Jenny & I left for Arizona Saturday, to join the others in Bisbee on Monday the 8th. We had one day of hard riding getting there; otherwise it was pretty easy!
Two traveled from Switzerland. They rode down from New Mexico with another. A fourth - a Cali guy - rode down from a family event in Las Vegas. Jenny and I rode out from California. This was our first international MMMJ!
After leaving Melinda's in the California high desert Sunday morning, we rode about 430 miles, and landed in Eloy, AZ ... via 10E to 85S to 8E and back to 10E. Eloy is just past where 8 joins 10.
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| Couple of posers |
Monday morning we enjoyed a leisurely ride through the Saguaro National Park (see previous blog). The weather was perfect! The vistas beautiful. The cacti - cactuses sounds better - were aplenty. Propagated by bats. Who knew? One a long-nosed bat, the other A long-tongued bat. Good thing with those spines.
Up and out over Gates Pass into Tuscon we rode ... and onward to Bisbee!
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| I hope to return someday |
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| Hungry travelers |
We arrived around 5pm. The others were already there - with growling tummies - so off we went to sup on enchiladas and fajitas in old town Bisbee.
Amazing historic little mining town. Houses up and down steep hillsides above the winding streets of downtown, which had shops and restaurants.
I unsuccessfully tried to ignore the GINORMOUS copper colored hole in the ground we passed on the way downtown. Skyscrapers could fit in it. Cannot believe we humans did that to the Mother. Unreal. Check it out sometime. Meanwhile ...
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| View from 'living room' |
The Shady Dell is a great little place - restored, vintage trailers. Jenny & I stayed in the 'Spartanette'.
The trailers were spaced apart enough for privacy, but close enough to feel like a little community.
Fake grass out the front door, lawn chairs - perfect for morning coffee.
There was a gazebo in the center, where we spent most of evenings chatting it up.
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| Cozy twinsies complete with chenille bedspreads |
Sleeping was good. The windows were open onto quiet, cool evenings. The days were a little warm, but that's fun when it comes to motorcycles. Swamp coolers kept the trailers cool inside.
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| All the ponies lined up out front |
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| Miner fashionistas |
Another friend rode down from Phoenix on Tuesday and most went on the Queen Mine Tour, 900' into Mother Earth on a little train. Not this one, no sireee!!! They sure had fun, though. Brave souls.
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| On a mission |
We rode into Tombstone the next day. Back in time we went! Lunch, then a stroll down the wooden sidewalks to peruse the shops and watch gunfights.
I saw this group walking down to have a shootout at the OK Corral. We trailed them, eyeing the tall one.
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| Wooing Wyatt |
Oh hello? Would you mind? We know you're busy but ...
They stopped and Doc Holliday took a picture of us with Wyatt Earp. Who was remarkably taller than both of us. We decided we'd be more than happy to share him, alternate days of the week - give him Sunday off. For chores. :)
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| Evidently flying saucers, too |
The next day started out with breakfast in the town of Lowell. Which is a block long. Health food store at the top, a restaurant where some of us had breakfast, motorcycle museum, motorcycle shop, cool old trucks, and 3 very long-legged gals.
Later four of us rode to Kartchner Caverns for another trip underground. I opted to stay above ground again, and enjoyed a nap on a bench in the Hummingbird Garden. Sweet! The others came out pretty much blown away by what they experienced. All starry-eyed and smiling.
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| Saging for a safe journey |
Friday morning, Jenny & I started on our long trip home. We both wanted to have one day at home before work on Monday, so we rode hard for two days.
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| Stick a fork in me ... |
Friday, from Bisbee to Twentynine Palms. Roughly 485 miles, including through Tucson and Phoenix. Damn. It was hotter than hell that day. A/C never felt so good.
And Saturday from there home. 500 miles. Double damn. Besides the challenge of 10 and 12 hour days on the road, the winds were relentless pretty much the entire trip. Heading up 101 from Paso Robles was the worst, and at the end of our trip. I don't think I've ever been so happy to get home.
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| About 2000 miles overall |
Can't wait to do it again. Great trip. Good friends, old and new.
Deep heart connections. Fun adventures.
Wonder what next year will bring us?
Until then, good medicine and easy travels!
Until then, good medicine and easy travels!
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