404 mile Loop

Nothing can replace the feeling of riding in 90 degree weather while climbing in elevation and at the same time the temperature descending in elevation on the thermometer. It is true that my jacket didn’t stop the chilled air from finding every way possible inside to give me goose bumps. Although it was hard to distinguish the cool air goose bumps from the thrill of riding in a brand new environment goose bumps.

The first stretch from N Fort Mcdowell road to Happy Jack was a nice relaxing ride. It was very scenic with the occasional crazy cage driver wanting to race around corners at 110 mph to try and prove that dying in a cage is much cooler than dying flying through the air for a few hundred feet before coming to an abrupt stop. And of course we can’t forget the drivers who like to take it slow at the worst possible time. We hit the first set of twisties I think between Strawberry and happy Jack. I got excited and my heart started to pump franticly just wanting to go through the turns as fast as my ability will allow me to do so. But we were interrupted by a jeep hauling a small trailer going up about 20 mph slower than I had liked. But that’s ok because it gave me time to take in the scenery going up. We finally got to Happy Jack stopped at a small gas stationed and began to fuel up. I was taking in the backdrop to the gas station. A guy not too sure what his name was walked up to us to take a look at our bikes. We chatted it up with a him for a little while. He said he rides a Ninja 250. After a good half hour or so we parted ways with Derek and Tom and I continued onward.The second stretch was pretty simple. We just cruised at about 70 mph or so enjoying the scenery the cool air and I also enjoyed just thinking away. It was pretty calm all the way up to Sedona. Once we hit Sedona though I was blown away by how the landscape changed so quickly.


The third section from Sedona to Jerome was also pretty calm. May have been a bit boring at some parts but for what came up later made it all worth it. What was cool was Tom pointed out towards the mountains to our right and then starting nodding his head. When I took a look at the mountains I saw Jerome sitting right there on the side of the mountain looking down over us and the entire valley we were traveling through. It took a good 45 minutes before we started once again climbing in elevation. I was getting giddy seeing all the switchbacks going up in Jerome. We had to keep it slow though. Because every switch back was different tier of the city. It was like climbing up stairs. Once we got through Jerome and starting going down the back side of the mountain the road starting throwing all sorts of turns at us. I was tempted to go on ahead but my suspension was not in such great shape for the condition those roads were in. So I held back and decided to wait for the roads following Prescott.

Tom and I got down the back side of the mountain Jerome sat on and we started heading through Prescott Valley. We finally hit Prescott so Tom and I decided to stop in Prescott and have a beer or two (Which I owe Tom a beer) then we hit the road again. Once we got going the road started to throw all sorts of turns at us. And with road conditions at the best I’ve seen all trip long I couldn’t just sit back and take my time anymore. I took off with a smile on my face and the “Come get me attitude” The most exciting part of the day. It was easy to find the rhythm of the road and just sweeping in and out of every turn. Then we hit a small stretch of road that lead to Yarnell’s back side for a descending array of narrow turns for a few miles. After that we headed straight to Wickenburg then off to the Valley. Total miles traveled were just over 400. I’m gonna try it the opposite way next time around. And have more details.

~Hath