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Before I knew it, I'd arrived home to find it was a bit on the "chilly side." I redressed anyway (though not wearing nearly enough as it turned out) for a ride.

"Go outside," a voice in my head said.
"It's cold outside," said another!
"Go outside..."

By my watch, I had a good 90 minutes of riding time. It would be enough to do "The Hills of Ojai."

Up Signal
Up Gridley
Up Thatcher
Up Dennison
Up Foothill (and home!)

Pavement blurring under my wheels, I'd labored up (and coasted down) Signal Street. Next it was out toward the east end...

There, a half block ahead of me, I saw a group of riders turn on to Grand. Then another group...then another, and this one larger. I rode up alongside Ron Lathrop of Bicycles of Ojai and saide, "I wondered when we'd get a ride in together!" And, we continued out toward Gridley. I had joined the James Albert Ross Memorial Ride.

I know timing is everything, and the law of attraction states there are no accidents. But, I'm still surprised at how things come together. The power of connection is amazing: the right people, in the right places, at the right time.

We congregated near the top of Gridley, where Shelf Road starts, to reflect on a life. James, we'll miss you...perhaps no on more than Fiona, front and center, leading our way always...