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Day 22, Sunday, May 21, 2017

My alarm was set to sound at 6:30 AM, but I didn’t need it.  I woke up at 6:20 AM and C.E. was just getting out of bed.  We got dressed and packed.  We didn’t have far to go to get to our Motors.  They were right outside our door.  We went outside to pack our Motors and I saw Ken and Jake already working on their Motors.  Ken was his jolly old self.  He was moving slowly, but he felt better than last night.  We walked across the drive into the breakfast area and had…you guessed it, breakfast!  We finished and checked out.  We wanted to leave early so that we wouldn’t be riding in the extreme heat.  We all made sure that we had all of our stuff packed in our Motors and we left at 7:51 AM.  It was 54 degrees.

C.E. led us onto US 260 out of Show Low.  We continued on and in no time we were passing Bison Ranch in Overgaard.  We rode in and out of Heber and on.  We were riding in an area that I really like to ride a Motorcycle.  The scenery is beautiful.  Just as we were about 5 miles from Forest Lakes, Jan pointed to the left.  There were about a dozen deer (doe and fawn) grazing on the green grass along US 260.  It was much too fast to get my camera and take pictures.  It was about 61 degrees.  We rode for 91 miles and at 9:17 AM pulled into the Giant gas station in Payson.  We all gassed up except for Jan.  After we gassed up, we parked in front of the store.  We shed our jackets because it was 77 degrees AND very comfortable.  We all said our “Goodbyes” to Jan and he rode off.  Jan was going a different way than we were.  We left at 9:44 AM.

Chuck took the lead, as is the Group’s tradition.  Chuck always starts off the ride and ends the ride, getting us into Phoenix. I followed Chuck, then Ken, Jake and C.E.  We rode through Payson and then turned onto US 87, headed to Fountain Hills.  We weren’t more than 5 minutes out of Payson riding about 78 MPH on the twisties, when we lost Jake.  I didn’t see him in the rear view mirror.  We continued this speed, passing vehicles and riding the twisties, going up and down the hills.  We were having a good time.  When we got to the Saguaro Lake turn off, about 40 miles away, Chuck told me that he counted only four Motors and asked me where Jake was.  I told him that I didn’t know.  We continued on and when we stopped for the red traffic light in front of Fort McDowell Casino, we could see Jake’s headlights in our rear view mirror.  After we left the traffic light, soon after Jake caught up and joined the Group behind C.E.  We continued on and turned onto Shea Blvd. at Fountain Hills.  We stopped at the first traffic light and I told Chuck that it was 91 degrees.  Chuck responded with, “It’s hot!”  I told Chuck that it feels like home.  We arrived to the entrance ramp to the 101 and headed north.  Jake continued westbound on Shea Blvd. and rode home.  We rode north on the 101 and then west.  I waved at the Guys as I exited at the Cave Creek Rd. exit.  When I stopped at the red light, I texted my Family that I was at Cave Creek Rd.  When I rode up to my drive way, it was 91 degrees and 11:10 AM.  I had ridden 91 miles.  I was a very good feeling to see my garage door open and my Family on the driveway waiting to greet me.  I parked and gave/received hugs and kisses.  IT IS GOOD TO BE HOME!

Today we rode for 182 miles.  It was the end of our ride…for this year.  We rode a total of 6,501 miles on this 22 day trip.  I also had a milestone on my Motor by going over 100,000 miles on the odometer.  The last 2,000 miles have been travelled on a “Mexican Slick” rear tire.  I figured that I didn’t see the “air” in the tire so it was still safe.  The tire WILL be changed tomorrow…I promise.  Also, by the way, I did ride my Motor into my garage and “Tucked it in for the Night.”

Next year, we have been talking about riding to Alaska.  The Alaska destination will definitely be a longer ride and may take about a week longer.  Please follow our adventures.  So, until then…