Nov-15: First-Time K-Hound Keith Moore

"I don't remember who originally put the K-Hound bug in my ear, but at the time it seemed like an unlikely goal.  Then Susan Otcenas invited me to join her and a few other riders on her newly-created Big Guns 1016K permanent from Portland, OR to Whitefish, MT.  At that point, the K-Hound seemed to be within reach. Sadly, we DNF'd the 1016K (we finished hors delais), but the K-Hound goal remained firmly in mind.  A few extra 100K, 200K, and 300K rides, and here we are.  Big thanks to all of the great people in Seattle Randonneurs, Oregon Randonneurs, and Desert River Randonneurs.  Most of all, thanks to my patient and endlessly supportive wife Kasia!"  ...  Keith Moore 

First-Time K-Hound:  Keith Moore (RUSA #5355)

Date:  November 15, 2014

Where:  Seattle-Rainier-Elma-Bremerton 300K (reversed, Bremerton start)

K-Hound Moment:  At the 210 km point, somewhere on Highway 507 between Roy and Spanaway.  We postponed the photos until the next control in Sumner, at the 250 km point.

Ride Partners:  Theo Roffe, Bill Gobie, and Geoff Hazel.  By time Theo & I reached the K-Hound point, Bill was about an hour behind us, and Geoff had DNF'd.

Keith self portrait:  "... really conveys my feelings at this point.  It was 21:30 (14 hours into the ride), 50k to go, I was wearing every layer I brought with me, and I was still freezing. It was a tough 300k."      

[Editor's note:  I usually do NOT care for "selfies," but this one is the exception that proves the rule.  It is a much better photo than the other option offered, and if Pamela Wright ever found out that I didn't use this pic, I'd likely be in trouble.  In general, I much prefer group photos as I think that better portrays the "friends got me here" spirit that most every K-Hound will acknowledge is a major help to achieving the K-Hound award level.]  

Congratulations, Keith!  Welcome to the Klub.

Nov-23: First-Time K-Hound Patrick Herlihy

The odometer rolled over exactly 50 miles or 80 kms into the ride near the town of Esparto, California.  If I include the Super 600 (as RUSA now does), I hit my K-Hound over in South Carolina near the town of Chappells; but I'm very happy to bring up a "natural K-Hound" here in California!  ...  Patrick Herlihy

First-time K-Hound:  Patrick Herlihy (RUSA #8930)
Date:  November 23, 2014   
Where:  Rockville Ride 210K permanent out of Davis, CA.
Ride partners:  Rob Hawks (photographer & RBA of SFR) and K-Hounds Drew Carlson & Debra Banks.

L to R:  Debra Banks, Drew Carlson (peeking out from behind Debra), Patrick Herlihy.  At the "natural moment."  [Photo by Rob Hawks.]  

Post ride celebration.  Drew, Patrick, Rob.  [Photo by Debra Banks.] 

Congratulations, Patrick!  Welcome to the Klub.  

Nov-22: First-Time K-Hound Christine Newman

New Jersey K-Hounds Joe Kratovil and Paul Shapiro were my inspiration and motivation for attempting this goal.  We rode thousands of Km together and they were constantly encouraging me to go for it.  If it weren’t for their conviction that I could ride this much, I doubt I would have tried.  We had a little celebration lunch at the finish.  My wife, Eileen Bruns, and Joe’s wife, Lucy, joined us as well.  ...  Christine Newman 

• First-time K-Hound:  Christine Newman (RUSA #2861) 
• Date:  November 22, 2014 
• Where:  Capitol City 109k perm-pop (route #1989), K-Hound-moment 63-kms into the ride (i.e., on Washington St just outside Princeton University) 
•  Ride partners:  Paul Shapiro and Joe Kratovil (2/3 of the prior NJ K-Hounds) 

L to R : Paul Shapiro, Joe Kratovil, Christine Newman.  Photo at the finish in Hopewell, NJ [by Eileen Bruns]. 

Action photo, perhaps taken on Washington St. outside Princeton.  [Photo by Joe or Paul ?]

Congratulations, Christine!  Welcome to the Klub.

Oct-10: First-Time K-Hound Ian Hands

"It's funny, five years ago I made the beautiful mistake of telling Adrian Hands and friends that I was gonna grab Rando by the horns... it's almost the best silly stupid thing I've ever done! 

I can't wait to usher in 2015.  It's a PBP year to boot!  What could be better than that?! 

Don't forget what you knew as a kid... riding your bike is bliss!"  ...  Ian Hands  

First-time K-Hound:  Ian Page Hands (RUSA #6176)
Date:  October 10, 2014
Where:  2014 Taste of Carolina 1200, second day
Ride partners:  many 

L to R:  Ian Hands, Robert Bergeron (2012 K-Hound), Mary Florian (2012 K-Hound), Patrick Herlihy (2014 K-Hound in the making).  [Photo by Jenny Oh Hatfield.] 

Congratulations, Ian!  Welcome to the Klub. 

Nov-04: First-Time K-Hound Jon Gray

"Years ago when I first read about the K-Hounds of Texas and their over-the-top accomplishments, I never ever dreamed of joining their ranks. Now it’s happened. This just goes to show how far a little perseverance and encouragement from friends can get you.

After picking up the final receipt I pedaled to my favorite local bike shop, Fastrack Cycles, and thanked the guys for a great year of support, mechanical and otherwise."  ...  Jon Gray 

First-time K-Hound:  Jon Gray (RUSA #2807)
Date:  November 04, 2014
Where:   Santa Barbara Coast permanent (route #2195).  K-Hound 33-kms before the finish. 

Ride partner:  none.
 

L to R:  Luke Johnson (mechanic), Jon, Dave Letieri (owner of Fastrack Cycles, Santa Barbara, CA).  [Photo courtesy of Jon Gray.] 

Congratulations, Jon!  Welcome to the Klub. 

Oct-19: First-Time K-Hound Phil MacFarlane

"I got to 10K the morning of Sunday, October 19th. I was riding the San Diego Santee 400 at the time with Greg Armstrong (RUSA 9865).  We met on the ride.  

"I got all 10,024-kms riding brevets; I have yet to ride a perm.  This ride also represents the completion of six SR series this year (with the substitution of my 3CR 1200 for one missing 400).  Its been a great second year of Randonneuring, but I wont be riding six series again anytime soon!"  ...  Phil MacFarlane

First-time K-Hound:  Phil MacFarlane (RUSA #8400)
Date:  October 19, 2014  [Note;  official date of the ride is Oct-18.] 
Where:  San Diego Santee 400, K-Hound-moment 24-kms before the finish.
Ride partner:  Greg Armstrong.  

The "moment" occurred as we were descending a dark, fast highway with no one else around.  My wife, Joann MacFarlane, took the picture at the finish 24k later, at 04:15 (the time on the camera is wrong).  L to R:  Greg Armstrong, Phil MacFarlane.  [Phil and Greg met during the ride!  Gotta' like that!] 

Congratulations, Phil!  Welcome to the Klub.  

Sep-11: First-Time K-Hounds Mike & Nancy Myers

"Working toward the K-Hound award is a good way to motivate us to ride 3-5 100K Perms a week after work.  Actually we would probably be riding anyway, but it’s a good excuse to tell our family and friends who do not understand the “RANDO” disease, addiction, or maybe it’s the deep seated love to ride the bike." ... Mike and Nancy Myers

Mike & Nancy are the first K-Hounds from Kansas.  ("Mike and I live in Baxter Springs, KS (very southeast corner of Kansas right on Rt.66).  We are 1 mile from Oklahoma and 5 miles from Missouri, population 4000.  We joined Lone Stars (with Dan's encouragement)  because in the winter we could continue to ride down there when there is ice and snow here.  He named us 'The Lone Stars from the North'.  We now have perms of our own.  One is a 200K which covers Kansas, Oklahoma, Missouri and Arkansas (KOMA).  This perm has attracted "RANDOS" from all over which we just love, because we usually ride  by ourselves.  We bike a lot of miles in a year, but usually half or more are not through RUSA (PAC TOUR Transcontinental's, etc.).  That is why this is our first K-hound." ... Nancy)   

First-time K-Hounds:  Mike & Nancy Myers (RUSA #413 & #414)
Date:  September 11, 2014
Where:  “Weir in Kansas” (formerly “No Frills No Hills”) 102K perm-pop (route #2111), K-Hound-moment at the turn-around
Ride partners:  each other. 

L -> R:  Mike, Karen, Nancy.  At the turn around at R & J’s Convenience Store in Cherokee, KS, population 718.  Karen (in the photo with us) is always at the store to serve us homemade deli sandwiches and to cheer us on.  [Photo permission of Mike & Nancy.] 

[Photo permission of Mike & Nancy.]  

Congratulations, Mike & Nancy!  Welcome to the Klub.