Seven bikes with 9 Riders headed for Gila Bend and the Co-op Grill at Arlington on this warm spring day, one of the few above 80° this year. It was indeed a beautiful day. Gary and Laurie Knudsen were chosen our leaders, and Dennis picked up the tail. As you look over the riders, you will notice some are year around residents, and fewer will be back next week.
The route to Gila Bend is well known to everyone in our group. Highway 238 used to be known as the "dead cow trail", but it has been noticeably cleaned up and there is considerably more traffic. When we reached Gila Bend, we made a right turn on old highway 80 through farming country. The Gillespie Dam bridge is a well known and historical site, all rusted by the ravages of time and sun. What is new is the roaring Gila River below. In ordinary time the river has been a meandering stream in one corner of that wide channel, but some riders have seen it filling the entire channel this year; the width of the bridge. We crossed the Gila several times today. I believe it is 649 miles in length.
Arlington is a Farming Community made up of green irrigated fields along the river, a few horses and some cattle lots along with a large elevator back from the highway. The co-op restaurant opens up mid morning, and was gathering its daily clientele when we arrived. There are plenty of waitresses, lots of good food, and some excitement outside. The EMTs had been called for a person who arrived on a four wheeler, who may have been suffering from heat stroke. The crew was there for quite a while, but no one went to the hospital.
We enjoyed the meal and hospitality for more than an hour befor striking off for home. This time our fearless leader took us across the south edge of Buckeye, Goodyear, and Estrella; coming out on the Red Mountain freeway west of Awatukee. There was lots of Saturday traffic, and the distance from the restaurant to Apache Junction is nearly 90 miles. It was the first warm ride of the season. Riders separated on their way to home destinations, and the last of us arrived home in Apache Junction at 2:45 PM. I had 212 miles in four hours lapsed time for an average of 53 mph.
THE RIDE NEXT WEDNESDAY APRIL 12 WILL BEGIN at 8 AM FOR THE FIRST TIME THIS YEAR. We expect to go to Fountain Hills, watching for wild horses along the Bush highway.
Phil Parsons
Sent from my iPhone
No comments:
Post a Comment