GO AZ Motorcycles Scottsdale
Getting off to an early start at GO AZ Motorcycles Scottsdale proved to be a good choice as what promised to be a hot ride was fairly comfortable for most of the day. At 7:00AM, the temperatures in Scottsdale were balmy and comfortable and as we climbed in elevation, it continued to be comfortable!
Our route took us up the Beeline to 260 in Payson where we headed east towards Showlow bypassing the fires in the Globe area. In Showlow, we continued on US 60 to Springerville where we met up with US 191 and headed south. After a break to top off with gas and stretch our legs, some of us continued down the 191 towards the mining town of Morenci, while the rest of us used the alternate route of US180 on the New Mexico side.
This year, we were presented some challenges on holding this ride. Our original hotel, the Tal Wi-Wi lodge gave away our rooms to a Porsche club. Most of the hotels in the Springerville area were booked up by the crews of an ongoing road project in the area. Road Captain, Steve Stoops who put the ride together, decided on running the route south from Springerville to Morenci with a night’s stay in Silver City, NM at the Murray Hotel.
As registrations came in, we noted that there were quite a few touring bikes along with cruisers registering and some riders early in their riding experience, we decided to offer an alternate route down US180 on the New Mexico side of the state line, Though very scenic and fun, 180 is a bit less of a challenge than 191 along with giving the option of an earlier arrival at the destination.
After everyone got in safely, we all went to dinner at the local brewery where we ate, drank and bench raced! Couldn’t ask for anything more.
I got up at 4:00 AM the next morning was on the road by 5 and home by 9! Others left a little later opting to come home directly while others headed up the 191 and back through the reopened US60 through Globe.
Mark Burdick, currently the risk manager of the SCMA, who lives in Houston, TX, rode out just to ride this ride with us! Kudos and a big thanks for coming out!
In all, looks like we had a great time! See you on the next ride!