April 6, 2019 Oatman scooter ride

3 Day Trip with Lanny

Left Kingman April 2, and 2 PM.  Arrived back home April 5 at 1 PM.  Rode 977 miles.  Here's a list of the towns on the way.  Stopped in some, just rode through others:  Wikieup, Wickenburg, Surprise, Sun City West, Goodyear, Buckeye, Gila Bend, Ajo, Why, Schuchuli, Maish Vaya, Sells, Three Points, Sasabe, Aricaca, Amado, Carmen, Rio Rico, Nogales, Tubac, Green Valley, Sahuarita, Tumacacori, San Xavier, Tucson, Marana, Eloy, Casa Grande, and a few others.  1st night was in Sun City West at Lanny and Jeannie's, 2nd night La Siesta Motel in Nogales, 3rd night Super 8 in Marana. then on home.  We both think the highlight of the trip was the Store in Sasabe, and the flowers along Highway 86 between Why and Three Points.

Just North of Wickenburg. Stopped to take a picture for John and Charlotte

While stopped untangled parts of a Tumbleweed that crashed into me on the Highway.

A very strong wind all the way down Highway 93

Picture doesn't show it, but there are a LOT of bugs on the windshield.  Riding the Kawasaki 650 Vulcan S on this trip.

A favorite "Photo Op" spot Just North of Ajo.

Lanny's Beautiful 2018 Wing.  Close to 30,000 miles on it since he bought it a year ago.

Will say it here, I won't be adding captions to a lot of these pictures.  Only the ones with sme special meaning.

The old School in Ajo.  It's now an Artisan Community, where rooms can be rented to make and sell their crafts.

2 largish churches in Ajo.  This is one of them. Across from the Town Square.  Ajo used to be a large population town when the Copper Mine was still operating.  Now, it's home to a lot of Border Patrol families.

The city of Why, AZ.   Gassing up.

Clever Fountain.

Ocotillo was in full bloom

Part of the decor at Why

Nice Crown!

The last time I ate here was with Pat, and Joe and Susan Paradise.  Everything looked the same inside, and the food was good.

Lanny wore out the original tire that came on this bike, this is the 2nd car tire, and it will be replaced soon. 

Vulcan Riders, Owners Club

3 tostados for Lanny, I had a Red Chili Burrito.  Those same chickens watched us eat when we were here 3 or 4 years ago. They do keep them dusted.

Cook and Waitress

When you're along any road near Mexico you see many of this sort of Shrine.  Memorials for family members that died on that spot.  Very common, some elaborate, some just a plain cross.

Flowers are just passed their peak here, but still pretty.  Pictures just don't do them justice.

I like the Bright ones like this

Jumpin' Cholla

Kit Peak

Just entering the US from the Sasabe Border Crossing.  

The only operating store in Sasabe.  The proprietress was very informative.  The store has been in her family for 3 generations.  Should have taken more pictures of the store and araa, but will do that another time.

The Post Office is still in operation,  Sort of.  We found there are NO public restrooms anywhere in town. There is a Porta Potty that you and get the key for if you pay $1. Interesting place!

The small town of Sasabe, Sonora, Mexico is just past this building.  It's a beautiful Border Crossing facility here on the US Side.  Was built because Mexico was planning to pave the dirt road getting to their side of the border, which would bring in more traffic from Produce growers, Mesquite sellers, and even tourists.  The road never happened.  It's the least used crossing in the Continental US, or so we were told.

On the US Side looking across to Mexico

This is called The Gadsen Coffee Company.  But, it closed at 2 PM, so we missed having coffee there.

San Francisco?  Some of you will know what I mean.

Restaurant, Night Club.  Sign says it's "Soon to Open".  But...not sure how soon soon is.

Where we had dinner in Nogales.  Not bad.  Not especially great.  

Smallish portions and not a lot of flavor. But, it filled us up.

Another interesting place I'd like to come back to see more of

We're in Tubac now.  Pat and I joined friends, Kenny and Dorothy here just before Christmas last December to see the light festival.  Looked a lot different at night, but this was worth coming back to see.  Still didn't see the whole little City.  A total Arts and Crafts place, of extremely high quality.  Fine dining, wonderful shops of clothes, furniture an Art.

Desert Mermaid splashing in the Secret Garden pond.

A few town horses and burros

San Carlos River.  Very clear and cold this time of year

There are several LIVE Ocotillo Fences in Tubac

Looks like the "End of the Trail"

Went in here for a coffee

Tubac Wild Flower

This is not exactly a flower

Lanny has very sharp eyesite, since his cataract surgery.  He was picking out bird houses that had been placed in several locations.  I could only make out a few.  He can read street signs before I even can see the sign!

Tailings from another Copper Mine West of I-19 below Tucson

This is called Helmet Rock.  I think the guy that named it must have been a Cone head.

Might fit my motor scooter

Huge equipment

The one outside would look big if you were close to it.  Looks small next to that Giant inside.

Lanny spotted these horses.  I could make out what I thought was a cow in the middle. But after zooming in, it is two horses.

Food vendors at Mission San Xavier

We both had an Indian Taco with fresh cooked fry bread.  Then felt guilty afterward. They sure were good though

Cooks helper

Judging from the doors in the Mission, people must have been a lot smaller back when it was built.

Mr. Grumpy!

A Saguaro skeleton.  Cross at the Mission shops 

My last meal on the road.  A chili Rellano at Filaberto's in Wickenburg

A political rally of sorts in Wickenberg

Last gas stop in Wikieup.