Delta Pedalers Bicycle Club

The Annual Spicer Trip
By Jay Kleinwaks

The Delta Pedalers Cycling Club annual camping trip to Spicer was packed to the gills, during the traditional Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The four adventure packed days flashing by quicker than cycling down Highway 4. Then most of us packed up and returned to civilization, while a few rugged souls stayed over for a few more days, and Jan had to face the bear alone. More on this later.

I don't know what we had more in abundance at Spicer, bicycles or dogs. Among the pine trees, 6200 feet up and 10 miles from Highway 4, the most abundant animal were ones that answered to the name of April, Yoda or one pug that looked so much like a British leader that I renamed him Winston (sorry Kevin.) There is no truth to the rumor that Mary sought out the ranger for "wild animal" protection.

Thursday's activities were organized around speculating about the whereabouts of Dick, who once again took the rails and rode to Spicer. After each arriving camper was shoehorned into a space, they were asked if there had been a Dick sighting. The first days campfire stories focused on speculation as to where Dick had pulled over and camped out. We imagined him using a windbreaker as a shield and living on his homemade pumpkin energy bars. Later we found out that Dick had defied conventional wisdom and, with twilight arriving and being 20 miles away, had stayed over at a (four star?) hotel in Arnold.

Thursday (as well as all of the other afternoons) also seemed to be centered around the beautiful lake, where Admirals Neil and Terri (and Ensign Yoda) launched their pedal kayak. Neil claims it is not Campy equipt.

Friday and Saturday's morning activities were organized around rides. For a road ride we traveling the 10 undulating miles (downhill, then tough rollers) out to Highway 4, then rode the 6 miles UP Highway 4 past the giant wooden bears at Bear Valley, past the point where Highway 4 just becomes a driveway that is closed during the winter, to Lake Alpine at 7200 feet where we dined on yellow watermelon and good draft beer. Coming back was unbelievable-almost all downhill until a few miles from the campsite. When "the Cliffs" started Dave and Bruce pretended that they were Lance and Mario.

The mountain bikers were also in full force, organizing into a few groups to do different rides depending on skill level-though the rides seemingly all had dangerous names like Slip Rock, Slippery Rock, and Super Slippery Rock. When we came back to the campsite all of the mountain biker had big grins on their faces, recounting all of the new hazards they had flown over. Heck, Mike and Jerry looked like kids in a candy store while they compared their new abrasions and bruises.

Saturday was the traditional potluck. Yes, Bonnie had finished the SPAM at breakfast and didn't have any more for dinner. Thanks to Frank and Verena for feeding my kids, and Deanna for the pork roast that I bulked up on. Thanks to Rynie for remembering that desert is the most important part of the meal. Later, Dave told his traditional scary story, changing the location from Indiana to Spicer Lake, and actually scared some of the young kids.

On Sunday, on that dreaded getaway day, there were hikes along the lake, though the need to return to base and pack up countered our desire to circle the whole lake. Or maybe it was the amount of time we spent climbing when lost-though the view down to the reservoir was fantastic.

Which left Jan as camper of the year. After starting the camping trip earlier than all of us, then bending her rim on one of the rides, she was one of the few people to stay a few extra days. One night a bear visited Jan and rummaged through her campsite. Luckily she came out unscathed-I think the bear left when she attempted to recruit it as a casual ride leader.

And yes, what you really wanted to know--the legendary vaulted toilets didn't stink this year.

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