Six Dink Rule

So here it is, 6 days after the fact, and I still haven't finished Last Friday's story. I'll try to be brief (this is almost like the TV show M*A*S*H* running longer than the Korean War).

So we arrived at "Midnight Simon's" place. A 2nd floor warehouse in an area best known for poultry processing by day, and hookers by night.It had all the early hallmarks which say "high class". The bonus of many bikes locked up outside just added to the atmosphere. I thought it was odd there were so few bikes about (relatively speaking) when the pack I was with arrived near the tail end. While I was looking for a place for my baby, somebody at the door (well, just inside it when another person entered) said there was plenty of room inside. Puzzled but encouraged, we entered. After struggling through the door, I wondered what on earth the guy had been talking about. It was just a vestibule, with NO ROOM! Then somebody came out of another door from a stairwell, and I remembered overhearing that the place was on the 2nd floor, and another person confirmed. Into the stairwell with my bike, up the stairs, and smack into a bunch of others dooing the same thing. There were bikes everywhere, locked to every spot possible on the handrail, zig-zagging upwards. There was even some wierd ledge/window seat type place (6ft above the landing) that people had/were hoisted/hoisting bikes. Now I was REALLY confused. The guy had said there was lots of room inside, but it looked pretty full to me! So I'm standing on the stairs, dazed and confused, and yet another person says to go inside, there is tons of room there. Skeptically, I mount the lastfew stairs, open the door (another struggle) and enter.

So inside the door is this area about 10x10ft with a ton of bikes piled up in it. I go to find a good spot (as I had my backpack & panniers with me. Planning. I had my stuff for starting my work week with me, and that is a fair bit o'stuff). So as I'm putting my stuff away, i see the totality of the venue. An old warehouse, not converted to suites, but with pockets of impedimenta for daily living arrainged around the outer walls of an area about 30ftX30ft, half a dozen structural pillars in the central area, some couches/chairs TV etc in the very middle, plus easily 150 people (probably more). The various activities included: dancing (VERY loud dance music with a dedicated DJ), talking, drinking, smoking (OK, if it were tobacco, I wouldn't have mentioned it), and ........mini-bikes!

All the Zoo-Bombers from Portland and lots and lots fo the Alley Kitten participants were there, and so were there bikes. Going around and around and around. Circling the central living space, amongst the dancers and hordes of partiers, and those pillars. So I did some dancing (after all, a had surpassed my six drink rule -no dancing before 6 drinks) and socialising, and eventually one of the mini-bikers needed a break, and handed me a bike. What a blast! After my 2nd lap I realised that there was another obstical on the course. Or should I say several. As we were riding, various dancers, et al, would give the passing cyclists sideways shoves to unbalance them. Some people would stick out their feet as if to trip you (and on a little bike the effect was like going over a huge speed-bump). If anyone crashed (a frequent occurence) s/he risked losing the bike to a new rider. There were many multiple pile-ups. The riding was not slow.

This went on for many hours. I left at 03:30 with the last hard-core batch. If you really want, I can show the pictures of my wounds. Although the bruises on my knees don't show too well. The nasty shin scrape is the best. Shortly after I discovered it (hard to imagine I didn't notice right away, considering it is 6in long), before it started to congeal, I tried to lick it, but was unable to get a good taste. I know what you are now thinking, if I were doing yoga, my flexibility would be such that this would not be a problem (I mean the licking, not avoiding the crash, however it was that it happened). I couldn't quite balance well enough, so I had to forgo the autovampirism.

I got my stuff (nothing missing), and rode to work, and had a little rest (not sleep though) as it was 04:30 and I didn't start till 06:00.

All in all, it was a great time. It truly lived up to its billing. Now I must finish as I have to prepare for the regular 4th Thursday Midnight Mass.