OK, I rolled into Scottsdale this afternoon expecting to see the Pre-Rally in full swing here in the next couple days before Arizona Bike Week begins, but where is it? I'm camping and when I got here there were three other tents set up. Now there are about ten, maybe. There are a bunch of RVs.
Kawasaki is here and set up for demo rides and tomorrow some of the vendors will start selling food. Other than that, people are just trickling in.
Doesn't matter. I had a really nice ride today.
After spending the night at Grants, NM, I got back on I-40 continuing west. Old US 66 runs along there and I briefly considered taking it but decided I wanted to burn miles, not do a nostalgia trip. Got off the interstate at Holbrook, AZ, and headed southwest on a series of state highways. At first it was desert, then there were some junipers, and then I was in a forest of pine, cedar and juniper.
The road started climbing and about the time I noticed a chill I also noticed old snow in shaded areas. Then there was new snow in unshaded areas, as in yesterday's or last night's snow. Then there came a point where this cliff dropped off beside the road and it demanded a stop. The facilities were closed for the season but one by one a whole bunch of us stopped to check it out because this kind of vista cannot be just driven past.
The road then dropped down through some beautiful canyons and over a lot of hills. I came to a point where they are expanding the current two-lane into four-lane divided highway, and it made me feel glad I got to see what I did before it's gone. From Payson the road really drops and it's all four-lane. Must have been beautiful and curvy once.
By the time I got to Scottsdale it was broiling and I could not get my warm gear off fast enough. And since then it's just been "sit back and take it easy." So I guess that's what I'll do, at least for now. There's got to be a party here somewhere, sometime soon.
Related articles:
Getting the jump on Arizona Bike Week: Pre-Rally Days begin
On the road to Arizona Bike Week
I'm here for the party--where is it?
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