Halloween is one of my favorites. Everyone is their craziest, and the ones too scared to be crazy seem a little crazy, too. Frank and Ruthie's party was such fun! If everyone could just have been there to see Mark and Elaine come in! They just wander on in like a couple of bums, never saying a word, and I couldn't imagine who they were! ''Now the Daugherty's always arrive in threes", I told myself, "And Harvey and Joan aren't that tall." Well of course! Those are Elaine's size 16 manure duds and Mark always goes around with his zipper open, swigging on a paper sack full of whiskey! How could I miss?

Oh, honestly. every time I looked at them, I had to laugh. We just couldn't have a serious conversation. It was a great party, as Frank and Ruthie's parties always are.

"Where's Chris, anyhow?" "Chris who!" Fighting a star war with sonic Boom! And there's Lisa, the sugar plum fairy her aching toes wrapped in blue suede adidas, Mick the ghost, sipping a drink inside his white vapor, Vera and Dan the pirates, with, 1/2 leg missing, even! Beth is always stunning, no matter how she tries to look. Her beautiful ‘sequined chemise-type dress is appropriate for all the seasonal festivities, though she insists it’s been mended many times since 1927! And Jack! I thought you would take me home for your doll collection, but you didn't! You passed me by!

Rainy Halloween.’ We’escaped Tacoma's storms on our Sunday bike tour to Monroe. Riding through the Monroe-Snohomish farmlands was like gazing through a book of Gainsborough paintings. So beautiful, and every- thing was motionless! 1 would glance back to see if a horse or cow would blink an eye or swish a tail, but they all stood motionless! Even the earth plays tricks on Halloween.

We had the most wonderful lunch at the Cabbage Patch in- Snohomish. We were served dark pumpernickel bread with cream cheese, avocado and sprouts, accompanied by fresh fruit and cheese. And the best coffee! I bet even Jack will admit that.

Jack's a scream. All the way to Monroe he entertained us in the back of Frank's van with stories about how his rain gear makes him look like a great big garbage bag and the motorists nearly pull off the road laughing! Funnier than the devil he is, and it was no time before he became acquainted on a first-name basis with the women in the Highline Bicycle Club. Such a nice group of people they are. Riding the route to the Cider Mill and beyond was a pleasure. The whole group of us enjoyed the kind of fun that lets us forget how fast our bikes might go, who just passed us, or what went wrong. The amazing things were the wonderful cider from the mill, and the place called "the Bicycle Tree" by the Highline Club. It is a huge Red Cedar tree with — an archway carved through its base. We rode our bicycles through. It was from a fairy tale, with little wood sprites and nymphs playing there among the grotesque, gnarled roots.

Back home again, and into that ridiculous Raggedy Ann costume to give a party for the children. Benjamin Bunny, Simpkin the Cat, and Meemyself the Wicked Elf arrived, wagging their little tails, They love my bike bottle - pass it around like a bottle of booze, then jam up my derailleurs as soon as I'm not looking. They're my brother's kids. Everyone remembers Amber, she led a club ride last spring!

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“Mary Ann, why are you still in Tacoma? What are you doing out there?" “Well, you see, there's this crazy gang of cyclists that I run with---"

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Ernle Chapeet Tacoma, Wa 92444
owners 531-1325

AUTUMN METRIC '77 is history now. If you have never tried organizing a century, for sure try it!) Even though I didn't ride on Sunday, the day just flew by for m. I met new people and enjoyed talking to all. I experienced several "interesting" moments in planning for that Sunday, but.all in-all it was a very enjoyable and memorable occasion.

I want to thank very much the crew that provided their outstanding assistance to the century. Thanks go to my wife Elaine, ‘Paul, Jack, Frank, Lisa, Bob, Roseanne, Chris Mick, Mary Ann, Steve, Beth, Eldon and crew and sag wagon, Ruth and her great cookies, and Yelm. The mileage flags have been mailed, mo

It was wonderful, Mark! Your ceaseless efforts in organizing the Autum. Metric are appreciated by all of us. What a ride! Three roads — one leads to Olympia Airport, [| ~nderstand! Elaine was there in the City Park all wrapped up in a blanket, how I envied her! We nearly froze in the first two miles» Mick and I stumbled into a little country store just outside of Yelm and the shopkeeper there made hot coffee for us. We yelled out the door at all our friends passing by, but they must: not have recognized us all covered with ice and slurring our words--- . Chris is a nut. He used my checkpoint to park his van and crawl in his sleeping bag for a nap. He must have thought I was working the checkpoint or something, but really I was riding around on my bike. Some hunters darn near blew our heads off. Mick and I were just sitting alongside the road there and KABLAM! We‘grabbed our tablecloth by the four corners and took off. Best of all was visiting you guys in the City Park,» What good is a day if we can't talk to each other? We stayed till sunset, joking around, and waiting for the last rider to return. : . mw

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NOVEMBER MEETING will be the first in. a series of bicycle maintenance talks.
These lectures will cover the very basics - oiling the chain, tire repair,
brake adjustments, etc. November 16. a

“Who says you can't have fun in winter on a bike?" Our Cyclo Cross races have been a lot of fun. It doesn't matter what the weather is doing - we still have fun!

Last week we received a lesson from Gary on how to fly through the air like superman while falling off your bike. And Steve Miller showed us how to skid on your can and not sit down for 1/2 hour. We also have Time Trial Cyclo Cross races the same day as the Cyclo Cross races and at the same place. So far, Gary Singleton has the best time.

We will also be starting team cyclo cross races. They will be relay races and we will match them up so they will be about equal in strength. Whether you're fast or not, these

races are for you.
Our Time Trials have been fine.
time trials, depending on who shows up.
Starting in December, each Time Trial,
points. At the end of each month, prizes wi
10 contestants with the most points.

We occasionally are holding points races instead of

Racing and Training

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It is time to start thinking about our club race in April. | We have a great race, as all of the other racers will tell. Te you. So let's keep it up and make it even better in 1978. .

THERE ARE TWO CLUB JERSEYS LEFT - CALL GARY, 474-659uU Noe ee :

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The Awards Banquet is coming up and I need ideas

on what awards to give and to whom. If you have

any ideas, please let me know. Call Gary, 474-6590

We will vote on who gets the awards at -our club meeting.

We will be handing out awards at our banquet in January and need
the Club's help in choosing the winners. Please, let's everybody
vote and return the ballot to:

Gary Singleton

5410 East C Street

Tacoma, Washington 98404

Person with the worst luck on a bicycle

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first choice

nn EEE EEE ESSERE

second choice

Ace mechanic on club rides

first choice

second choice

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Leader of the best ride of the year

first choice

ra nn nea a

second choice

Most improved racer

first choice

second choice

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Most improved tourer

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second choice

sri emus

Most cheerful face around

first choice

second choice

—