we are organized. We had 6 starting
points and 2 destinations. We all left at different times and we got to
where we wanted to be and we talked to or about everyone that went out
to breakfast.

Thanks for the note, see you on our next ride, MAYBE!!!!!
Dave

Jerry had to comment

From: "Jerald Grainger" <grainger18@home.com>
To: <smbc@snafu.org>
Subject: Re: On schedules  TRUE CONFESSIONS
Date: Sun, 4 Mar 2001 18:45:13 -0800

IT WAS ALL CARL'S FAULT!!!
HE'S THE ONE.
HIM.
I told him I wanted to go to Duarte's, but NOOOOOO!
Something about Flame's being the "default" location for inclement weather
conditions.
I'm so ashamed.
On the other hand, it was a pleasant ride in what eventually became pretty
nasty weather.
There was even a low-flying Messerschmitt 109G overhead.
And poor Warren's brand new 'Wing is broken already.
That darn Carl.
I promise it won't happen again.  But if it does, it'll almost certainly be
Carl's fault.
Him and Bill Clinton, they're just two of a kind.
JPG

And Carl defends himself

From: CDTyler1@aol.com
Date: Sun, 4 Mar 2001 23:56:09 EST (20:56 PST)
Subject: Fwd: On schedules
To: smbc@snafu.org

I must say how much I admire Dave's ability to offer to accept full 
responsibility and then lay the blame off on me.  Especially after he was 
willing to accept a ride in my car to breakfast (wherever that might be).  
So, I made the call . . . Flames.  Remember that old rhyme: When it rains in 
Burlingame, we mainly go to Flames . . . or something like that.  Anyway, 
when Jerry Granger showed up in his Lexus, and we had the opportunity to ride 
in a really good car, the deal was set.  By the way, Jerry was showing off 
his premium sound system by featuring a low pass of a P-38 at full volume.  
It had the people coming out of the donut shop ducking for cover to avoid the 
wake turbulence.  Who says maturity comes with old age??  

We found Jerry Grey waiting for us in his car at Woodside Road.  Dave figured 
he had a better deal is Jerry's Bimmer, and road the rest of the way down 
with Mr. Grey.  I'm sure he missed the sound of the fly-bys, though.

Once at Flames, we met Warren Birmingham . . . arriving via Lincoln.  Again 
we had to demo the P-38 sound effects.  This time it scattered a bunch of 
birds.  All the cops that hang out there thought it was pretty funny too.

Warren had an interesting tale to tell.  Seems he got this new Goldwing and 
went over to the Harley shop in San Jose to rub their noses in some of the 
latest technology from Japan.  Feeling pretty good about his new ride, Warren 
did his own low pass through the dealership parking lot and then wheeled back 
onto city streets.  Well, you know how the color red tends to excite bulls.  
So there sits Warren at the light on his new GL with 250 miles showing on the 
odometer, when up from behind comes this Taurus (as in BULL).  POW . . . now 
Warren is not only the first kid on his block to have a new Goldwing, he's 
also the first to have crashed one.  Seems the 80-year old guy in the Taurus 
is a Harley rider who doesn't appreciate anything on two wheels without 
pushrods.  Too bad Warren, looking forward to seeing the new bike when it's 
as good as new again.

Mark, glad to hear your ride went well.  Dave says you're edicted (whatever 
that means).  I just think you're willing to ride through a driving rain for 
a free meal.  Too bad we missed connections today.  I suppose we should 
update our motto:  When you dine with us, you dine alone.

Carl

And Marc gets in a last word

From: Marco S Hyman <marc@snafu.org>
To: CDTyler1@aol.com
Cc: smbc@snafu.org
Subject: Re: Fwd: On schedules
Date: Sun, 04 Mar 2001 22:40:52 -0800

CDTyler1@aol.com writes:

 > Mark, glad to hear your ride went well.  Dave says you're edicted (whatever 
 > that means).  I just think you're willing to ride through a driving rain for

Can't blame Dave for that.   I chopped off the D in (D)edicated when I
copied his message to the list.   Dave was too chicken to copy the
list by himself -- or perhaps he's yet to learn how to spell SMBC :-)

 > a free meal.  Too bad we missed connections today.  I suppose we should 
 > update our motto:  When you dine with us, you dine alone.

I had the company of Bern, Sheila, and Rob, thank you very much, but that
does kind of round out the motto.   Sorry to hear about Warren's bike.
Looking forward to seeing it and getting his impressions after he's been
able to put a few thousand miles on it.

Pleasant riding (and eating) to all,

// marc

Then Sheila speaks

From: TANFTRVL@aol.com
Date: Mon, 5 Mar 2001 22:37:09 EST (19:37 PST)
Subject: Schedules
To: SMBC@snafu.org

Really disappointed not to see al of you as Bern and I usually always show up 
at Duartes. Bern especially was disappointed as we left a Saturday function 
early so he could get up early to be with all of you. In Frank's day that 
would not have happened. Once something is set, we would follow it. Guess we 
can't count on seeing you guys much anymore as we do not know where you will 
be.

Sheila

Carl's reply

From: CDTyler1@aol.com
Date: Tue, 6 Mar 2001 23:20:25 EST (20:20 PST)
Subject: Re: On schedules
To: TANFTRVL@aol.com

In a message dated 3/5/2001 10:17:06 AM Pacific Standard Time, TANF TRVL 
writes:

> Really disappointed not to see all of you as Bern and I usually always show 
> up at Duartes. 

Frank was a lot tougher than us sissy boys on Hondas and BMWs.  Next time 
we'll adopt the mail carrier's creed: neither rain nor snow, etc, etc.  I'll 
do my utmost to make the next run to Duarte's, no matter what the weather . . 
. June 17th, guess I'll be pretty safe.

Best,

Carl (the dry)

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