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- Joined
- Nov 7, 2004
- Messages
- 18,429
- Reaction score
- 6,508
- Location
- Sun Lakes & Show Low, Arizona
- First Name
- Brian
PMRG - Phoenix Motorcycle Riders Group - was soliciting ideas for a ride so I threw out a suggestion for a Pie Run on the last Saturday of the month to coincide with the TWT Pie Run and lo and behold they accepted it. We had nine riders attend, 2 Wings, my Concours, and six cruisers. Fortunately this group of cruisers doesn't seem to appreciate loud pipes very much so things were fairly quiet during the ride.
The ride was about 236 miles for me. I left the house at 7:15 and made it back home at 2:45 pm. The elevation varied from 1000' to around 6000' and the temps varied from around 75 to pushing 110. It was HOT coming home.
This gentlemen was camped out at the meet-up place just watching the bikes come and go while he had his morning coffee. It's a 1975 model with only 42,000 miles on it. Oh yeah, he's German too.
Heading to the mountains.
Temps were pretty good on the way out of town.
Saguaros only grow up to about the 4000' elevation so as they thin out you know you're reaching that altitude. If a Saguaro has arms you know it is at least 50-75 years old. Most live to 100-150 years and some are over 200 years old. A fully developed Saguaro after a strong rain will weigh in excess of six tons due to all the water it stores within its vertical rib structure.
Example of some of the nice smooth sweepers on this trip. No twisties today.
Getting into the higher elevations, but not quite into pine tree territory yet.
Coming out of the city of Payson and heading for the towns of Pine and then Strawberry.
We have deer just like in Texas but we also have some monster Elk out here. You do not want to have a close encounter with one of these!
Coming into the town of Pine. I wonder what made them pick that name?
Minutes later we were at the Strawberry Lodge.
...and we were ready to try some of their homemade delicacies.
Jim, Susan, Jay, and Jack digging in.
Wayne had Apple
John had Strawberry
And I greatly enjoyed my slice of Cherry while ensuring I wore the appropriate attire.
Soon it was time to saddle up and head back down in the Valley Of The Sun.
Enjoying some of the nice curves on the way back down.
The Rim Country Classic Auto Club of Payson was having a show and fundraiser so we stopped and drooled over the cars/trucks for a little while.
Check out the reflection of the Mustang in the Chevy's paint!
Back down the mountains we go.
If this isn't the definition of a sweeper, I don't know what is.
Miles and miles and miles... you can see the road bending over the top of the mountains at the far left.
Think this was a bit hotter than what we just came from in the pines?
You betcha! I stopped at the tubing / rafter center in the Lower Salt River Canyon and soaked my evaporative vest so that I could make it the rest of the way home.
Before there was such things as electronic aids, aviators had to depend upon roads, markings, etc to know where they were. This sign was painted on the side of a mountain pointing the way to Phoenix. It was first created over 75 years ago.
Here's a view from the same location but looking in the other direction. Yes, it is gorgeous out here.
There are 120 photos in the full set if you want to see more.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bethorn/sets/72157622461386468/
Brenda and I are supposed to be off next weekend so the plan is to do Sedona and Oak Creek Canyon and "maybe" the Grand Canyon too if we leave early enough, or possibly we'll leave out Friday night. Watch for that ride report if you enjoy these pics of Arizona. Thanks for coming along.
The ride was about 236 miles for me. I left the house at 7:15 and made it back home at 2:45 pm. The elevation varied from 1000' to around 6000' and the temps varied from around 75 to pushing 110. It was HOT coming home.
This gentlemen was camped out at the meet-up place just watching the bikes come and go while he had his morning coffee. It's a 1975 model with only 42,000 miles on it. Oh yeah, he's German too.
Heading to the mountains.
Temps were pretty good on the way out of town.
Saguaros only grow up to about the 4000' elevation so as they thin out you know you're reaching that altitude. If a Saguaro has arms you know it is at least 50-75 years old. Most live to 100-150 years and some are over 200 years old. A fully developed Saguaro after a strong rain will weigh in excess of six tons due to all the water it stores within its vertical rib structure.
Example of some of the nice smooth sweepers on this trip. No twisties today.
Getting into the higher elevations, but not quite into pine tree territory yet.
Coming out of the city of Payson and heading for the towns of Pine and then Strawberry.
We have deer just like in Texas but we also have some monster Elk out here. You do not want to have a close encounter with one of these!
Coming into the town of Pine. I wonder what made them pick that name?
Minutes later we were at the Strawberry Lodge.
...and we were ready to try some of their homemade delicacies.
Jim, Susan, Jay, and Jack digging in.
Wayne had Apple
John had Strawberry
And I greatly enjoyed my slice of Cherry while ensuring I wore the appropriate attire.
Soon it was time to saddle up and head back down in the Valley Of The Sun.
Enjoying some of the nice curves on the way back down.
The Rim Country Classic Auto Club of Payson was having a show and fundraiser so we stopped and drooled over the cars/trucks for a little while.
Check out the reflection of the Mustang in the Chevy's paint!
Back down the mountains we go.
If this isn't the definition of a sweeper, I don't know what is.
Miles and miles and miles... you can see the road bending over the top of the mountains at the far left.
Think this was a bit hotter than what we just came from in the pines?
You betcha! I stopped at the tubing / rafter center in the Lower Salt River Canyon and soaked my evaporative vest so that I could make it the rest of the way home.
Before there was such things as electronic aids, aviators had to depend upon roads, markings, etc to know where they were. This sign was painted on the side of a mountain pointing the way to Phoenix. It was first created over 75 years ago.
Here's a view from the same location but looking in the other direction. Yes, it is gorgeous out here.
There are 120 photos in the full set if you want to see more.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bethorn/sets/72157622461386468/
Brenda and I are supposed to be off next weekend so the plan is to do Sedona and Oak Creek Canyon and "maybe" the Grand Canyon too if we leave early enough, or possibly we'll leave out Friday night. Watch for that ride report if you enjoy these pics of Arizona. Thanks for coming along.
