Packing

Took a ride to Arizona. Arizona Bike Week was happening so, Christina, Larry and Stella invited me for the ride there for the last weekend of the event. Stella got the room, so, it was easy from that point on. Since we didn't have an early morning ride call, I was happy to meet up at 10:30 with Stella to the ride to CC & Larry in Yorba Linda. We ended up leaving around 11:30 or so.

We all met at the gas station and away we went. The usual ride across the mountains to the desert it was. It was freezing cold to the point of numb fingers on the pass then nice and warm where the chaps and scarves were stripped to enjoy the mild climate into Phoenix. CC stopped the group on the pass, as the leader, so we could warm up and eat a little something. She said if her hands were cold then so were ours and it was perfect timing. You know when you are thinking the, "If we don't pull over..............!!!" That instant in time where you think you've had it, but you keep going cause everyone else is. Wheewwwwww..... I'm just glad she pulled over and we had a little warmth and laugh to share about the moment.

The mountain scape is so beautiful going into Arizona. We had no traffic problems and it was do-able weather. I had the Sirius Radio hooked up this time around and loaded with about 100 songs to travel with on it's MP3. The only problem I had was that I wore my full face part way and the plugs kept hurting my ears from the helmet's cheek pads. It wasn't until I put my half helmet back on that I was able to cope with the sounds and my ears not hurting. Made a huge difference in ride comfort for me. I did however enjoy the full face over the cold mountains. It made a huge difference in the weather, sound and just plain comfort in the elements.

We stopped about every 100 miles or so to gas, pee and eat. You know, the usual. It seems I pee a lot and I cannot help but need the extra stops if granted by the group. I happily take them. CC & Larry are very seasoned riders. They have gone to Canada and, again, CC is the one who went to the Amazon---just because! Stella, knows that the ride is just that, the ride, so she looks forward to the end stop and the party value of it all. She's a very patient rider. So I knew I was in great riding company, but a little intimidated at the same time stopping the group just to pee.... hmmmmm--maybe a depends issue in the future--Ha--hell noooo-- not yet anyway!

We got to Arizona around 5:00 p.m.ish and it seemed that Stella and I had the 5 star hotel located a million miles away from the event(s). CC & Larry hooked up with a Motel 6 dead center in Scottsdale and couldn't have been a more perfect location.

We set out to eat dinner almost as soon as we got there. We ended up in a great steakhouse and I ordered my petite Fillet Mignon along with everyone else enjoying the steak and fish cuisine. It was a perfect ending to a day of riding.

Hitting West World was on the agenda the next day. Gloria (Map Girl) and Maria (The Countess) headed out to the Fest the day before we left. They stayed just a few miles away from the main event. They rode with a few friends and one trailed 2 bikes to ride there. Marie's son rode one of them when they got there. She was happy to ride him during the weekend. We were to meet up with them, but Stella and I chose to do Superstition Harley. There was a poker run that Stella wanted to go on. I am not too keen on poker runs. Too many people and too many bikes going crazy all at once, but Stella really enjoys them. She loves, loves, loves the fact that she can talk and ride at the time. So we went out that way for the poker run. A little late and when we got the to the Harley we were late for the take off. We hung out at the Harley instead and rode around afterwards and headed out up to the West World Event.

Saw Some OC Riders



This Guy Had Personality

At West World we took in the usual vendors and sites. This time we got to enjoy a little Roller Derby....asphalt style. Stella and I looked at each other and decided this was the most fun we had so far, watching the girlzz throw each other around on the hot asphalt... for no good reason. We also go to demo the Can-Am Spyder Roadster. How fun was that. 2 wheels in front and one in back. They put you through a video, computer registration, then a test ride around a coned course, then if you pass... off to the streets. I have never been on an ATV, but this was a street bike ( say that loosely) , and a lot of fun. It was over too soon. I decided that when I get rich I would love to have one for play time. It was easy to ride. No front brake and it had a reverse. Plus... I did not have to be flat-footed--I liked that. Can't split lanes, but that's not such a big deal to me. It was a lot of fun and I would demo it again just for the hell of it.

Eating Taffy on the Spyder

Hippies Revenge

Roller Derby At It's Finest


Bikes

The band Kansas was playing that evening at the event and we rode back to the room to get ready. Stella has a cousin & neice we met for dinner. We drove around looking for a place to eat. We were some miles aways from the event and they were going to just join us for dinner and drinks and we were going to take off to the event for the Kansas concert. Well...........we ended up staying at our Mexican restaurant and listening to the Mariachi Bands instead. Who would have figured that!? We had fun though and filled our bellies once again. To the room we went to sleep it off for the morning.

Stella hit the open road for the poker run planned for Saturday. It was a 200 miles escorted ride. I hit the pool and relaxed, CC & Larry hit the road up to Sedona. CC had said later that day that it was a great ride, but challenging. They both made it back late in the day and decided to stay close to the room and rest up. Stella got to the room about 4:00 p.m. and rested a bit and off to the Grand Funk Railroad concert at West World we went. Gloria and Marie met us there, however we lost them as soon as the music started. It was the first time I rode without a helmet... there are no helmet laws in Arizona. However, I did have Stella put my helmet in her saddlebags.

I am not a great rider at night. Period. My night sight sucks--big time. So Stella was very patient while I donned my prescriptions goggles for the ride there at sunset. She went slow enough for me.... too slow to tell you the truth, but she was very considerate in making me feel comfy at night for riding. We got to the event and met Glo and Marie inside. Shopped around for awhile and then the music started. Grand Funk Railroad sure has changed since I knew them, but they rocked the house down and we had fun rockin' and rollin' to the music at the Handlebar Saloon. Bike fests offer the best music venues, I think. For such a little amount of money, food & drinks, you can listen to great bands at a close range and really enjoy the music. Once the music started though, we lost Glo & Marie... we tried to text each other but the sounds were loud and it just didn't work out.


The parking lot was packed when we got there, more so when the music ended. I had to pull Stella away right after the concert to get on the bikes and get out of the place before we were in a literal bikers parking lot cramming to get out all at once. We got out fast enough, I let no time lapse. Stella was a little miffed at me for doing so, but we had a ride back the next day and I didn't want to be sitting around in a parking lot for hours when I could be resting for a nice ride home. She can do it... I can't. That's why I call her one of the Marlboro Girlzz.



The morning after was the usual... breakfast, pack, gas and take off. CC & Larry met us at the hotel which was a hundred miles away from them, but the Highway 10 was right by us and it seemed more reasonable to come to us. We hit the road around 10:00 a.m. or so. My gear seemed to have grown and it looked liked I piled it higher than normal.

The ride was a nice ride home. Not as many bikes as I thought. It seemed that a lot came in groups. We hit the winds big time. I felt I was on a sail boat for about an hour or so. My radio was on repeat and no way could I stop it. Fleetwood Mac--You Can Go Your Own Way--a great song for the wind. Over and over and over again. I am glad I know how to sail... I think it helps in the wind when it catches my windshield. I had to remember: its not a tiller----its a throttle! Ha!

Anyway, we seperated on the 91 freeway and we all went home. I made it home on air. My gas light was on for about 15 miles but I was determined not to stop and make it. I did. All in all, it was a good ride and I was glad to have ridden with CC & Larry on a longer trip finally. Hope that I can make the cross country August trip with them. If not, I plan to meet up with them on the way. I can toodle at my own pace and meet them in NY and Niagra Falls which I am looking forward to. The ride at 450-500 miles a day. I just might want to enjoy the scenery and take it a little slower. We will see.

Laughlin is next. I always enjoy Laughlin. Debbie and I are heading out for that one.

Til Then,

Happy Trails

KT Did