Like birds on a rail fence, eight riders on seven bikes lined up at the station on this crisp and clearing day after a couple days of rain. Gary was our leader with Dennis at the tail. There is no sense of economic recession in this area. As we ride south on Ironwood a huge swath of desert is being prepared for residential development. A few miles later we see two huge cranes in the distance, making an "X" against the horizon. Later on our trip, there are rows of new buildings, housing goods and stores that seem to be unendingly busy.
The target today was Tags Restaurant at Coolidge; always a great place where locals gather, and everybody feels at home. The table talk ranged from Wi-Fi news to the fast flowing Gila River we had just crossed on Attaway Road. The quiet puddles of a couple days ago have turned into a torrent working its way across the plains to join the Colorado at Yuma.
Have you sometimes wondered about the "C" painted on the mountain north of Coolidge? Have you ever traveled the twisting road from there to Blackwater? Today we did, crossing the swollen Gila three more times on our return trip. The photo is near Sacaton. We have never seen water at that location before. The Angels have frequently ridden through Sacaton past the Ira Hayes memorial. The reservation including Sacaton is within their Gila floodplain. Gary Knudson knows some of the geography of the river. It begins on the San Carlos reservation east of Globe, then passes through the Coolidge dam, followed by Winkelman, Florence, passed Avondale and Buckeye, then under the iron bridge north of Gila Bend and onto Yuma. Only this year have we seen Water all along the desert channel you can read the colorful history of the Gila River on the Internet.
I trip today returned through Chandler to the 202 and back home by 12:30 PM. I had 103 miles in 2.36 hours at average 39.6 mph . On Saturday, the ride will go to Cassa grande. The group are hoping to have a meeting soon to plan for spring rides.
Phil Parsons
Sent from my iPhone
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