The FDR, 2017
I can think of no more noble and worthy gesture to commemorate two great riders than name an event after them. San Francisco Police Department’s Doug Foss, June 11, 1949-August 6, 2015 and John Diskon, April 24, 1941-September 23, 2016, from the California Highway Patrol were two dedicated and decorated Traffic Officers, both proud Chapter 7 stalwarts; each gave generously of their time and energy to participate in Blue Knights rides and events throughout several Conferences, always with a cheshire cat grin when in the saddle. Truly like brothers-from-different-mothers, each was the sibling we knew and loved for their compassion, unique personalities and presence.
Thus becomes The Foss-Diskon Ride, forevermore known as The FDR. Based upon participation, this ride may become an annual staple, however, nothing in our world is etched in stone. Geographic locale, regional weather and temperature will dictate duration, month and dates; we have repetition on the Spud Run and other Chapter journeys, we won’t on The FDR.
As noted in open forum and with discussion at the Annual BKCa7 Christmas Party, our inaugural ride will be Tuesday, June 20 through Thursday, June 22, 2017. We will meet and greet Tuesday at the combined Chevron/Starbucks, 4490 Central Way, Fairfield, 94534. Arrive early enough to gas up, get caffeinated and attend our requisite 5-10 minute riders meeting; at 0800 sharp we’re in the wind. My steady-state riding buddy of eons, Cliff Heanes, will lead the placid (flaccid?) “Touring” group, I’ll charge forth with the “Sport Touring” riders.
Two groups northeast bound, we’re riding 255 miles to Susanville via Ca. 70 through the beautiful and scenic Feather River Canyon with calculated rest, food and gas stops enroute, meeting up at each waypoint within minutes of each other will be the norm. Book your lodging for June 20 and 21 at The Red Lion Inn, 3015 Riverside Dr., Susanville, 96130 (530 257 3450) under group code “The FDR Ride”. I have 15 Dbl. Queen and King rooms reserved at a manager’s special rate of $95.00 each plus tax. The hotels group policy is a 2 week cutoff and 24 hour cancellation clause. However, being intimately familiar with this quality property, I know their 66 rooms will book up a month or more in advance! Should we need more rooms, you could be SOL
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We will spend Wednesday the 21st on a late morning leisurely 86 to 100 mile tour of Eagle Lake and surrounding areas before lunch and then adjourning to the cool and calm waters of our hotel pool. Perhaps a brie and chardonnay salute to The Donald is in order as more career politician’s exodus the District of Columbia?
Thursday at 0800 we depart Susanville for home via historical Ca. 49 through the Gold Country into Auburn, then past Fairfield on I-80, thus completing this day’s 265 mile trek.
Customary to other group rides I lead, we’re looking for a chase car or pickup to accompany us with a couple ice chests stocked with water and Gatorade. Hopefully the weather won’t be too hot, but having witnessed several cases of heat prostration due to lack of hydration, we will error on the side of safety. Each rider will be asked for a $25.00 stipend to defray that vehicle’s gas guzzler propensity.
If you are attending, please send me an email. Should you want daily turn by turn routing and waypoint addresses (something I strongly encourage) let me know and I will forward them to you as MSW attachments. Use them to program your GPS, or at the least, print and bring with you.
Dennis Brown, His Own Self hos6350@sbcglobal.net
Dennis M. Brown