Arizona VRCC Annual New Years Day Ride

[Des]

What a pleasure to live in such a glorious state as Arizona!  We take a lot of HEAT (literally) for the hot summers and our mild winters --- reality is that’s why the majority live here!  You honestly get use to the Hotter then Hell Summers --- and you relish in the wonderfully mild winters!  

Yesterday was one of those days!  Thank you Connie (F6Gal)   for putting together another wonderful New Years Day Ride!  It was a long day and an awesome ride!  This was my 5th NYD Ride.  These rides will always be special to me --- it is where I began my love affair with the club & the Valk.  Kendall took me on my 1st VRCC ride New Years Day 2006.

Kendall & I got up about 5:00 a.m. dragging our niece Rosa out of bed with us.  Quick cup of coffee (some mild whining from us girls about being early & cold); boots and gear on we headed out to top off our tanks about 6:30 a.m.  It was dark & cold.  Hit the highway to meet up with a couple friends at 7:30  on Riggs Road & I-10.  Kendall had a co-worker (Kathy and her husband Dave) join us; and only one taker from my office (Tim).  We met for a quick introduction a brief kicking tires and off we went.  Group was to meet at Jackrabbit Trail - I-10 Exit 121 at 9:00 a.m.  We had about 40 miles or so across the valley to get started.

We rolled up about 8:30 and was glad to have the extra time to thaw out and top off the tanks again. Second half of the trip was much colder then the 1st half …. but the sun was finally up and it was beginning to warm up nicely.  

Within minutes we had more Valks rolling in and what a pleasure to see familiar faces and see some new ones arriving as well.  Our lustrous leader (F6Gal) and her sidekick (Psycho) rolled up before long and we shared in some hugs, handshakes and tire kicking.  Everyone was fueled up and we were soon ready to roll out.

Now I have lived here all my life --- and know where we went but couldn’t take you there again even with the map Connie provided!  Nonetheless that’s why she was leading the group --- and what a fine job she did!  We had a bit of highway riding; off the freeway headed up north on a couple sweet rollercoaster roads with some big sweepers and tight corners.   Finally hit another highway and headed uphill into Bagdad where we had reservations for lunch at a little diner.

Lunch was great --- think we might have overwhelmed the kitchen a bit (Sorry Strider ... we were so hungry we didn't even THINK about a food picture till the plate was empty!) --- some of us had our food almost instantly others (like us and Connie) got served as many where finishing up and heading back to the parking lot.  As we finished up and headed out everyone lined the Valks up on the highway and Tim (W0X0F) took our annual club photograph.

Now here’s the fun part --- Many of you are very familiar with the Arizona Group --- and our members.  Here’s the deal ---- who can find (not Jim Callaghan our visitor from Wisconsin who was here enjoying the Arizona Sunshine with us) …. but who can find the “out of place” VRCC Club Member that made a Surprise Guest Appearance while we were stopped in Bagdad, Arizona??  He was as surprised as we were to see each other in of all places BAGDAD!!



Did you find him?  Well if it helps ---- I’ve added a link to the bottom of the post to my Kodak Gallery where all of the pictures are saved --- maybe you’ll spot him there  

From Bagdad we headed back out south down the hill towards home.  Stopped in Congress for another gas stop and our good-byes.  Although we were still 90 miles from the valley --- as we rolled back into town we would all start peeling off heading our different directions across the valley towards our homes.

As with all of our Annual New Years Day Rides -- this one was an enormous success.  We had beautiful sunshine; great friends and awesome roads!  I can’t think of a better way to start off the new year --- or better yet --- the new Decade!!  Connie it’s going to be tough to top this years ride --- I had an awesome time and want to say Thanks again!!  



Details:
17 bikes - 20 riders - 425 miles door to door

Kodak Gallery -- NYD Ride Photos
http://www.kodakgallery.com/gallery/creativeapps/slideShow/Main.jsp?token=486362680310%3A1695529673&cm_mmc=site_email-new_site_sharecore_-View_photos_album

[f6gal]

I know who it is!  I know, I know!  Oh, I guess that's cheating.  

Thanks for the Kudos Des, glad y'all had a good day.  We had a great day, as well!

This was my 10th NYD Ride (on a Valkyrie).  A couple of them have been a bit of a challenge.  2003 was 2 months after the deer incident, but I still made the entire ride.  And last year, there was the whole foot escapade, so I had an extremely short ride... but at least I didn't break the tradition!  

[Al in AK]

 
 Thank You very much Des, allways love the reports.............. !!!!!!!

     Al

[Misfit]

Bowzer! I was just thinking about him a couple of days ago. Great report I wish I could have been there.

[JimC]

I have to second everything that Des said. It was a great ride, well planned out, fantastic roads, the scenery was georgous, and just like all the other VRCC rides I have been on, the people were top notch. I can't say enough about the AZ group, they welcomed me into the group like I was a long lost cousin.

Let me tell you that bringing he bike down here was just what I needed, especially after hearing about the weather back in Wisconsin! The only down side so far was cleaning all the salt spray off of the bike after getting here. But, I am hoping to get a few more rides in the mountains before I head back to the frozen tundra, that should help eliminate any doubts that I had about whether it was a good idea or not.

Jim

[Willow]

The only down side so far was cleaning all the salt spray off of the bike after getting here.

Jim, did you ride to Arizona from Wisconsin?   

[JimC]

Willow,
No, I have an open trailer with a bulk head that is supposed to direct the air over the bike, it did  keep most of the ice and snow off the bike, but it did not help much with the salt spray that settled all over it from two days of driving in crappy weather.
Jim