The Apache Trail, My Son's First Big Ride

My son Matt is 8 years old. I have taken him on several short rides around the neighborhood and one ride for about 50 miles. Unlike my daughter, he is constantly begging me for a ride. I figure if he is going to tour the World with me someday, we'd better start the training...

I decide to take him on an overnight motorcycle camping trip on The Apache Trail. I rarely ride this road because it requires nearly 60 miles of riding in the Phoenix Metro from my home. As you will see it is very scenic. President Theodore Roosevelt toured the road by car in 1911 while on the way to the dam and lake named in his honor. He called The Apache Trail "One of the most spectacular best-worth-seeing-sights of the World". We'll just make the trail part of our own family history.

The satellite image of our route below shows how far we must ride in urban sprawl.





Matt seems to have no idea of the white-knuckled ride ahead... (Just kidding mom.)



We stop down the street for gas. We get a Duraflame Log for tonight. I barely find room to squeeze it in a pannier.



This just looks like a boring freeway photo... It is, except for the Photo Radar Cameras lining the right side of the road. Hey, If you're gonna shoot at me I'll shoot back.

Fun riding in Arizona is nearly over... Fixed and mobile photo speed enforcement is everywhere and they are furiously adding more... Thanks to our liberal governor.



We get the highest bridge at the SR51/Loop 202 Stack.





We head east on the Red Mountain Freeway. (I wonder why they call it that?)



After 60 miles we turn left onto The Apache Trail. Soon we are finally out of town.





The Superstition Mountains
This photo was taken at the entrance to the Lost Dutchman State Park. For the history of the Lost Dutchman Gold Mine I found this neat link; http://www.superstitionmountainmuseum.org/LostDutchmanExhibit.htm Maybe we'll find all the gold on this trip...



It Get's Better!

I have two 8 y/o kids and we're gonna start moto camping next spring. Man I can't wait. Looks like a good start so far.

man, dave, what a cool lookin' time for you and your son!

Boom! there it is

More rides with sons. More dualsports! More Phoenix!!!!!!!

Cool ride, great kid, Coolest Dad ever.

Makes me wistful for when my sons were 8 yrs. old and I was a hero.

Looking forward to more of the tale.

Far out! Love it!
P.S. When your son is on the back, dont make jokes about anything having to do with "white knuckles" or ANYTHING dangerous about motorcycles, your wife will not laugh, I speak form experience. Moms are kinda protective.

That's an awesome thing to do with your kid. Thanks for the report. Buddy in Chandler keeps telling me I should come out, now I see why.

Dave,

Thank your wife for allowing Matt to come along with you. You are a cool dad and I look forward to seeing more of your trip.

My son has 3.5 years before he can take the MSF Street course. He and I can't wait for the fun times ahead.

Thanks for including us on this ride!

Chuck

I check to see if Matt is still with me.



My biggest fear is he will fall asleep, but he seems alert.







He's still loving it!





The road here is very twisty and narrow with dangerous dropoffs and no shoulder or railings.



I noticed the white paint marks in the roadway here. They probably marked the points of rest for vehicles from a serious collision.





The power lines make it difficult to shoot the vistas.

The view from Canyon Lake Overlook. The series of man-made lakes along the Salt River here make life in Modern Phoenix possible.




We get stuck behind a VW Bus at a one lane bridge. We had to pass the slow moving bus a short time later. Matt later remarked, "Man you were going so fast when we passed!"



Just before the small town of Tortilla Flat we turn left into the Tortilla Campground.

Tortilla Flat began as a Stagecoach Stop in 1904. The entire town burnt down in 1987. It was rebuilt after the fire. The Apache Trail began as a route used by the Apache Indians as they moved through the Superstition Mountains. It became heavily used during the construction of the Roosevelt Dam in 1905. Much of it is still un-paved, as we will see.



We purchased our first GPS 2 days ago. We brought it along to see if it works. I hope mom doesn't see these numbers.



Look mom! We were traveling at a safe 45.9 mph. Don't look at those other numbers.

We find a good spot and check out our surroundings. Check Out These Surroundings! :eek1



Matt uses the new gadget to navigate to the restroom.



I put him to work setting up camp.









Matt pointed out we were eating Tortilla Chips at Tortilla Campground!



We ate Noodles and Chicken from the bag...



...And stared at this for 3 hours...





...And then crawled into the tent to get warm. It will be a chilly night. The high temp today was a beautiful 71 degrees, but here in the desert the temperature usually drops about 30 degrees at night. (Not bad for the last weekend in November, Huh?)

It was a clear moonless night with billions of stars twinkling. The Milky Way was visible!

I'm a little afraid of that... She doesn't seem to mind if I crash and burn, but I guess I'm lucky she lets me bring Matt along.

BTW, I grew up around OKC and still have family there. Never did any motorbiking around there though.

P.S. I hope she doesn't notice the max speed on the GPS for Day 2.

xdbx, Thanks for checking in. There may be a little dualsportin' on day 2.

leeinmemphis, seabee1, Cordless, flan8tive, and ChuckV,

Thanks for the nice comments. I hope you enjoy the ride.

As usual I shot way too many photos for such a short trip.

great!

my (almost) 12 year old son wants lights and blinkers on his xr80 to follow me around.

maybe mom will let him ride on the back instead.

Thank you for the inspiration!

The sun rises, so we follow suit...




We walk around the campground to warm up...



Teddy Bear Cholla, a.k.a. Jumpin' Cactus


Another Type of Cholla


Heart Shaped Prickly Pear Cactus
Isn't this a great metaphor for love... Green with envy and painful...










We spy these guys looking down at us.









Matt goes bouldering while I prepare breakfast.


Maybe we'll ride out to Fish Creek Hill Overlook after breakfast. It's only a couple miles of dirt.

Matt would love his own dirt bike (As would I). I've been telling him he needs to ride his bicycle more first.

Sigh! I feel sick to my stomach seeing these photos...absolutely loved AZ and didn't realize how much till I moved to Oregon! Lived in Chandler for 9 years. Camped at the same place, drove Apache Trail many a time...my son and I hiked to the top of that butte when he was three. Superstition Mts...fabulous area.
Happy for you, but I'm...

Glad I could bring you home for a few minutes. Thanks!

Matt can't wait to get back on the bike. We'd better break camp.





We continue east from Tortilla Flat. There were a couple water hazards that keep the shiny bikes off this section.













Uh oh! Pavement Ends! What shall we do? It's only 22 miles of dirt to Lake Roosevelt...