Eastern Arizona Mountains, Valleys, and Rivers.

After a full summer of negotiating the purchase of this 2001 DR650, it was finally mine on Dec. 9.





I have big plans for this thing. A couple of rides after arriving in Az. I have an opportunity to load up my gear and hit the desert for a few days, I rolled out before noon.





Less than 5 miles and the fun begins.





One of the objectives of this ride was to see just what the DR is all about.





A little noisy as I enter Dragoon.





A little pavement to Manzora road, then I got to race the train for several miles. I had to let him go so I could cross the tracks just before pulling into Cochise AZ.









Shortly I was on the Wilcox flats.





The sign tells it all.





I fuel up and head for the Page ranch road. Having a nice cruise in the foothills of the Dos Cabeza range, I came to a gate and private property, I turned back to hit the hiway.






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After getting to Bowie AZ. I wanted to check my paper map but it was gone, must have flew out of the tank bag pocket. This is going to be even more interesting without an overview of the country I want to travel. The GPS is a pain in the ass to get an overall look with detail, but it will have to do.
Some of this I have been on and some not, so I head out to Fan road, pass Haekel road that heads to the Hot well dunes, then determine that I have made it to Hackberry road. Many miles of fine sand thru the Whitlock valley was quit fun.

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Going off of the mental image of my map, I made it to hiway 70, head west for a mile or so, go thru a gate and down a rocky double track to find a spot for the night.









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NICE!!! I am a huge fan of E A!
Looking fwd to this thread growing!!!

After a very quite night, the sun warmed things up quickly. On my way in last evening I noticed a set of ruins.

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Looking at the map after the fact, I determined I was in Slickrock Basin. Could these be old wagon ruts?









The hills are made of rugged volcanic rock.





Routes are decent so far.









Slickrock tank was full. And a nice Stone masonry line cabin.









At this point I was following my nose up and down the track when I hit a t-junction. In front of me was an old paved road, nice curves and decent asphault most of the time, most of the culverts were gone where the washes cross, but I crossed one nice concrete bridge.


















Once I figured it out that I was on Old Hiway 70, and knew where I was going to come out on 191, I stopped and had more coffee and a snack.





While resting in the bright sunshine I noticed something under the rock upon I sat.




Funny I found a geocahe, what are the odds. ​

Looks like a nice ride.

I haven't spent much time in that area yet, but it's on my list. Hopefully I can find some of those roads your running.

What do you think of the DR so far?

I really like it!

love the shots with the snow on the mountains in the background!

and the stone cabin.

thanks for sharing. are you going on the phx meets tucson ride next weekend?

No.

I rode out the remaining piece to 191, crossed and continued on to the Bonita road. At the junction I headed up river, the paved road I was on ended at a diversion lock and dike.





















I backpedaled about a mile turned NE and climbed up out of the river bottom into the hills.

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The road was nice for a few miles, then slowly started to break down.







The road ended at a very nice campsite under a Mesquite canopy on the Gila river.





I rolled out of there back towards San Jose, Then onto re supply in Safford Az.​

I did not mess around. After 26 hours of solo desert travel, the culture shock hit a bit. I moved up towards Thatcher, then onto one of my favorite areas in Arizona!





High speed dirt put me up in the oaks and that crap.





That is Table Mnt. and Little table Mnt. Rug road goes right in between the two. (The Saddle )





The Santa Therasa Mountains







It was much warmer in the valley.





The Aravaipa valley and canyon are spectacular any season of the year, in winter with no leaves on the trees you can see a lot more of the canyon walls and rim.

The Chimeny.​

My next concern was the water depth, the first two crossings told me I would have little trouble keeping my gear and feet dry. One of the more scenic crossings.











When I arrived at the mouth of Turkey creek it looked a little messy.




I still had enough sun in the canyon for photos and to set camp, but I knew how cold it would be.





Plus there would be no sunshine until late morning, I knew that left only one option. The climb up the first set of switchbacks out of Turkey onto Rug road.













Damn, that was exciting. I pulled up to the bench above Oak Grove canyon and call it home, with a lot of nice sunshine and a 360 view.

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Time to set camp and relax in the warmth.​

Already impressed. But what will really impress me is a pic of the waterfall/swimming hole at the top of Geronimo's hideout. Man every time I got off the road out there. I got a flat. Centuries of cactus needles on the desert floor. Nice pics. You rode out to the rattlesnake ranch too? It's between Tombstone and Bisbee, out by Gleeson. Nice pics.

Yea, if its the place where every thing they sell is made out of or has some Rattlesnake in it. I am thinking it was 22- 23 years ago.

Great pictures!! I need to visit EA!!

A very nice spot indeed.










The view out the front of the ledge.

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Out the back.





Time to eat.









Time for bed


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Good stuff. We're gonna have to get together and ride again soon. I still have the DRZ 400 as well as the Super Beast Tenere.

Great looking ride Dawg. Nice pics too!!

Russ
Tucson

The moon over Oak Grove canyon greeted me in the morning.





I miss judged the sun rise by several degrees.









Looking right down Turkey creek with the Tablelands above.





Start of the Oakgrove narrows.









Before I pack, I think a lot about riding further out unloaded, but I have to keep reminding myself not to push this bike in the harder stuff.





I packed and started down.









I stopped at the top of the first switchback,looked into Turkey,then walked down for photos.






Things sometimes look a lot different going the other direction.​

The next five are a set as I walk back up.





















Rolled right down to the top of the second switchback.













One last tough spot.





And I was in the canyon bottom.






























Back at the confluence of Araviapa and Turkey creeks.





Araviapa creek.













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Sounds good.
I will be doing more of this remote riding/camping, as well as trail riding

Thanks Russ,

I finally got a bike suited just for this stuff.
Some great trip planes are brewin

Flying up the valley on a very freshly graded dirt hiway, I decided not to spend a third night as planned, The wind had picked up out of the SSE. I still wanted a little more though and headed up Rattlesnake Mesa road.











It has been six years or so since I was last on it.













It stays on top of this ridge for a long way before dropping to a saddle.





It drops to that saddle, then climbs back up in the trees and snow onto Rattlesnake Mesa.





I did not feel like playing in the snow (had enough of that already this season) and Turned back towards the creek.





I found a place out of the wind and cooked a good lunch. The farther south I went the wind was strong consistent and colder. I battled the wind all the way back to the Jhonson road where there are a few hills to knock it down a notch or two. Back in Dragoon I was blasted by this guy again at the same gate, what are the odds.







All said and done I rolled 378 miles. A good guess is 100 miles give or take of pavement. The DR feels good. ​