My trip to Phoenix

[Rick G]

I tried this before and ended up hitting the wrong button , and it all went away. pi**ed me off so bad , I didn't even try to recreate it.

Sunday before last I deceided to go to Gilbert AZ.  ( oppisite side of Phoenix from me)  To look at  a used 77 Honda XL 350 . I've sold my atv and want something to follow dirt roads with , that I can also ride around town . The plan is to take the load off the vision and cut down use of the S10 blazer , which will pass anything on the road, except a gas station!

I left at 9 am with a temp of 43.deg.  I arrived in  Wickenberg  at around  11:30 . After a brief phone conversation with Greg about his parts, I headed south on hiway 60 , which is a parade of stop lights and headed south east on I 10 . A phone call to the seller cofirmed that I was close . I arrived around 2:30  and inspected the bike , followed by a quick test ride . It started on the first kick and rode fine . Back into  my cold weather riding gear ( even though it was 80 in Phoenix , that day)

   The seller  guided me to a short cut, that cut out all the  stop lights.  I followed loop 101,  east to Hiway 17 north, towards  Flagstaff . Arriving at the turn, left towards Wickenberg and noting the lack of the promised gas station, I proceeded west for 10 miles untill it went on reserve, prompting me to  cut speed to 45  and pi**ing off a bunch of drivers , who had no idea I was trying to stretch my gas supply.  It finally chugged to a halt  by a moble home park and a fellow with 2 gallons of unleaded. 1/4 mile later up hill appeared a gas station. But of coarse now,it was not needed.

Wickenberg  is a historic old town dating to 1865 , someday I'll go back and check it out.
I filled up the tank, both mine and the bikes and left town at 5:30 , heading into the dusk. Traffic thinned out in about 20 miles  and I wound it up a bit, running along at 85 to 90 mph in spots. It was getting colder , although my gear kept the lower temps from bothering me , my sholders were starting to ache. I gave her, her head  and she headed for the barn,  covering the 120 miles from Wickenberg to Kingman in a little under 2 hours , averaging 38 mpg. It was 46 deg, when I pulled in to yard . I was glad to be home , I had been in the saddle for over 10 hours  and nearly 500 miles . I'm tickled at the Visions performance and a little proud of mine too. I'm 65 and I wondered if I could/should, still undertake a ride like that .  I'm ready to go again ! Any one with me?

[Tiger]

 :) I would love to join you on a ride Rick...but, me think's, it will take me a lot more than 10 hour's to reach you from Erin, here in Ontario. Canada ;D :D :D :D :D :D Beside, it's snowing, again ::) which will make it a bit slippery getting out of Canada :o ;D :D :D :D :D :D :D... ;)..A good ride write up though... 8)

BTW...Did you buy the Honda ???

          8).......TIGER....... 8)

[inanecathode]

I've always wanted to see the southwest a bit more :D