Okay, so don't blame me...I don't name these things! Anyway, the Verde Valley's annual New Years Day Frosty Balls and Chilly Boobs poker run was held yesterday and as I saw the Harleys gathering, it occured to me, they needed a splash of color in the form of a red Buddy. And of course, there aren't any others in the U. S. of A., so it was up to me to provide said color! My dear wife was still in bed, so I rode home, kissed her goodbye and said I'd be back sometime in the afternoon. She said, "Mmmmffph." I took that as a blessing and split.
It was a bright sunny day in the 50's and just PERFECT for a ride. I donned my new Z1R Metro helmet that Ski bought me for Christmas. A little on the helmet, here...I got the silver model with a clear faceshield. One of the features I like about the Metro is it is an open-face helmet with both a visor AND a flip up shield. The design is such that the faceshield slips up under the visor. Sweeeet! Knowing I live in Arizona and the sun sometimes shines here, I also ordered a smoke shield. Perfect day to try it out. The replacement procedure takes all of about 2 minutes. The visor has a screw on the top that can be removed with either a screwdriver or even a coin. Rotate the visor upwards and two "T" shaped hooks slip out of the helmet and you just lift the visor off. The faceshield itself just slips onto two round protrusions. Re-insert the "T" hooks, rotate the visor down, apply screw. It's THAT easy!
The fit of the helmet has so far been just right (for my little round head) and is easy to get on and off over my glasses. The protection from the wind is good...not as good as a full-face, of course, but not as claustrophobic, either. On those cold early morning commutes when the temps are only in the teens, I still wear a balaclava under the helmet, basically to keep my neck warm. So far, it is an excellent helmet.
Back to the ride, now. The ride began at K&A Cycles in Cottonwood, owned by my friends Steve and Rita. I visited for a moment with Rita and headed out towards the first stop; Boler's Bar in Camp Verde...approximately 17 or 18 miles away. I arrived to find I was about the last one! No coffee for me here! I headed north on Montezuma Castle Highway towards Cliff Castle Casino, where the highway intersects I-17. I caught up with Steve and Rita on their Harleys as we approached the casino. The morons at the Arizona Dept. of Transportation, in all their wisdom, inserted one of those stupid round-about thingys at the junction of I-17, Montezuma Castle Highway and the casino driveway and paved it with bricks! As we reached the round-about, a Jeep Cherokee was getting off the northbound freeway and was circling in the approved direction. He saw Steve and Rita, stopped in the middle of the round-about and waved them on. They went. I was right there with them, but as I moved to follow, the guy in the Jeep went. I had to lock 'em up and the front wheel slid on the slick bricks. Down we went. I was unhurt and the Buddy suffered only minor scuffs to it's new paint, but I was both pissed and embarrassed.
North we went on I-17 for about 5 miles, me in a full tuck, barely maintaining 60 miles per hour (uphill, you know) and Steve and Rita just loafing along. We jumped off at the McGuireville exit and headed east towards Rimrock and Lake Montezuma for about another 5 miles to Flinn's Bar and Grill. There I met up with some other friends of mine; Suds and his sweet german wife, Marina. You can see them both in the second photo in the preceeding post. The last photo there is Marina and me...Suds doesn't get ALL the fun!! Also there were a couple other friends, a guy I only know as Mike and another fella named George. Now George is known by the handle Alaskan and was the best man at mine and Ski's wedding. He is standing next to his ride in the fourth pic. Tough lookin' old hombre, huh? And one of the nicest folks you'd ever want to meet.
Somewhere I have a picture of my Buddy there at Flinn's next to a yellow Sportster.
I stayed at Flinn's and had breakfast with Suds, Marina, Mike, Troy and Samantha. Actually, they had breakfast, I had coffee. Then just before they were ready to leave, I headed west on Cornville Road towards Cottonwood so I could get a jump on them. About two miles down the road several Harleys were pulled to the side, so I stopped to offer help. The 1938 Harley flathead in the bunch had spit off it's muffler and they were wiring it on. They were good, so I bailed. While I was stopped, though, Suds and Mike blew by me...I never had a chance. I caught up with them at the next stop; The Old Corral Bar in Cornville. We used the head and I jumped on and left them again, attempting to stay ahead. Never saw 'em again!!
I went on to the Chaparral Bar in Cottonwood where I met up with Glenn, a bartender at the 10/12 club in Clarkdale...a place where the band I'm in plays. He was real interested in my upcoming ride to Baton Rouge, LA. and wanted my blog address! We're gettin' around!!
Next stop was the American Legion in Cottonwood where they had a big pot of beans and a big plate of cornbread just waiting for us. The first photo in the previous post shows my scooter lined up with some of the bikes. I saw a couple of guys I work with there, both on their bikes and then, surprise, surprise...Bernie showed up on HIS Harley. Why the surprise? You see, about 5 or 6 years ago, Bernie and his wife were riding home from...um, I guess I don't know...anyway, they were in Sante Fe, New Mexico and a sweet little nun driving a car ran into Bernie. He bounced off her car and into the retaining wall and back and she hit him again just to make sure. He shattered his left knee, elbow and shoulder and has endured many surgeries since. He has been working again, driving a truck where I work for about the past 4 years. Finally, the pain was just too much and the doctors decided to replace the knee...which they did in November. The pain is worse now, but he still was able to ride to the rally. Good on him!!
I sucked down a bowl of beans, visited with a number of friends (I'm a member of the Legion there) and just had a fine time. Then it was time to go home and tell my wife I crashed.
What a GREAT ride on a GREAT day! Wish you had been there!!! Put it on your calender for next year...
C-ya...ride on!
--Keys
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