The herald., 1895-05-06

"a
tend the ball given in the evening. Nc
STAY had telegrap phed for his dress suit TO
be sent and had the rest of us at dis
advantage. He made use of it by monop-
olizing the prettlest girls. Godfrey Smith
borrowed McStay's second best. as be
only, had his bicycle suit with him; SO the
rest OF us were compelled to act as wall
flowers. We had endeavored to prevail
upon some of the other boys to accom-
pany US on our return trip. but they all
declined; so the original Iour had to re-
turn alone. -.
We determined take different route
back, SO as to see all we could of the coun.
try. 1t was much longer and poorer
road, but the scenery was grand. Our
route lay through Santa Clara to the river.
which we forded again, thence over
sandy road which we had to walk to the
foothills of the Simi range, where the
road got better. but was all up grade and
very fatiguing. We would occasionally
run over snakes which were crossing the
road. and our natural aversion to them
smade us shiver each time, as we wele
afraid of them catching in the wheels
and being wound up In the spokes.
Finally we got into the Simi valley, but
found the worst road Of any we had had,
and were compelled TO walk several miles
of sand. In the midst of this sandy val
lev we reached Fremont, town CD con-
sisting OF little hotel, blacksmith shop
and a country store. on the door OF
which was pasted sign stating that the
proprietor "would be back in two days,
consequently it was closed. We obtained
q very nice dinner at the hotel, and the
pleasant and pretty young Lostess treated
us very nicely, wishing us a pleasant
ride upon our departure.
W finally got out OF that lonely ana
forsaken valley and commenced our
ascent of tIe San Fernando range OF
mountains The pass was through can
yon of tn most wild and grand scenery,
with INN ense rocks strewn all over, some
seemingly ready to fall OH us. needing
but a touch to start them rolling down
the mountain side. The road was only
wide enough for wagon and on one side
would go sheer down from 100 to 500 feet.
We kept walking up and up and when the
SUNNI it was reached the beautiful San
Fer ando valley lay beneath us, the most
or us sight imaginable, with its varl-
colored cult waited tracts looking like
checker board, and the beautiful green OF
its lowlands adding color to the scene.
We boys agreed that we would not have
Used tn sight for anything. and the
scene was well worth he ride. Our de-
scent was much easier than climbing
up but we had TO be very careful not to
allow our wheels to get away from our
control. and some of us had occasionally
to run into the pank to stop the momen-
tum. Every once in a while the front
man would hear behind him in accents OF
alarm, get out of my way; | canm
stop and a wheel would fly by with the
rider trying with all his might to stop,
finally running it into the bank and tax
ing header, preferring that to running
over into the canyon.
We got down to the plains without any
mishap, however. and found fine road
all do wn graue for ten miles to Chats
worth. The ride on this road was scorch
from beginning to end. and the teirlnc
pace made it little dangerous, as occa-
sionally ruts would be found. BY one OF
these Neoman got thrown and took
com lete somersaut landing without a
particle of injury in the soft bed made
by the tall barley growing close up to the
road. He got up, jumped on his wheel ana
was after us at u tearing gait n lew
miles farther and the same thing oc-
CURED again, only this time it was God
frey and Yeoman together, Smith took Il
complete turn in the air and sat down
very abruptly. he said it Jared every
thing out of place in him. and after that
we rode at a less terrific pace. We finally
reached our Frenchman Joint at Enclno
again, but this time we concluded only to
try the beer. Just before, reaching this
place the grade is down hill and fine
road. so Ulbricht and Cleaver got to
scorching again, each one trying to out
squirt the other. At the bottom of the
grade was an unseen ditch about two feet
wide, at which they came at a two-mln-
ute gait. Ulbricht got over all right but
Cleaver in trying to jump it spashed in
and got covered with mud, but the wheel
was all right. and that was all we cared
about.
The road back was over the same as
coming out but by the time we got to
the top of the Cahunega pass our sprint
ing fever was gone and we proceeded at
1 n-s,, Il IN,
in the pass Yeoman's wheel got away
from his control and he had 10 jump and
fall off, but with no serious con sequen-
ces When we reached Hollywood we
felt ourselves near home, as by that time
We were hungry as wolves. Los Angeles
was indeed the City of the Angels for us,
but they were in the restaurant. which
place we made bee line for, and salts
fled our ravenous hunger.
We have established record of eight
hours between Ventura and Los Angeles,
leaving there a. m. and arriving here
at 6 p. M, taking off one hour for dinner.
| The best previous time was near nine
hours so we consider we hold the record.
Not one of US would have missed the
ride for anything. the fine scenery and
pure air making it pleasure to tour in
this beautiful country. The one trouble
is that it is very sparsely settled and con-
sequenty it is difficult to get something
to eat as often as it is desired. The road
hog" is also at his best here. none or
very few being courteous enough to allow
us room in the road to get by and cursing
us roundly if his horses are afraid, evil
dntly thinking that a cyclist has no rights
whatever on the road. Two men
whose horses SHE'D through no fault of
ours threatened to ''lick' us and had
there been bat one or two OF US would
undou btedly have tried it. but thinking
discretion the better part of valor, cursing
us, they drove on.
A. W. CLEAVER.