Far be it from me to start any mess between the Solids and the Two-Tones but unvarnished facts are required here.

I pulled into the Texaco, with my Yellow Dragon all clean and looking so pretty, at 45th & I-5 on schedule at 6:30; planning to fuel and check tire pressure.

There were Ratdog & Cyclops on those two UBBs [ugly black bikes], lights on and motors blipping....and off we went. Those UBBs went blasting through the rain as I struggled to keep them in sight.

We arrived at the VERMIN World HQ where we were joined by Scrape & Marty on....two more UBBs! I knew right then that I was in big trouble.

We all went next door to fuel at the Texaco [VWHQ really needs to be moved there] and returned to the ARCO. We departed at 7AM with Ratdog & Cy racing ahead, Scrape & Marty following and arthritic old BODO in the rear.

Now we all know that the second best rider should be last and Marty passed out a flyer the week before at the Meeting to that very effect. Now I ask you...is there any way that I was that rider? I think not!

So there we were with those four UBBs getting as far away from my pretty Yellow & Black as they could. Not that I blamed them. I mean everyone we passed pointed at the Yellow Dragon exclaiming, "WOW! What a beautiful Bike!"

We crested Stevens Pass in the rain to see blue sky ahead. Then, just a few miles before the Restaurant & gas station at Blewitt Pass, where we were to join up with Bubba et al, these four UBBs stopped for gas. Now I ask you...did that make any sense? I think not!

A red flag went up in my brain but didn't register. This is a Union 76 on the south side of Hwy 2. Turns out it is a trick station with the octane markers all set off by one pump so that the 87 regular sticker is right under the diesel nozzle, which is gas size.

[I bet this guy cleans up by first faking folks to fill up with diesel, then towing them, recovering his diesel, making the repairs and then reselling them gasoline.]

I did see the green handle but again this did not register...until a bit later. [What do BODO's brain and a fried egg have in common?]

The four UBBs were all ready to fly...and proceeded to do so. I fell further behind as my beautiful Yellow Dragon began to rasp, sputter, groan, cough, choke, and commence to lay down a black smoke screen.

2.75 miles on I pulled into an orchard just as the valiant Valk packed it in. Fortunately there was an old farmer [Jerry Gibbs] who had a need for diesel, containers for it, gas, siphon line, funnels, and jumper cables. How's that for the luck of the Irish!

Well it did take Jerry and me two hours to put things right.

I proceed on to the restaurant but no bikes remained. I entered seeking info from the waitress but what I got was the bill for four VERMIN's steak & egg breakfasts! She explained that they had said I would be along in a while and that it was traditional for the last guy to show...to pay.

I related the events that has transpired and gave her the address of VERMIN World HQ, assuring her that her bill would be promptly paid.

But then the dear lady, who had worked there for 36 years, stated that she had never heard of anything soo scurrilous. I asked her if she thought that it sunk to being truly VERMINous behavior.

When she replied that it had absolutely attained a "Quintessential VERMINous Level, I knew as soon as she slapped those two words together that I could not stiff her; and proceeded to pay her in cash with an outstanding tip and strict instructions as to how to doctor the food should any of those varmints reappear.

The bike was running good but idling a little low. I filled up at the station by the restaurant and rolled it on. Thereafter the idle returned to normal.

About fifty miles ahead I spied the four UBBs at a tavern and that is where I hooked back up.

The rest of the ride was uneventful.