One of my original riding buddies lives in <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-comffice:smarttags" /><st1:City><st1lace>San Diego</st1lace></st1:City> and takes his family on riding/camping weekends in the desert west of <st1:City><st1lace>El Centro</st1lace></st1:City>. Last weekend I had the pleasure of joining them. <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-comfficeffice" /><o></o> I got up before the buttcrack of dawn and set out west from central <st1:City><st1lace>Phoenix</st1lace></st1:City>. During the night a cold front came through and dropped the temperatures as well as water from the sky. Being a desert rat, I was not prepared and about froze solid as I headed westbound in I10. <o></o> 50 degrees doesnt sound cold, but it was wet. The sun is starting to rise as I stuff a couple of USA Todays inside my riding jacket. My thanks to whoever posted that trick. I ended stopping many time to warm myself on the exhaust pipe. <o></o> Westbound out of <st1:City><st1lace>Phoenix</st1lace></st1:City> is big city traffic and sights for about an hour then into the open desert. These are the Eagle Tail mountains. There is a wash in there that is covered in pretroglyphs. Now its a monument so you have to walk in to see them My trusty ride. Soon I get to Blight, CA and exit the freeway for better roads. Hwy 78 runs along the <st1lace>Colorado River</st1lace> and the Cibola Wildlife Refuge. The mighty <st1:State><st1lace>Colorado</st1lace></st1:State>. The water is very clear and moving fast. A little oasis along the river.
The road then turns west away from the river and the terrain immediately looks a little more hostile. Water is important to us here in the desert. I always stop at roadside markers when Im on the bike. Evidently the Colombians came along and took away whatever commerce the Indians had. Rough terrain for walking. This a mountain sized pile of dirt from an active gold mine. The picture does not do it justice. Next I arrive at beautiful downtown Glamis. And THE DUNES! Lots of motorcycles, quads and sandrails out having fun that day. Im always amazed at the money people poor into sandcars.
From here its Brawley, <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-comffice:smarttags" /><st1:City><st1lace>El Centro</st1lace></st1:City> and then to camp. I only make a quick stop for fuel. Im getting hungry and it is time to get to camp. <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-comfficeffice" /><o></o> This looks like fun place. With a gourmet hot dog bar. Hotdogs, one of lifes guilty pleasures. Tony and Lee like hotdogs. Gary likes his simple. Finally Im done with the slab. Time to jettison external stores and go for a dirtbike ride. <o></o> We ride west into the mountains. <o></o> <o></o> <o></o> <o>And more west. </o> <o></o> <o></o> <o></o> <o></o> <o></o> And into a giant sand wash. This wash was about as much fun as you possible have on two wheels. Time to put some fuel in the 2smoker. An old rusty relic.
The required artsy-fartsy photo. The guys, the ladies don’t like sand. And we have sand. Challenging on a 500lb bike with a bald Heidenau on the rear. Back to camp for adult beverages, the best shepherd’s pie that I’ve ever eaten and a dice game. The dice game was kind of like the stock market, you continue to put in money and roll with continued assurances that you will get some back. In the end, I ran out of dollar bills and went to bed. 11 hrs in the saddle, great friends, great food …. life doesn’t get any better. <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-comfficeffice" /><o></o> That first cup of coffee in the morning is always the best one of the day. Then an ADVRider worthy breakfast. Gather the troops for a group picture then it’s time to head back to <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-comffice:smarttags" /><st1:City><st1lace>Phoenix</st1lace></st1:City>. I take I8 back. It’s superslab through the desert. Warm weather, old rock-n-roll in my head and light traffic make the miles go by. <o></o> A quick stop in Gila Bend for gas. This place has been here since the invention of cars. I read in the paper that Prince Harry was eating pizza in Gila Bend on Friday. Something to do with helicopter training. <o></o> Between Gila Bend and Maricopa is some of the most beautiful desert in <st1:State><st1lace>Arizona</st1lace></st1:State>. It’s in here that I first started riding. <o></o> Unfortunately, times change. One final stop at Firebird Raceway to see if anybody is playing on the track. It looks like some kind of run-what-u-brung event. They weren’t working too hard at it. One of drivers waived at me as he entered the corner. <o></o> From here it’s superslab and city traffic home. <o></o> A perfect weekend, thanks for riding along. <o></o> <o></o> -dod
Thanks, DOD, Some great riding out here I'm sure, but my noobie dirt skills and Bikeopotamus, my R12 GSA might not agree!:huh My son lives in Maricopa so it's always a pleasure to ride out this way from my home in the burbs of Los Angeles. Great pix! Steve
Hey Charlie, Great to see you racking up more miles. Gettng closer to coming down to AZ for some riding this winter. Keep practicing on the sand with your 950, just because I couldn't ride mine worth shit in the LAB2V doesn't mean you can't show me how it is done. Didn't you get any pics of you doing the hills in Glamis? (Oldsmobile hill would be great for the 950)
You did not mention there would be any "hot dogs" involved!! What was that about the nitrates??..... Did you happen to get a subway sammich too?? Where's the Bacon?? Gary and crew look like they are having a blast! Thanks for sharing, see you soon.
One little criticism about Mongo's favorite food and I'm marked for life. Come on down Doug. It's riding season here. I would not have gotten very far up one of those sand hills with my bald Heidenau. I probably wouldn't have made it to the base of the hill. I'd still be digging out. There are some great big-bike dirt rides around Gila Bend. Search on Sundad, Oatman and Gillespie dam as a start. Post a query. Lots of folks in the AZ crew know some great routes. -dod
Hola, Charles. I spent a wonderful 6 years on the lower Colorado and you make it look pretty good. I hope to head back there for a full-bore moto exploration one day. I may be wrong, but the oasis you photographed... could it be Palo Verde Oxbow? Thanks for sharing in my memories. Peace.
Hi JD, Get a good name for your boat yet? That little oasis was on the road into the Cibola Refuge, within a half mile of 78. It was close to the bridge. If you decide to explore that area, count me in. It is beautiful country in there. I think the dice game was LCR. -dod
Hmmm, the old wristwatch-on-the-dash trick... You did not by chance own a KLR in a former lifetime? Excellent, report, DOD!
Looks like we're in the same ballpark. Great area... met some strange characters around those parts. We camped in that stretch (Parker Dam to Imperial Dam) an unknown number of nights (typically 10 days a month / 9 months a year). Took my bike over there a few times, but not enough. <iframe width="425" height="350" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" src="http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=m&vpsrc=6&ll=33.399274,-114.715633&spn=0.02508,0.036478&z=14&output=embed"></iframe><br /><small><a href="http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=m&vpsrc=6&ll=33.399274,-114.715633&spn=0.02508,0.036478&z=14&source=embed" style="color:#0000FF;text-align:left">View Larger Map</a></small> No boat name yet. Lots of great suggestions.
The picture was taken right at the bottom of that map, above the "a" in "map". I've driven through the area many times, but this was the first time that I stopped to look around. I need to go back, it looks like there is plenty to explore. btw, that's not a cheap wristwatch glued to the dash. It's an analog timepiece. -dod