Ride to the Casa Grande Cracker Barrel on January 30

Subject: Fwd: Ride to the Casa Grande Cracker Barrel on January 30

It looked like All Hands on Deck as the Angels gathered 27 bikes with at least 37 riders on what started out as a warm cloudy morning. Leader Duane had our attention with a few announcements, including the first call to donate prizes that make our annual Spring Picnic such a success, this year to be on March 17.  Our ride was scheduled for the Cracker Barrel in Casa Grande where they're known to keep everything moving, so Al and Sandy with Vern at the tail started the parade of three groups headed off thru Florence to the Cactus Highway, then west to Casa Grande.  The second group was led by Paul with Dependable Don taking up his friendly position.  Jay on his trike led the third group with Dennis as the taildragger.

 

We can look for changes in the farming landscape during the next year as the Arizona Drought Water Plan is being finished tomorrow in the AZ Legislature.  Water levels have been dropping for years in Lake Mead, and the several states that share this and other water sources will have to agree on less available water for all users to avoid rationing in years to come.  Traditional water rights are assigned on a first user basis, which granted farmers and Indian tribes a larger supply.  Cities now have huge needs for water, so this is the time for re-allocation.  On the other hand, those huge crops of cotton and hay that we see grow only where water is pumped or flows from the canals.  Bob Keeler points out that most local fields are flood irrigated, which is not the most efficient.  We already see barren fields; perhaps there will be more next year if underground sources can't replace it.  Agreement appears likely on the future of our water supply.  Speaking of vacant fields, did you notice the vacant land around the unfinished PhoenixMart near Casa Grande?  And, did you see the grazing flocks of sheep in some fields?

 

At the restaurant a smart hostess delegated our riders to scattered tables of 4 to 8 persons where the regular servers were able to take orders more quickly.  As usual, the Cracker Barrel food was delicious, and in one hour the whole crowd was gathering outside for conversation and a ride in the sunshine on different routes home.  One group stopped in Gold Canyon for ice cream.  Everyone was home around 1:00 with 122 miles of riding in 2 hours 41 minutes lapsed time at average 43 mph. 

 

The Road Captains will meet tomorrow, Thursday in the GV Pima Room at 4:00 PM to plan rides for February. 

 

Notice Paul & Bonnie's pictures, including the Florence courthouse and a selfie of Paul & Don! I had to edit some of the pictures due to some servers not accepting messages over 25 MB.

 

2ND MESSAGE - SIZE WAS STILL TOO BIG, TRYING AGAIN.

 

Cotton Gin Tour

There is a misunderstanding concerning a cotton gin tour on Wednesday. We have not

scheduled a tour for that day. If there is enough interest, we can schedule one at a later date.

Also, Bob Shinnick will not be riding with us on Wednesday.

Duane

Re: Ride South to Petro on January 16

Thanks for the update! 

On Thu, Jan 17, 2019, 6:31 AM Duane Switz <ddswitz@gmail.com wrote:

Another great day for riding developed right after a light rain the night before as 25 bikes and 33 riders assembled at the Chevron for the ride to Petro, a well known truck stop near the junction of I-8 and I-10 south of Casa Grande.  Our leader Duane had appointed Bob and Barb Shinnick and Jay and Dottie Stewart to lead the groups today, and Duane and Don were the tailgunners.  Check the photo of the ladies who rode today.  What an exciting day!  There were the usual traffic snafus, including moving-target construction on the Hunt Highway.  Our trip took us past new communities, then south to Eloy where parachutists were in the air.  Three different riders dropped off the first group for different reasons; the only lasting effect being a stator failure for one bike.

 

The Road Captains had a productive meeting yesterday in an effort to make it easier for restaurants to serve the meal for our ever-larger group.  One suggestion was to have the two groups of riders making different routes to the designated meeting place, and another was to choose two different nearby restaurants.  Well, the first option didn't produce results as our two groups arrived back to back.  Fortunately, the Iron Skillet was well prepared and able to serve tasty meals quickly; serving all 33 of us in half an hour!   There was plenty of chatter and good time spent at our destination as the riders enjoyed their respite.

 

There are many different roads across the farm and desert land to the south as the riders worked their way back home.  Riding thru Florence gives us a chance to pick up speed and see new territory.  One rider took in the scene at Eloy Airport, and Roy and Phil were dispatched to seek a tour of one of the many cotton gins working their way through this year's big crop.  Tours are restricted this year, and we just missed the available date.  So, we returned via Socatan and Riggs Road at 2:00 with 136 miles.

Saturday's tide will take us to Roosevelt Lake, always a popular destination. We will be going to 2 separate restaurants, with one group going to Butcher's Hook, with Dennis leading via the Bush Highway. The other group will go to Ma's Kitchen, with Garry leading via Globe.This is to reduce the size of the groups, so the restaurants can better accommodate us. Road Captains, please call the restaurants a day ahead of time to let them know we're coming.

The group led by Bob encountered a semi rollover at the 60/79 intersection on the way home. We tried to take a picture as we rolled slowly by, so that is the one with the red tarp that you see.

 

 

 

Re: Wednesday Ride

Where?

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From: Duane Switz <ddswitz@gmail.com>
Sent: Tuesday, January 15, 2019 11:22:20 AM
To: Al (Alden) and Marie Servais; Cathy Jensen; Darrell and Lynn Honrud; Derek and Claire Hudson; Edward and Monica Kelty; Gary and Laurie Knudsen; Max T. and Linda von Dahlen; Mike and Barbara McDonald; Pat and Wanda Alsup; Phillip and Jean Parsons; Richard and Linda Lilienthal; Vern and Audrey Chrestensen; Al and Ardis Negen; Al and Sandy Jeanquart; Bart Madge; Bill and Beve Lieser; Bill McCue; Bob and Lin Keeler; Bob and Barb Shinnick; Bob Lumderby; Bryan Hogg; Carol & Jack Green; Carroll Johnson; Carroll Johnson and Le Ann Lindeman; Dale and Glady Ringuette; Dan & Betsy Hallberg; Dan & Sherry Knorr; Dennis and Dell McKinney; Dennis Wanke; Don & Anne James; Don & Carma Williams; Don and Shirley Gabbert; Duane and Bonnie Switz; Ed Kelty; Evelyn LaMott; Garry and Anne Hewitt; Gene & Mary Bonnes; Gordo Johnson; Harvey Vandesype; Irving Valvick; Jay and Dottie Stewart; JoAnn & Larry Werner; Joe & Bonnie Baisley; Joe & Cathy Bengston; Joe Sawyer; Keith Simpson; Ken LaMott; Kevin and Bonnie Weisser; Kevin Cafes; Lionel Van Doesburg; Mark & Sue Schumann; Mark and Debbie Richard; Mary Russell; Mike & Debbie Dougherty; Mike and Julie Pine; Paul & Bobbie Breuklander; Paul & Helen Andre; Paul Culbertson; Peter and JoAnn Vander Werff; Ray and Glendina Cogill (Deanie) Pabst; Ray and Paula Sterling; Rex Centner; Richard Kinnan; Rick & Gwen Wyma; Rick & Nancy Burt; Ron and Helen Hennes; Roney Lowell; Roy Karasiuk; Sandy Jeanquart; Terry Dieken; Theodore & Barbara Moody; Warren Tobin; Wayne & Bonnie Koeplin; Wayne Kuster
Subject: Wednesday Ride

 

We will be going to the Petro restaurant

Duane

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Wednesday Ride

We will be going to the Petro restaurant

Duane

Virus-free. www.avg.com

BJ Williams passing

I was just informed by Jay Stewart that BJ Williams has passed away. No further details are available at this time.

Duane

Re: Ride to the Dwarf Cars on January 9

If anyone got a picture of the purple car and boat I would appreciate it very much.

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From: Duane Switz <ddswitz@gmail.com>
Sent: Thursday, January 10, 2019 10:19:00 AM
To: Al (Alden) and Marie Servais; Cathy Jensen; Darrell and Lynn Honrud; Derek and Claire Hudson; Edward and Monica Kelty; Gary and Laurie Knudsen; Max T. and Linda von Dahlen; Mike and Barbara McDonald; Pat and Wanda Alsup; Phillip and Jean Parsons; Richard and Linda Lilienthal; Vern and Audrey Chrestensen; Al and Ardis Negen; Al and Sandy Jeanquart; Bart Madge; Bill and Beve Lieser; Bill McCue; Bob and Lin Keeler; Bob and Barb Shinnick; Bob Lumderby; Bryan Hogg; Carol & Jack Green; Carroll Johnson; Carroll Johnson and Le Ann Lindeman; Dale and Glady Ringuette; Dan & Betsy Hallberg; Dan & Sherry Knorr; Dennis and Dell McKinney; Dennis Wanke; Don & Anne James; Don & Carma Williams; Don and Shirley Gabbert; Duane and Bonnie Switz; Ed Kelty; Evelyn LaMott; Garry and Anne Hewitt; Gene & Mary Bonnes; Gordo Johnson; Harvey Vandesype; Irving Valvick; Jay and Dottie Stewart; JoAnn & Larry Werner; Joe & Bonnie Baisley; Joe & Cathy Bengston; Joe Sawyer; Keith Simpson; Ken LaMott; Kevin and Bonnie Weisser; Kevin Cafes; Lionel Van Doesburg; Mark & Sue Schumann; Mark and Debbie Richard; Mary Russell; Mike & Debbie Dougherty; Mike and Julie Pine; Paul & Bobbie Breuklander; Paul & Helen Andre; Paul Culbertson; Peter and JoAnn Vander Werff; Ray and Glendina Cogill (Deanie) Pabst; Ray and Paula Sterling; Rex Centner; Richard Kinnan; Rick & Gwen Wyma; Rick & Nancy Burt; Ron and Helen Hennes; Roney Lowell; Roy Karasiuk; Sandy Jeanquart; Terry Dieken; Theodore & Barbara Moody; Warren Tobin; Wayne & Bonnie Koeplin; Wayne Kuster
Subject: Fwd: Ride to the Dwarf Cars on January 9

 

Good weather returned to the Valley again this week, and today's ride to the Dwarf Cars Garage south of Maricopa was a great destination.  There were 23 bikes with 30 riders ready to roll at the Chevron this morning.  Since today's ride included the 202, leader Duane had some suggestions when we're riding as a group, especially keeping careful spacing.  The HOV Lane is a good option, as is the center lane where cars can pass/be passed on either side.  Today the center lane worked the best, and the choice was turning off at Dobson Road instead of going the short distance on the I-10, which is always fluid and crowded.  Duane and Bonnie led Group 1 with Bob and Barb Shinnick at the tail.  Gary and Ann were right behind leading Group 2 with Derek as tailgunner.

 

The trip to Maricopa passed quickly with hardly a stop sign.  However, the breakfast reservation at Denny's was not so good.  Our waiter was a great host, the meals were delicious and the buzz of conversation filled their back room, but it seemed like the kitchen wasn't quite up to quick service.  It took two hours to complete the meal.  A few riders chose to return home because of other commitments.

 

On to the Dwarf Cars, which is on Half Moon Road a dozen miles south and west of Maricopa just outside the Ak Chin reservation land.  It is a place filled with eye candy for mechanical minds.  There were at least two newly constructed cars since our last visit, as well as several beautifully finished standbys that appear in the photos beside normal-sized people.  Riders who had not seen it before were amazed at the workmanship and the finish.  There is also a classic Model A built with all kinds of antiques given to Ernie Adams, the builder.

 

Riders returned via the same route, arriving home about 3:30 after a 130 mile trip.  Saturday's ride will be to Casa Grande and The Big House Restaurant.  On your way there, look for all the cotton stacks at the gins, and at the apparently failed AZ Market west of 11-Mile Corner.  There is a slight chance of rain.

There will be a Road Captains meeting on Monday, January 14 in the Pima Room (South Laundry). The meeting will only be about an hour. Come prepared for ideas for ride destinations, etc.

Duane

 

 

Road Captains Meeting

Forgot to put the time for the meeting! It will be at 4PM at the Pima Room

Duane

Ride to Winkelman and South on January 5, 2019

Happy New Year to all!  With warmer temperatures today, there was a grand turnout and a great ride after skipping a cold day.  Twenty four bikes with 29  riders gathered at the station for a planned short ride, but there were no restaurants at nearby places where we could connect.  Before we left there was some serious calling, then Duane welcomed several people who have arrived  with the New Year.  Phil had some copies of an article from the current Rider Magazine titled Gila County Loop that highlights the trip "going round" the Beeline and past Roosevelt Lake on the 188 to return to AJ.  We have stellar places to ride.  The Safety topic for today was tires.  If you've just started the season, be doubly sure to check tire pressure that may have dropped in transit or storage.

 

So, instead of the short ride, we headed out to the mountains for Winkelman and Maria's, one of our favorite places.  A small group chose the Buckboard at Superior so they could return early.   The waitresses at Maria's were super attentive, the food was good, and the low temperature near the Ray Mine that dropped to about 50 degrees gave us good reason for hot coffee when we got there.  Dennis led the first group with Bill as our tailgunner, and Vern led the second group with Dependable Don following.

 

From Winkelman the touring riders moved south on the Copper Canyon Byway toward Mammoth and Oracle, where there was snow along the road and on Mt. Lemon.  Daytime temps are fine, and soon we're turning right on the 79 that takes us north to the 60 and then home.  The Superstitions were glowing in the afternoon sun as we made the final run, arriving about 2:00.  I had 178 miles of travel in a cumulative 3 hrs 34 minutes at average 50.8 mph.

 

The plan next Wednesday is a trip to the Dwarf Cars south of Maricopa; always an interesting place.  See you then.

 

 

 

 

 

Sent from Mail for Windows 10

 

Saturdays Ride

Saturday's ride will be to the Florence Cafe.

Duane

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Wednesday's Ride

Due to the cold weather forecast for tomorrow morning (33 degrees at 9 AM tomorrow), I am cancelling the ride.

Duane

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