It Was A Good Day

Actually it was an awesome day to ride. It all started out when Tom a guy from Michigan that I met via ST-Owners.com called me up and asked if he could stop by so that I could look at his bike. He had brought it here to Arizona in the back of his pickup and wrapped in shrink-wrap.

Well, the shrink wrap had rubbed his paint and even worn through in a couple places, but all in all not that bad.

We decided to run down to Tortilla Flat on AZ88 (Canyon Lake Road) probably my favorite ride.



When we got to the town of Tortilla Flat it was packed, so I decided to show him the South West Rides secret which is the Canyon Lake Restaurant and Cantina. It of course offer good service and excellent food!

I have to say that the road is still not in really good condition, hopefully it will clear up soon, or I might have to start a drive to get it paved.

Back On The Road

After being sick for two weeks and dropping this very bike in my garage last week, I made a nice (at points) 300 mile trip today!

I say nice at points because the trip involved a lot of stop and go spots at times. When I hit Wickenburg, AZ I came to a complete stop about 6 miles from where I needed to be. It took me a good 45 minutes to get to my destination, but it worked out in the end and the people I was to meet actually waited for me, aren't riders cool!

From there is was a nice ride up Yarnell Hill and then through the White Spars to Prescott, AZ.

I had lunch with the crew and then needed to scoot home. Or course I was not planning on a 80 mile detour, but thanks to traffic again I had to find my way around the top of Phoenix, AZ to get home.

I made it in time to shower and head out with my wife for dinner with friends. It was a great day!!

Just A Little Spitting Rain

Sometimes you have to deal with rain and sometimes you don't. But a
little spitting rain makes things interesting. Additionally the threat
of rain scares all but the real riders away.

I had to get out today just tpm make sure I got a ride in. It was just
60 miles or so, just enough to satisfy the addiction and tide me over
for the week ahead.

Make sure to watch asvu check out the cool stuff at CES. If luck hold
I'll get one more ride tomorrow before I am Vegas bound!

Do Cars Make People Rude?

Yesterday I had a great day, but one particular bad part of that day was dealing with a downed rider.



The rider's name is Josh and how he came upon his misfortune that day it not really of concern, he ended up off the side of the road injured.

As riders, if we see someone down we stop, it is simple as that. There is no thought process other than , get off the road safely and get to the downed rider to make sure they are OK, or help them.

Yesterday, I had something that I never really thought about brought firmly into focus. Drivers of cages (cars and trucks) when they see a downed rider must not give a shit. I saw a least 30 vehicles drive by as we were helping Josh (probably more as I was not looking and counting them all.) I guess they were thinking, "Oh, stupid guy" or "Those things are dangerous." Who knows.

One thing is for sure, not a single person in a car or truck stopped to help, nor did anyone even bother to stop and ask if we needed help. I had to send one rider 5 miles down the road to get my wife in my truck to take Josh a mere 3/4's of a mile to the town of Tortilla Flat. Maybe people in this day and age do not realize that there still are areas that have no cell service or even telephone service, but for 10 miles in either direction of the one road to Tortilla Flat, there is none.

So, if ever find yourself driving by an accident scene and you think maybe you should ask if all is OK, stop and ask!


BTW, Josh is doing well, I say this for the rider's....who always care.

Traditions

Starting the year off with a ride is something that we love here in
the West. So much so that traditions have evolved from the casual
ride. The best thing about riding is that with two wheels you gain
many friends.

My Ride today was an annual ride that ends up in the town Tortilla Flat on AZ88 in Arizona. The road is a local favorite and many riders bring out their vintage bikes. The best part of the day is that all types of rider's get together, talk and have fun looking at cool bikes.

I can't image a better start to the year!

Making Things Right

Cleaning up a road is never a bad thing, right?



I know that I don't think that way. And neither do at least five other guys that helped me clean up one of our favorite road before the hordes of bikers were to hit it on New Year's Day.

Tortilla Flat, which is on AZ88 is a traditional spot to meet on Jan. 1 and being as such I was worried that the condition of the road in after the most recent storms would leave riders who are unfamiliar with the road in a bad way.

That bad way was lying in the road in the form of gravel and sand.

Well after today the road is a little better and a lot safer. I know that personally I will be happy for that!

One More Off The List

Bartlett Lake 12-29-2007, yep I finally have ridden this road!




Kind of interesting considering all of the places I have ridden that I had not yet been on this road. I mean heck, it is only about 40 miles from my house and within the Valley.



I guess I can chalk it up to not knowing the road and always waiting to go with someone else, but now that I have gone I can certainly say I will be going again and soon. Thanks to my friend Rick the ride was safe and enjoyable and without a performance reward.

One thing is for certain, I will be getting a RADAR detector in the coming year, it is just getting a little too easy to get nailed and liking roads with stupid speed limits does not help.

2 more days and we start another year....man they sure go fast!

Dab Nabit!!

If you ride enough you meet these guys, and they usually have their
hands out asking for money.

This guy was actually nice in the fact he gave me and my friend a "Wasting Finite Resourses" ticket. It is a way in AZ to collect cash without assigning points. They get revenue and we get no points. I wish all tickets were like this.

It was an awesome day for a ride, maybe just a little chilly, but awesome none the less.

Riding Does Have Risk

Practice practice practice and always ride within your limits, leaving extra space and time for any unforeseen complications or conditions....why?

Because you never know when you will need that extra limit to be able to save yourself. If you ride at the complete edge you'll never have a chance.

Take a look here as a friend follows me on a simple ride. I even warn the guys behind me of the road conditions ahead near the end and even knowing the road throws me a loop. If I would have hauled ass into this corner the outcome would have been a different film for sure.

Be aware, ride safe and live to ride another day!

Black Friday Ride

It is amazing how cold it can be in the morning here in the desert.

Today was yet another great day for a ride. A little chilly at 59 degrees in the morning, but things eventually warmed up.

Who wants to waste a day like this on shopping? Instead a group of us headed out to Tortilla Flat to have some good grub and chat a bit.

Then back to the house to set up Christmas decorations, a yearly tradition.

Hmm, Christmas is coming soon!

Thanksgiving Day Morning Ride

Nothing like a nice Holiday Morning for a beautiful ride.