Cottonwood, AZ Not-A-Rally Adventure

[Scud]

Just got back from an overnight trip to the MGNOC Not-A-Rally, "not-sponsored" by the Arizona guys. 

 

Here's my 900-mile loop.

 

The low point, both in elevation and mood came early. After 70 miles of rain in San Diego County, I got to dry out in the Anza Borrego Desert. Out by Salton Sea (200-feet below Sea Level) I had a little mishap. I was following a car, from a stop, to merge onto another road, I was looking left, just as the driver panicked and came to a full, sudden stop. I damn near stopped in time, but nicked the corner of his bumper, lost balance and did a 0-mph spill to the right. Ding on the front fender, broken turn signal, a couple minor scratches (mirror, lever, head guard). All my fault really; I should have allowed more space so I had more time to react to any potential dumb move by a car driver. He acknowledged he made an error - but his friend (passenger) correctly pointed out that whoever hits a stopped car is at fault. We went our separate ways without involving police or insurance. Lesson learned for me: after a long stretch of "making good time" in open areas, I need to intentionally change my mindset/focus when I get back in traffic. Sufficient curse words aimed at self, attitude adjusted, bike inspected... move on... nothing more to see here.

 

Stopped to admire the Glamis Sand Dunes and give my "Camel" another inspection. Still looking good despite the rain and the mistake. 

 

Ten miles after this picture, she decides she don't need no stinkin' speedometer. The Veglia quit. It had started a little "St. Vitus Dance" a few weeks ago, so this was not really a suprise, but it was a true "insult to injury" moment. I compensated by thinking about how cool the black Speedhuts are going to look. Then I started rehearsing my "I really don't know how fast I was going" speech, just in case...

 

Now this is what I've been waiting for. The start of 89 and 89A into Prescott, and then Jerome. Motorcycle heaven. You MUST go here. Twisty, steep, and scenic. 

 

 

Jerome is my kind of town, with proper signage for parking. I was supposed to round off 10,000 miles on this trip, but no, I've been staring at 9,410 all damn day... How do you like my SPS (Scura Positioning Service)? The RAM mount phone holder is a perfect spot for analog directions - and it doesn't require use of my data plan.

 

 

Here is the view from Jerome. Flagstaff is at the top left of the picture, where you might be able to see the San Francisco Peaks (12,000 feet) on the horizon. Jerome was a mining town that went bust and is now home to artists, restaurants, and motorcycle parking spaces.

 

 

Then to Tuzigoot National Monument. Which I can't help but call "Guzzi-Toot." According to the National Parks Service, the Guzzisti have been in the area for 13,000 years, and this settlement is 900 years old. I think that makes Moto Guzzi the oldest motorcycle manufacturer, by far. Who knew they started in Arizona?

 

 

 

Found my way to the un-official meeting place. Guzzi people are cool - but you already knew that. Only one other V11 - a lovely, original-owner Nero Corsa from New Mexico. Later another spine-frame joined the fun, a carbed 1100 Sport (no pics, sorry).

 

 

Thunderstorms were expected in the afternoon and evening - but they didn't show up till nightfall. I watched an episode of Ancient Aliens. Apparently, some guys in the 1950s in Pasadena California played with black magic, and this opened a space portal that explains why so many alien encounters, such as those in Roswell, NM, happened at the same latitude - at least that's what's "...suggested by some ancient alien theorists." Finally, I have found a reason to use this icon:  

 

Left 5:30 AM on wet roads to meet my daughter for breakfast in Yuma, AZ. She's back home now from her 2nd year at NAU (Flagstaff). We stopped at the Desert View tower on I-8 in CA.

 

 

I had not previously afforded much credibility to the Ancient Aliens TV show, but I do find it curious and entertaining. However, on the way back from the desert view tower, I had a close encounter with aliens. My daughter took my picture so I could prove it. 

 

 

She was driving her car, so I led her on some of the old highways to take a break from the Interstate. Back in San Diego County, this is about as close as you can get to Mexico. The dark stripe in this photo is the wall on the US-Mexico border.

 

 

The Not-A-Rally continues through tomorrow. This was my first one. I'm pretty sure I'll be back for another - a worthy adventure.

[docc]

Every time I think I went for a ride (big 313 miles for the Sport today), Scud goes out for a thousand and has alien encounters.

 

Sheesh, things are just bigger out west!

 

Thanks for the pictorial, Scud! You're an inspiration, man!

[footgoose]

I rode 5 mi. today

 

lovely Scud. NICE write up. I will come to the next one.

[leroysch]

Enjoyed the report!

[Scud]

People came from far away, Seattle, Canada, Alaska... the guy from Seattle is about 80 years old. THAT'S an inspiration.

[czakky]

Bummer about the bike. Great trip report.

[Scud]

Yeah it was a bummer. But I made a mistake and I got off cheap. In over 30 years of riding, I have never-before hit another vehicle. I just reminded myself: "Any problem that can be solved by spending money is not a problem - it's an expense." I didn't even need to get out my fix-it kit, which includes a spare spark plug and boot. 

 

Today she gets a much needed bath... new turn signal lens is already on.

[Scud]

More pics from the event over at WildGuzzi:

 

http://wildguzzi.com/forum/index.php?topic=83354.0

[JBBenson]

Nice ride. 

 

",,,after a long stretch of "making good time" in open areas, I need to intentionally change my mindset/focus when I get back in traffic."

 

I suffered from this too, I thought I was the only one. So I made a habit of saying to myself out loud inside my helmet: "Slow down, time to pay attention".

 

I guess everybody talks to themselves inside their helmet too......right?

 

[Scud]

It was a great ride - especially on the way to AZ. The trip home had too much Interstate, but I was escorting my daughter in her Toyota Highlander. A Harley passed me going up I-8 from Ocotillo toward San Diego - I'm sure you know that section where you have 10 miles of huge sweeping curves going up about 3,000 feet. It was hard to let that Harley go...

 

I had some nice conversations inside my helmet - especially while crossing deserts. For me it's not so much "time to pay attention" but where to put my attention. (I think that's probably what you mean too). After 50 or so miles of desolate two-lane desert roads with expansive views, my focus was waaaaayyyyy out in front of me. My mental error was that I was paying too much attention to where I was about to be, but not enough to my immediate surroundings.

 

Ride safely.

[footgoose]

"After 50 or so miles of desolate two-lane desert roads with expansive views, my focus was waaaaayyyyy out in front of me. My mental error was that I was paying too much attention to where I was about to be, but not enough to my immediate surroundings."

 

I think this is akin to something spiritual we get from the motorcycle experience. I've made note of it on my few trips riding out west. It's not just the long, straight and flat, it's the surroundings that make it complete. It "pulls" on you. Something about Zen maybe. There are very few places in Indiana I can get that. Several spots south, in Docc's neighborhood, come to mind. Eastern Tennessee/North Carolina. The Cherohala, the Blue Ridge, rare places around the Parkway where you can actually go fast for a distance. That feeling comes over me and I imagine a chipmunk crossing the road in a sweeper... with a 300' drop off. The door to Zen slams shut. But, at least I know where it is. I guess I'm more of a "when" than a "where" attention wise Scud. "Where" is probably safer.

It should be obvious I talk inside, and outside, the helmet.

[footgoose]

Scud. The alien junk yard. I was thinking how someone took the time to build that lovely spacecraft behind you, and then the Saucer repair van with a dish network?... and is that a boat? Then the Pink Floyd bumper sticker. I think there is a pattern here.

[Scud]

Scud. The alien junk yard. I was thinking how someone took the time to build that lovely spacecraft behind you, and then the Saucer repair van with a dish network?... and is that a boat? Then the Pink Floyd bumper sticker. I think there is a pattern here.

 

You'll have to tell me what pattern you see. You can barely see the headlight of a tan motorhome (no doubt inhabited by Aliens) on the RH side. The only theme I can think of is "Vehicles I don't want to see my daughter in."

[mldavis521]

Scud, can you tell me where I can find the wind screen just like the one you have on your bike?  I was at the Cottonwood (not a rally) riding a BMW R1200RT,  I became so interested in Moto Guzzi that I purchased one from a friend in Las Cruces, NM.  I'm a proud owner of a 2000 V11 Lamans with 9850 miles and a speedometer that has a shaky needle about to quit on me.

[Scud]

Scud, can you tell me where I can find the wind screen just like the one you have on your bike?  I was at the Cottonwood (not a rally) riding a BMW R1200RT,  I became so interested in Moto Guzzi that I purchased one from a friend in Las Cruces, NM.  I'm a proud owner of a 2000 V11 Lamans with 9850 miles and a speedometer that has a shaky needle about to quit on me.

 

Welcome. Good decision - although I feel bad for the neglect your BMW is about to get.   

 

Some models came with the windscreen, as mine did. You could try someplace Harpers Moto Guzzi for a new OEM one. I've seen some aftermarket carbon fiber ones that look great. You could try placing a wanted ad here too - maybe somebody's got one laying around.