Tombstone's Travels: April 2012

Wednesday, April 25, 2012

A Leisurely Pace

The last few months I'd been forced to act like a responsible adult; an unusual, unwelcome, and uncomfortable feeling. Those responibilities at home kept me....well, at home.

But I get them taken care of and finally I'm able to get out on a ride.

The Suzuki Store in Lake Havasu Arizona is hosting a V-Strom Rally at Lake Havasu City. Sounds like it could be fun; time for a ride!

I leave Tuesday April 17th and ride to Kanab, Utah about 311 miles. I got a late start out of the Salt Lake Valley and so had to ride the last hour in darkness on US 89, a forest rat infested road. Scary, but I survived.....which is good because the next morning I woke to this sight.

Back on the road (Alt 89) by 8:00am and into Arizona, destination Flagstaff where I'll meet good friends Ken aka Basecamp, Meridith, and Howard aka Heavy-H. But first some sight seeing is in order. Some rock formations and homes built to take advantage of the formation.

Next stop is the Navajo Bridge, which spans the Colorado River.

The one on the left is no longer used for vehicle traffic, but is kept at a landmark and to allow visitors to walk across it. The one on the right is what vehicles drive over. Total length of the Navajo bridge is 834 feet, it's height is 467 feet.

I walked out on the old bridge and took this pic from the middle.

Patiently waiting for lunch...

Arriving in Sedona, I call Ken, we meet at this coffee shop.

We chat for a few minutes, then Ken has responsibilities to take care of so I go on to Sedona to explore.

Entering Sedona.

I'm at the Chapel of the Holy Cross looking down on one of their neighbor's quaint house.

This is the Chapel of the Holy Cross. The Chapel was built in 1956, and the design was considered to be 'bold and daring' at that time. It was designed by the firm of Anshen and Allen. It is beautiful both outside and inside.
If you read the four book series, Outcast Season, by Rachel Caine, the story has a short, but funky event that happens at the Chapel.

Spent that night at Ken and Meridith's, the next morning Ken and I breakfast at the Old Town Cafe. We both get a pastry delight called the Big Kahuna. See pic below....

Would you trust yourself to be alone with THAT?! It looks good, but tastes even better than it looks.

(Picture by Basecamp)

The main street going through Cottonwood, they have done a great job of restoring the historic part of town.

While following Ken I reach down to the but nut underneath the handlebars and it is VERY LOOSE. This guy is one of Ken's friends, he put a dab of locktite and it and tightened it up for me. Thanks Chris!

The red barn is on Ken and Meridith's place, their lot runs back to the river. It looks peaceful and quiet....and it is!

(Picture by Basecamp)

Lunch at Pine in Part II

A Leisurely Pace II

We ride the beautiful SR 260 to Pine where we stop at the Randall House for a super lunch, and then a walk through the quiet town.

The next morning we, Meridith, Ken and Howard meet John (green shirt) for another breakfast at the Old Town Cafe. We had planned on eating at another place but after Ken and I gushed about how good the Big Kahuna was, and how much we'd like another one, Howard wanted one too. When we got there they only had one made up. But they had some smaller versions, so Howard got the Big Kahnua, Ken and I got the smaller ones.

(Picture by Basecamp)

After breakfast we hop on the bikes and head for the Rally.

Micro bus.

We ride through Jerome.

The sky is falling!!!

But these birds don't seem to be worried...

(Picture by Basecamp)

The streets of Jerome.

See the good looking guy in the mirror?

Stopped at Wendon for lunch, this place has a great chicken fried steak! If it looks like I'm sliding into second base it's because I set my timer for 2 seconds and had to hurry to get seated...