| Author | Message | ||
     Mark_weiss |
About five and a half miles past Tortilla Flat, highway 88's pavement ends. It is still another 26 miles to Roosevelt Dam. It is mostly hard surfaced. Decomposed granite and sandstone can make it a bit loose in areas. With lots of rain this winter, the reservoirs are full and the desert is very green. http://picasaweb.google.com/arizonaridered/425AZ88 ?feat=directlink Mark in Arizona | ||
| Rotorhead |
The wife did that stretch 2 up. Awsome views and the twisties to where the dirt starts headed north aren't bad. Can't wait to get back west. Although, I did ride like a mad man while I was there. AZ has allot of hidden treasures in the mountains that rival the roads of the eastern mountains. | ||
| Rocketsprink |
Nice. I'll be visiting Family in Arizona in a few weeks. Too bad the Uly has to stay back here in Wisconsin.  | ||
| Will547_us |
That's a great ride. I rode it frequently when we lived in Phoenix. Riding the Coconino National Forest was a good time as well, camping across the river from the Verde Hot Springs, and wallpapering the walls of the inside spring with wine bottle labels. Yeehaw. | ||
| Mark_weiss |
I was a little concerned about the Strada rear on loose, marbly stuff, but it was not too bad. It did not seem any more slide-y than the original Sync. Mark in Arizona | ||
| Hooper |
Here's what happened when I went down that stretch on a rented Road King in April 2006 (after eating lunch at Superstition Saloon):     Got into some sand on a downhill, didn't have enough riding experience, fixated on the road ahead, and slipped the bike right into the ditch on the right. I went off the saddle to the left and slid on my back a bit (you can see the dust on my jeans and a little road rash on my arm caused by the liner of my leather jacket). My buddy and I had to work like hell to get it out (NO ONE stopped to help...the tourists in A/C'ed vans just stared as they drove by), but it was relatively undamaged (bent engine guard and scuffed up plastic pieces). Now that leather jacket has some real character. Even though this was just a couple hours into the trip, we still had a GREAT time...went to Sedona, the Grand Canyon, Zion, then split up. He went home to San Diego and I went back to Sedona and Scottsdale, then to the airport and home). Then I had to pay the rental place about $1000 for the damage. Still, it was worth it. A buddy ride in the desert SW is unforgettable. Would have been priceless on a Uly, however.  | ||
| Paul56 |
Awesome pix. It's miraculous how green the desert can be in spring and how brown in summer/fall. I went through Death Valley a few years ago in the spring right after one of the wettest winters on record there. It was amazing to see all the colors. | ||
| Hooper |
Yah...picture #3 on Mark_weiss' gallery was where I dumped it! Right into the ditch on the right! Ahhhhh, memories... | ||
| Mark_weiss |
I think that is the beginning (west end) of Fish Creek Hill. It's a bit steeper than it looks and fairly loose. The trick is to keep speed low and not try to stop. I can see where if you got too close to the edge of the 'road' it would be easy to slide off. Mark in Arizona | ||
| Eryngium |
Be advised - lots of green now means increased chances for wildfire after all that vegetation dries out. Expect one this year or next. Could be more black than green next trip... | ||
| Nwforester |
Thanks for the pix, I spend a lot of time in the SW working, I need to figure out how to get the Uly down there with the work truck in the spring for "long" weekends (lots nicer than the northwet in march and april) | ||
| Mark_weiss |
Ride the Uly down. Get someone else to drive the truck. Mark in Arizona | ||
| Nwforester |
Already tried the tactic that the Uly is more economical for the company than the Dodge 2500. I even offered not to charge them mileage. It would also save time, I would get everywhere faster.  Unfortunately my supervisors are not following my logic. |
