All the volunteers for Party Pardee were invited to New Roma Pizza as a thank-you from Bike Hikers.Another fun get-together. Very good pizza. And it’s nice to be appreciated.The co-chairs of Party Pardee, Becky and Joyce:A shorter podium and better backlighting is needed next year. Right, Becky?

I spent last night at Becky and Rick’s house which is about halfway between E Nicolaus and Ione where Party Pardee begins and ends. This event, its 25th year, is put on by Bike Hikers and is the first big ride of the season. There were 1258 riders and 216 volunteers. I was up at 4:30 this morning and at Rest Stop #1 by 6:30. We were located in the large parking lot of a church with a view of Lake Camanche in the distance. Bike racks and lots of porta-potties.Tents and tables were set up then the fruit-cutting began.By 8 am, we were ready for the first riders.Great music at our rest stop.At our most crowded time:By 11:30, most of the riders on the short route had come through our rest stop. We were down to one table of food! Time to pack up and clean up!SAG picked up those riders who couldn’t make it.The last to go in – bags of trash. Whew! Done. What a great day. Everyone seemed to have lots of fun.But we’re not done yet. Back in Ione at Howard Park, lunch was being served.Chicken fajitas.Happy volunteers:Outside there were 30 or so vendors:Gina Silvernale, fellow LCI and friend:What a tremendously successful event. Good job Bike Hikers!And remember: