Fwd: A Beautiful Ride

Report from Phil

Duane

---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Phillip Parsons <parsonspj@live.com>
Date: Wed, Feb 9, 2022 at 3:59 PM
Subject: A Beautiful Ride
To: Duane Switz <ddswitz@gmail.com>

Longshadows showed as the angels gathered at the Chevron at 9 AM today for a ride to Arroyo grill at the Maricopa golf course. There were 12 bikes with 15 riders, and we went  to a new place on our schedule. It was good digs, as we learn that one round of golf for a couple is $249.

Dennis was our fearless leader with Bob Shinnick at the tail as we left the 202 on McQueen Road then found our way to Maricopa through some back roads . There was a big traffic jam entering Maricopa because of some construction. Bob was especially useful as he cut the line to allow us to shift from Lane to Lane, and soon we were turning right on this beautiful entry lane lined with eucalyptus trees. 

The grill is an attractive place, and the course has been built using the dunes that formed in this area. We enjoyed plenty of food, and the talk was of how many calories each of us can eat without gaining weight. 

When we assembled at the bikes, there was discussion of how to return to GV without going through the construction zone. So Dennis turned right on the 238, then left on Ralston Road, the place where there is a very large dairy off the highway. Ralston Road led to Papago Road, which is one of the ways to get to the dwarf cars place. Soon we were going south on the four-lane from Maricopa  then left on 84 past all the cattle lots and the town of Stanchfield. That was only the beginning.  As we passed through Cassa grande, Dennis led us along the truck route which took us to Eloy. No chutists today. There we turned on the 11 Mile Rd. past the fairgrounds, turning right to Coolidge. That was followed with a right and left through the small town of Adamsville, a suburb to Florence. We can tell by the walled construction areas that Adamsville will be doubling in population in the next couple years.

From Florence the 79 is a well-known Road home, and we had enjoyed a wonderful trip through many different places on an ideal day . We made 178 miles at average 38 mph with 4:42 hours of riding time.  It took 178 round trip miles for us to go to a breakfast that was only 50 miles from home!

The ride on Saturday will again begin at 9 AM to Ma's kitchen near Roosevelt lake. We are promised 80° the rest of this week, and it's a wonderful time for me to spend three weeks in AZ. 

Phil Parsons

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