I hooked a left onto Montezuma Castle Highway that leads towards Middle Verde, where Cliff Castle Casino sits. Montezuma's Castle is a ruin left behind by the Sinagua Indians who hung around our neck of the woods some six to eight hundred years ago, I believe. Nobody really knows where they went, but they left behind a LOT of city-type ruins in the Verde Valley. The ruins are very similar to what you'll find in Colorado at Mesa Verde. Anyway, I didn't go there. I went to the casino where there was in progress a big biker rally...a "Toys For Tots" rally and poker run. I met a few great people who actually thought my Genuine Buddy was...well, if not "cool", at least acceptable. At a benefit. I wanted to check out the concert later that was featuring Grand Funk Railroad, Steppenwolf and one of my all-time favorites; Blood, Sweat and Tears. I couldn't shake loose the thirty-five bucks required to get in, though.
I bailed from the casino and took Hwy 260 east towards Hwy 87, which goes north to Winslow or south to Payson. I just went to the top and took pictures until a likely bunch of Harleys thundered by. I just ripped up the asphalt chasing them down the mountain. They still won, though. Something about 1200 plus cubic centimeters and a straight road that leaves me choking on dust. I could hang with 'em in the corners, though.
I knew my buddy Steve at the Scooter Scoop (www.thescooterscoop.blogspot.com) would want action photos, so I fished the camera out of the glovebox and as I was cooking about 65 mph, I took a picture. It's the one with the brown blob at the top. That's my finger. The specks in the distance are Harleys.
Then, after fueling up in Camp Verde, I went back to the casine where I took a few photos. The Buddy and I; the Buddy, myself and a guy I met named Dan-knee, and one of the Buddy alone in a sea of black and chrome. Kind of a "where's Waldo" moment...
Then, having seen all there was to see, I headed home. Didn't make it. I found a dirt road near my house that seems to head directly for Mingus Mountain to the west. I just had to see. I went about 5 miles before my wife called and sent me home for some chores. Still haven't seen where the road goes, but I DID discover that a Buddy is an adequate trail-bike. Take it slow and it does just fine. Dust sure shows up on that black finish, though. Have to wash it someday.
I posted a few pics of that little sojourn as well.
Tomorrow, September 30th, is the day of the "Something For Nothing" rally that begins in Flagstaff, goes south through Oak Creek Canyon into Sedona, then west into Cottonwood, continuing west through Jerome to the "Potato Patch Campground" at the top of Mingus Mountain where the whole group will camp and party. Then on Sunday is the return trip. Last year we had, I'm gonna guess, about 50 scoots. What a GREAT time!
The Scarabs, however, are based primarily out of Phoenix and Tucson, so their plan is to motor up this afternoon (Friday) and camp tonight as well, then I'm riding up from Cottonwood in the morning to meet them just below the campground. From there we'll do the reverse version of the trip up to Flagstaff where we'll meet up with everyone else. Then after a cuppa joe, we'll all do the ride as a group (big group...much fun) to Mingus. Of course, there will be various stops along the way.
After they reach the campground, I'm gonna have to bail, since the band I play keyboards in (www.dryheatband.com) has a gig tomorrow night in Sedona.
A sidebar here; I had hoped to go on the Tucson-Nogales Fall Classic, this year, but the evil spirits of fate stepped in...Dry Heat has a gig that night, too. Gotta be there. Anyway, the Fall Classic is November 10th, 11th and 12th and promises to be a fabulous rally. Info can be found at the Scarabs' forum http://phxscarabsc.com/forum/index.php.
I'll try to get all the pic up in this post and the next one or two. Still haven't learned how to put them where I want them. Give you something to do...sort 'em out.
C-ya, ride on!
--Keys
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