Parleys Canyon Riders: 2023

“It is good to have an end to journey toward;

but it is the journey that matters, in the end.”

The year 2022 was full of many highs and a few valleys. Some PCRs rode the Triple Bypass, only 126 miles up 10,000 feet. As is always the case the group failed to stay together. Does Big Man simply refuse to stay with the group out of shear obstinance or in his advanced age does he forget to stay with the posse? MBA continues to be unfaithful to the PCRs by riding with buddies in Tucson and Colorado—in Seinfeld vernacular: bizzarro world. Who can blame him? A ride with the PCRs is only academic in the sense that they start together and occasionally during rides their paths intersect. With those alternative friends MBA has learned how to draft because those buddies actually stay together. Sexy Legs and GQ continue to avoid the ravages of time on their youthful looking bodies. Someday, time will catch up with them, it’s a pity most of us won’t live long enough to see it. While KOT/GP managed to avoid parked dumpsters this year he continued to wither away during long rides due to dehydration. EMTs had to attach a firehose to his arm to pump enough liquid in him to get him home to Lia. TR continues to flaunt his enormous sized wallet by sending pictures of his bicycle rides along the 17 Mile Drive from his new/old digs in Carmel when he needs a break from his new home in SLC. Stitch and Twitch prove the old adage is true most of the time: old habits die hard. They continue to dutifully ride the same routes at the same hour year after year, but they finally had to give up their ‘80s flip phones because 3G was no longer available. They can now be part of the text group. They’ll regret it. Hicks and Queen of Wraps continue to grace the PCRs with their presence from time to time, even if it is a roadside appearance. Craig and Lindsey never invited the PCRs to their digs in Brighton for the annual Waffles ‘n Wheels extravaganza (okay, they only did it once). What did we do to offend them? Never mind there is not enough time to consider the limitless possibilities of offenses that could have been committed by Big Man.

This year there were a few valleys. One was saying goodbye to Prez’s mother. The PCRs sang a rousing version of their theme song “Oh What a Beautiful Morning” the week before we said farewell to her. And a grand farewell was given to Big Man’s father the king of ice cream and other confections. The tributes to him given by his children solved the missing piece of the puzzle of why Big Man behaves the way he does.

In the vein of puzzles this fall Prez tragically lost a 34-year-old cousin who left this earth well before she should have. In response, Prez’s nephew Matt Hopper wrote the following observation about life’s journey:

“Life is like a jigsaw puzzle... kinda. When it begins, it is just a box of vague objects to which there is no clear orientation of how the pieces fit together. Puzzles are easiest to solve when you have a reference. It helps to have an idea of what you want the end to look like at the beginning. The edge pieces are like family. Some of these are very odd and disorderly (you know who you are), but they all come together and interlock tightly around each other. They are the easiest to distinguish from all the others and they quickly align to help shape what the big picture is going to be through your journey. You work diligently, combing through so many tiny scenes trying to make sense of them. Taking things you know can work together, starting small, and building off the edge pieces that support the framework of this puzzle. It is a bit daunting at first. Sometimes it feels like an eternity to see anything change, but as time goes by it begins to move quicker. Eventually, all the small achievements begin to fit together. A better understanding of how things are and what you're missing become a little more clear. Before you realize it, what started with unlimited possibilities quickly comes to the point where there are only a few pieces left. There is always a stillness before placing that final piece. There comes that time with every puzzle.... When they are finished. They always end with a small celebration, and we take a long moment to look at what began with just a single piece that fit next to another.

I am most certain when last piece of my life’s puzzle is laid on the table, the image will appear as if a paint truck collided with an oil tanker which then blew up a livestock hauler. It will look a bit out of sorts hanging amongst the collage of amazing contributions that this family is creating for the world, but I am forever grateful to be a part of this family. I want you all to know that I love you all so much. I think of you often and always have you in my heart. I cherish every minute that I am able to spend with all of you. Yesterday was a difficult day. There is a piece that is gone, but my hope is that one day all of the pieces of the puzzle will be together again.”

The PCRs, their spouses and friends are a wonder collection of pieces of a puzzle that together create a beautiful picture to behold.

This year the PCRs and their better halves traveled outdoors during the four seasons and shared with us a peek into the peaks and valleys they beheld with their pics. The pics are all winners, and so are the photographers. Thanks for being pieces of a memorable puzzle of memories (good, bad and ugly) during 2022.

Yippy Skippy

The best things in life are the people you know,

the places you go, and the memories you make.