The high mountain town of Eagar, AZ, was gorgeous in the early morning light. When I went to breakfast, it was 39 degrees, yet when I returned to my room, it was already 45. The sun was warming the world quickly, so I eschewed the long johns, yet still wore the other stuff. I filled the tank at a convenience store that wasn't open yet (but the pumps were on), then down the road towards Show Low.
This
was the kind of morning that keeps me coming back to riding. Bright
sun, gorgeous high mountain scenery, no traffic. I came upon high
mountain ponds as well as elk crossing signs, I had bugs in my teeth.
A
cup of coffee in Show Low, then I began the long drop from over 7,000
feet to Phoenix'
1,500 feet - the change from 39 degrees to Phoenix' 91.
I had to shed some extra clothes as I descended.
Phoenix
must have a lot of motorcyclists. I waved at lots of them as they rode
up into the mountains - I suppose to get out of the heat and to ride
some twisties. Lots of chrome - clean chrome - not dirty bikes like
mine. I may ride a scooter, but at least its not a garage queen.
Stopping for gas in Payson, I struck up a conversation with a three Harley riders, and I fielded the usual "You rode from Texas on THAT?"
One of them had owned his bike for seven years and had 5,000 miles on
it. I've owned my scoot for two years and just turned 27,000 miles.
I made a mistake in my trip planning - I routed myself through Phoenix. Yuck! Saturday traffic - people out shopping, retirees poking along, and lots of stop-and-go. Once out of the city, I was out on the desert - very different from the mountains. The town of Wickenburg is a small artsy cowboy kinda town.
Next stop - Las Vegas after a ride through the desert.