Home at Last

We left Bridgeport @ 8am having to put on our warm gear, it's a good thing since the flashing temp light on our mc alerted us that it was 37 degrees.  Rode Monitor pass to Hwy 50 and then it was time to take off the warm gear and get ready for 90 degrees in Sacto.  Flew down Hwy 50 and made it to A&S by 1pm to enjoy the vintage mc show and was also greeted by all our family & friends, which was a nice welcome home surprise.

It's nice to be home, but it was the "Ride of Our Lives" that we'll never forget. We all agreed that we'd do it again and of course together.

Almost There

lunch in Beatty, NV

We left Kingman, AZ  and rode over the Hoover Dam, there is alot of construction going on there, plus they've built a new bridge that will by-pass the Dam, set to open in Nov 2010.  Had a nice picnic lunch at the city park in Beatty, NV.  Rode 120W to Levining. There are 5 miles of rolling hills that are E-ticket rated!! Were planning to stay at a motel in Levining, but all were full due to a bicycle event that is being held on 120W.  So got gas and then Sue pulled out her laptop and looked for a motel in Bridgeport, luckily we found a room at the Ruby Inn. That's what we get for not making any reservations for the trip home. Turns out the Clampets have taken over another motel and bar across the street from and are partying it up.  We have determined that it's a good thing to be prepared for all type of weather.  Today we had to put more clothing on because it got in the 60's.    Haven't had to use our cool vest it never got hot enough.  Very unusual weather!!

looking for a motel in bridgeport

Headen Homes

Had breakfast w/our Canadian friends and then hit the road.  Road to Kingman, AZ

The Awards Banquet

Grilled Peppers

Wednesday-Recovery day- Sue & DD took their mc to Iron Horse BMW for service.  The four of us then walked 4 blocks to a corner stand and have a Sonoran Hot Dog.   He buttered the buns top and bottom and grilled, then inserted a grilled hotdog wrapped in bacon, topped w/pinto beans, onions, tomatoes, cheese, sour cream, mustard, & tomatillios sauce.  Also, served w/ a grilled, mild, yellow pepper, stuffed w/cheese and wrapped w/bacon.   Very, very yummy! !

We attended the awards banquet wearing our Motorrad tshirts, which was a big hit, because alot  of men wanted to have their pictures taken w/us.  Buffet dinner was served and then the prizes, awards, and annoucements followed.  Linda won a certificate for gloves, Maggy won a battery tender, DeeDee won a certificate from Browns BMW in Pomono.  The smallest cc MC award went to our DeeDee for her 650 BMW GS, Oldest male rider-84 yrs olds, oldest female rider-77, youngest male rider-40, youngest female rider-43, youngest male passenger-15, oldest female passengers-75. Longest distance female rider-shipped her mc from Hawaii to San diego and then rode to canada, male rider-2301 mi from mexico.  MC ridden: 109 Hondas, 53 BMWs, 48 Harleys,  14 yamahas, 9 Kawasaki, 1 buell, 1 ducati, 1 victory. There were 5 who had the highest particiapation in 3flags: 29, 30, 31, & two 32.

Awards Banquet

DeeDee w/her award

Day 5 - The Finish!!

We were on the road by 8am, refreshed and ready for the challenge of 60 miles of the Coronado Trail Scenic Byway SR 191.

Nogales, AZ

This is the only road that had its name changed by the Bible.  Formerly known as US 666 and nicknamed "The Devil's Highway", the route was renamed to US 191 in 1992.   Our challenge for today is 332 mi, 2 check points, and surviving the sheer slopes with narrow shoulders and no guardrails, 400 twisting curves and switchbacks, and ending at the Morenci coppermine in the Sonoran desert. This road is noted as the least traveled road in the continent.

We made it!!

The views along 191 were spectacular but really couldn't take our eyes off the road for very long, lots of switchbacks, turns, gravel and uneven road. Nothing slows you down like seeing a motorcycle accident and unfortunately we came upon 3 of them, all 3 Flaggers. The one that made our heart drop was coming upon the Gold Wing of Betty's (yesterday blog) on it side, up an embankment and her laying on a stretcher awaiting the helicopter. Thankfully we now know her injuries were only severe facial cuts because she hit the windshield wearing a half helmet. Full face helmet would have left her unscathed. After two hours of careens up and down the "The Devil's Highway" we made it to Clifton, got gas gathered our wits and then headed to Nogales, AZ.   On the way we experienced a favorite (haha) insect migration, highway polka dot stained with grasshoppers that didn't quite make it across, the stench was gross, we thanked our lucky stars the migration was a week ago and not today. There were still a few making the crossing. We then enjoyed more of Arizona's spectacular changing weather; lightning, thunder showers and then sunshine.  In Nogales we bought gas and ensured we got our original printed receipt to prove we made to Nogales.  One more stop at the border check, answering the question "Are you a US Citizen"?  (they had a dog sniffing all vehicles for drugs) We pulled into our final checkpoint the DoubleTree Reid Park at 6pm to see many other bikes, it was very exciting. We received a packet of goodies, including a set of 3 EBags, Tshirt, cap, belt buckle, plaque, stickers, patch & pin, dinner & breakfast coupons, it was a rush. Maggy & Linda now feel like a part of the 3 Flag Family with a huge sense of accomplishment for having completed this event and plan to do more. Also very exciting for Sue & D2 to have completed their 5th 3 Flags Rally. High Fives All Around! 

Day 4 - 24 hrs to the Finish

riding thru golden fields

• check pt 3

The day started off at 73 degrees and it was a beautiful morning.  We got on SR60 towards Springerville and all fell into formation and got into a good rythm.   We had great views of yellow mustard fields and cholla castus aka jumping castus.  We got gas in Datil at an eclectic store and of course Maggy had to buy some earings made by a local Native American women.  It's elk hunting season and everywhere you stop there are men dressed in camo.  The 3rd 3flags checkpoint was sponsored by the South Coast BMW Club and was in Springerville, AZ.  Today we met up with alot of other riders.One of the pictures you see is Maggy talking to Betty M., she is a 84 yr old GoldWing rider who is an avid 3 Flags & 4 Corners participant. Tonight we at at a lodge south of Alpine and at the top of Devil's Highway that we will take on in the morning. It's suppose to be 60 miles and 433 turns, hmm, we'll see. This lodge was perfect for tonight, we got in early, and had couple hours to relax on the big front porch, across the highway is a huge meadow, we're in the big trees now. Had a family style dinner and spent 2 hours talking to 2 other 3 flaggers from BC, that we met in Regina & just so happened to book a cabin here. Really nice guys, bought a BMW from David not too long ago, small world. Looks like lots of rain and thunder storms in the desert tomorrow. Oh well what's a girl to do but ride.

Day 3 From the Mountains to the Desert

We survived the gravel!!

We rode out all bundled up at 40 degrees and 30 miles later it was 50 degrees and then 22 more miles of construction. We rode through Leadville, which is at 10,000 feet and a very adorable town.  The canyons out of Leadville were spectacular. Colorado has some of the most spectacular mountain scenery. The 3rd checkpoint was at the Taos Monte Bello RV Park in Taos, NM.  It was supported by a member of the SCMA club. They were very friendly and again had everything you would need to hydrate and replenish your hunger. But the road into the RV park was gravel!! Sue & DeeDee turned left and up the gravel road,  Maggy followed but got very squirrelly, and fishtailed her way to the top, Linda was cautiously following in total panic! But nobody went down!! We had lunch at the checkpt and headed out on BlueBerry Hill which was a cut around Taos, Sunday in Taos on a holiday is no place for motorcycles trying to make good time. It was now really getting warm as we headed through Santa Fe and into Albq. We're trying to remember how darn cold it was at the top of the Road to the Sun in Glacier and bring back some cold air but ...not happening! We're in for the night in Albq. Tomorrow is short but warm heading into Arizona. =