Postcards From The Ledge

Went for another solo 50-mile ride out in the Sonoran desert today, with temps reaching 78º if was almost too warm for the extra shirt I had on underneath the body armor! Almost bit it once in a deep washed out arroyo, but my cat like reflexes saved me once again!

Sorry about the picture overload, couldn't resist showing you some of the places I ride.

Also took some shaky video of a rattlesnake - hard to hold the camera and throw some
small pebbles to get it to rattle at the same time. I'll put those in the next post.

Damn I'm getting old - riding and rock climbing for over 30 years is turning the hair grey plus a
little siesta time on a rock today gave me a good sunburn on the face!



Even with the 3+ inches of rain we had Saturday it was still almost dry bone dry out there.
Couldn't get the bike dirty no matter what I did.





Below: A fire raged through here about 12 years ago and burned 40,000 acres, killed most of the
saguaro cactus some 60 to 70 feet tall so it looks pretty barren in some areas.





Below: Some wicked a*s Jumping Cholla (pronounced choya).
Just the slightest contact and they break of in large *****. It has small fish hooks at the end
of each thorn - pulls out flesh when you take them out!





Below: More Cholla!





Below: Apache helicoptors make there test runs out in this area after assembly down in Mesa.
I've had them fly along side me just 50 feet off the deck on several occasions.




I'm headed to Greasewood Flats for a beer with the rowdy Harley riders out there!
So remember, when some wild-eyed, eight-foot-tall maniac grabs your neck, taps the back of your favorite head up against the barroom wall, looks you crooked in the eye and asks you if ya paid your dues, you just stare that big sucker right back in the eye, and you remember what ol' Jack Burton always says at a time like that: "Have ya paid your dues, Jack?" "Yessir, the check is in the mail."


Ok, you people! Sit tight, hold the fort and keep the home fires burning. And if I'm not back by dawn... call the President!

 

Nice shots! That looks like an ideal place to ride, bike stays clean, awesome scenery, and WARM!

 

Great pics, thanks for posting!

 

Curse you and your never (almost) ending riding season and beautiful movie star weather!

Here's what I get for the next 4 months. -15C (5 F) and snotty gloves.





Very nice pics though. I love AZ.

 

Very nice indeed.............man you love your bike, its in every photo Lol......too cool.
Cheers!

 

cool pics!!

 

Derek, don't be jealous dude that snow looks, well... white!

 

yes, and cold. Although snowboarding is fun too, but not nearly as fun as dirtbikes.

 

Damn I wish I had your job-Did you make it all the way to Rattlesnake Wash?

 

Haven't done any riding down that way, looks great. Ihave ridden the Mohave many times when I lived in Calif. That was some good desert riding. I have 2 sons that live in Mesa, I'll have to make a winter trip down to seethe boys& take my bike. The weather here is too cold to ride now. Highs in the thirtys, and it will only get colderBRRRRRR. Summers though are beautiful. I used to do a lot of climing in Yosemite, haven't done it for quite a few years though.