A few weeks ago I hatched a plan to go for a little ride through Arizona over the Thanksgiving holiday. Usually I'm all about planning, but I figured this time I would just lay down a rough route, attempting to hit some “out-of-the-way” roads. “Do one thing every day that scares you.”
Day 1:
I headed south for Silver City, hoping it would be a little warmer crossing the divide further south. It had rained overnight, and it was still overcast and a bit humid. And cold. No photos on the interstate, because who wants to see those? Plus I don't do rolling shots, as you'll find out I have enough trouble keeping the rubber on the bottom side.
Got off the slab for some great twisties into the mountains.
I got to Silver with just a whiff of fumes in the tank, and filled up bike and body with more fuel. Did I mention my meticulous lack of planning and preparation?
It was still a bit overcast, but I could see further west that it was clear skies. I hit some dirt just to make it a little more interesting.
Crossing into Arizona I jumped on a pipeline road, which besides a few gates to go through was suh-weeet. Can't pass up stuff like this:
I stopped in Safford for some more gas. The attendant asked me where I was headed, and I explained how I was just riding around Arizona to take in some scenery. Her reply: “Well get the hell out of here!”
I'm not much of a car guy, but this thing caught my eye on the way out of town.
I hear you get better traction in sand if you lower your tire pressure.
I made a little detour to go see the Coolidge Dam. It's pretty neat, if you have 40 miles of gas to burn and a little patience on a road that exists in some limbo between paved and unpaved. I got sight of some Saguaro cacti on the way in.
And finally got to the dam itself as the sun was getting low.
Say what you will, Calvin Coolidge was a classy guy. Just look at this thing!
Pulled into Globe just as dark was settling in, and grabbed a cheap room. Nothing too scary today, other than testing the accuracy of the bike's gas mileage estimator (which it turns out is pretty good).
That would soon change...