Annual Waller Family Bike Ride set for July 4

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Residents and their guests are invited to participate in the annual Waller Family Bike Ride on the morning of July 4.

For the past 12 years, Karen and Taz Waller have opened their driveway at 30525 Longhorn Dr. to a large crowd for an annual 4th of July breakfast and bike ride through Canyon Lake.

Tuesday’s Waller Family Bike Ride will kick off at 9 a.m. with bike decorating. The bike ride will begin at 9:30 and will travel down Longhorn Dr. to Happy Camp, loop around the campground, travel back on Longhorn Dr. to Big Range Rd., loop around Big Range Rd. and finish in front of the Waller home where everyone will share breakfast.

“Everyone is welcome to participate, we even get people in golf carts who can’t or don’t want to ride bikes. Anyone planning on attending should bring items to decorate bikes (or golf carts) and a breakfast dish to share,” said event founder Karen Waller. “We also want to remind parents that kids riding on bikes need to wear helmets.”

What began as group of neighbors looking to fill time on the morning of July 4, 2004, has ballooned into an annual event, drawing hundreds of people, and bringing residents together for fun, food and exercise. The event has also raised thousands of dollars for Canyon Lake families in need.

In previous years, the Waller Family Bike Ride raised funds for Canyon Lake families in need. In 2014, participants raised money for the family of 15-year-old Sam Siroky who died from injuries sustained in a bicycling accident on Vacation Dr.

In 2015, the event raised money for the Baine family when Danny Baine needed a liver transplant due to Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis and could no longer work.

“We hope we don’t have a reason to raise funds, as it means there is a Canyon Lake family who is going through a difficult time,” said Karen. “Thankfully, we don’t have a family in need this year.”