Well Sunday was my birthday and I had decided to take a little trip for this special day. I took Friday and Monday off from work and rented a house on the side of the mountain in Bisbee Arizona. Bisbee was a booming copper mining town many many years ago. The history of this place is amazing. Google it if you have time and are interested in those kinds of things.
Well I had the trailer packed and hitched to the bike and was on my way to pick up Connie. This is early Friday morning at my house.
We hit a traffic accident just outside of Phoenix on I-10 south and were stuck for an hour. But we were soon on our way. We stopped for a butt rest (Connie can go about 80 miles then has to get off.) We stopped here, nice view.
Then it was on our way once again.
Once checked into our house it was time for a beer. This is the Stock Exchange Bar.
Quite a story behind this place but too long to post here.
Then it was over to the Copper Queen Hotel and there outside patio for....you guessed it....more beers.
After quenching our thirst, it was off to see some of the town. This is their Main Street with all kinds of shops with all kinds of stuff that you just can't live without...yea....right.
Here is a shot of the 'B' on the mountain for Bisbee. Our house was just to the left but cannot see it in this pic.
We ate at the Copper Queen Hotel that night and it was fantastic. Sorry, did not bring camera for food pics....I know....my bad.
Saturday was a rough morning but a couple of Bloddy Mary's later we were ready to hit the town again. I pulled into the parking lot and what do ya know, another Valk. I believe this bike was from Indiana and had a military parking sticker on it. Front windshield said Dragon Rider. Anyone here? There were dragon heads attached to the back of the saddle bags, looked pretty cool.
I also seen a maroon and cream one later in the day.
We did some more shops and more bars and had dinner at a place called Roka. It was great. I had stuffed quail and Connie had baked sea bass and shrimp. Again, no camera, it would have just made ya'll hungry anyway. LOL!
Sunday morning we headed down to the Copper Queen for breakfast as we needed to eat cause we were doing the Old Queen Mine Tour that day.
Yes I had my camera that morning so here is the food shot.
The mine was started back in the 1800's but is not operational today as it gave way to a very huge open pit copper mine which was shut down many years ago but They are going to reopen some of it was the word I got. So here is the old Queen mine entrance.
The mine is a constant 47 to 51 degrees all the time. Here we are getting our equipment on and getting ready to go in.
Here is Connie at the entrance. The red car in front is a battery powered pull car. We all sat on small transport car and the guide pulled us in 1500 feet into the mountain.
There are many levels to the mine each 100' above or below the other. I could not get any pics inside as it was so dark and I have a crappy camera. The tour was very interesting and man what hard work. One ton ore cars were pushed by three men until they introduced donkeys. The donkeys could pull six ore cars at a ton each when loaded. The portable drills they used were 300 lbs each and the men worked in teams of two. Miners were paid 47 cents an hour and that was the best paying job at the time. Bread was 1 cent a loaf so they did pretty good. They worked a day shift 3000 miners and a night shift 2000 miners. They pulled over 3 million tons of copper out of that mine.
Ok....now what the heck is this????????? Any guesses?????
Yup! It's the crapper car. You can even sit right along side your buddy and do your thing. The round wheel was turned and it opened a door at the bottom of the car so all could drain out. These were all over in the mine and got emptied once a month. They had a leather strip on the seat and that was it. Now, figure 47 degrees in the mine and you go to sit on this bad boy BRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!!
The tour was very interesting and is a MUST if you ever find yourself in Bisbee.
After the tour we decide to head out on the bike to see the rural parts of Bisbeee. We were about 5 miles out of town when we ran across a brush fire just started. I stopped the bike and Connie called 911 they were there in about 5 minutes and had it under control. There was a guy on a mountain bike that was at the scene, he said his cell phone died and thet he saw a purple Ford Tarus stop and light it and take off. Don't really know for sure.
On the way back into town I looked.....what the heck!!!!!!! I wiped the bike around and stopped. I stared in dis belief....could it be???? was it????? no.....it couldn't be. Yup....it was. Can ya guess at this one?
This was my first motorcycle as a kid. It was a Montgomery and Wards Riverside made by Beneli. Not sure if I spelled that right. Beneli was an Itilian motorcycle maker yes they make a pretty good shotgun too and 9mm a while ago as I have one. I just could not believe this bike was sitting there. The guy started it up rode it around and everything. 125cc and he wanted $1400.00 but was not going to get it from me.
Well that about wraps up this short trip. Monday morning was back to Phoenix running about 65 to 75MPH the whole way with 40 MPH winds. I am sore today, it was quit the challenge to ride in that wind two up and pulling a trailer, but we made it!!!!!!!!!!!!!
