Favorite Beer Commercial

Persistent Cough

I may be allergic to California women. Everything was going fine until Tuesday when Nick and Tom bring these two good looking women from southern California into the park and we go for a short ride. The next thing I know, I am hacking up a lung. Coincidence... I think not!

It's a dry cough so severe that your ribs hurt and your throat feels like you have swallowed Drano. I have heard enough about "Valley Fever" / "Desert Lung" that I went to a doctor to have it checked out. The good news is that he does not think it is Valley Fever. The bad news is that it may be a combination of the hantavirus, pulmonary edema, and pneumonia. The only survivors to date have been RZR riders... so there's still hope.

Sugar Shack Ride

Thirteen vehicles left the Arizonian and rode south of Highway 60 to the "Sugar Shack", a one room miner's cabin / vacation retreat near the Reymert Mine.

Hardt Tank Road

Click on photos to enlarge...

This Year's Award Goes To...

My neighbor, Ron, has won the coveted "Most Toys" award for the park. His extensive collection includes: a semi-truck, toyhauler, jeep, motorcycle, and utv. Clearly, he has set the bar high for the rest of us wannabes.

Rumor has it he needs a "parade permit" to travel.

Moab Photo

It looks like I am on my way to fame and fortune. The Sand Flats Recreation Area in Moab is going to use one of my photos for their informational Kiosk Display for the entrance to the park. Click on image below to enlarge.

My photo is under "Hell's Revenge 4x4 Trail"

Florence to Coke Ovens

Several members of our group had never been to the Coke Ovens so we took the route from Florence which is an easy, scenic ride winding through the desert south of the Gila River (caution: although the river was only inches deep today, there are times when it is too deep to be crossed).

Battleaxe to Coke Ovens Part Deux

Dave B led us back to the Coke Ovens via a slightly different route than the last one. This is one of my favorite rides in that it combines beautiful scenery with a wide variety of trails.

Can you spot the Javelinas

Cropped image of Javelinas

Aren't all four tires supposed to be on the ground

Old railroad bridge and tunnel

The "Unusual Suspects" at the Coke Ovens

A little rough coming back

Satellite Crash

As I am looking out the window this morning, a satellite crashes next door at Terry and Gail’s RV. Fortunately, I caught the whole thing on video...

Cottonwood To Box Canyon

Group ride from the Cottonwood trailhead to Box Canyon. I rode "shotgun" with Dave H in his Can-Am cadillac and acted as his videographer. Highlights of the day were avoiding artillery shells...

Watching professional engineers at work...

And riding through Box Canyon...

Big Horn Sheep

Terry, Gail, and I took a leisurely ride to the gypsum mine where Terry spotted a group of big horn sheep. It consisted of a huge male, three females, and possibly a kid. Here are the cropped images of what we saw (I would have liked to have had a more powerful telephoto lens)...

Click on photos to enlarge

Organ Stop Pizza

A group of us from the park had dinner at the Organ Stop Pizza in Mesa. What makes this such an unique experience is the live music featuring the world's largest Wurlitzer organ (nearly 6,000 pipes)... the pizza and chocolate fudge sundae were not bad either.

Saguaro Creek / Sugarloaf Mountain

Another great day riding off-road in the desert. Keith, Jane, and I trailered our machines up Highway 87 to a trailhead about 30 miles northeast of Phoenix where we unloaded for the purpose of exploring some new trails. The first section was mainly flat, sandy washes with spur trails that led to some interesting hill climbs. If you want to see what your ORV can climb, this would be a good place to try it out.

Then we followed a narrow, winding trail up a mountain and turned east towards Highway 87.  Although the views got better, the further we went, the rougher it got. Finally, we came to a section where we decided it would not be wise to proceed without a couple more bodies and possibly a wench.

Keith & Jane and their new quad

Four Peaks in the distance to the left and Weaver's Needle to the right

Fun Ride To Martinez Canyon Road

Six of us left the Arizonian RV Park and rode to Martinez Canyon via some interesting trails. A group of jeep drivers told us that the gate is now up to the entrance to the Martinez Mine and the only way to get back there is to hike.

Looking For Gold In All The Wrong Places

Jim P and I went prospecting for gold today. And although it was a great day to be outdoors, it is with regret that I must report that the Lost Dutchman's Mine is still lost.

RC Jet Engine Model Airplanes

Dave, Bob and I attended a remote control, jet engine model aircraft show. These $5,000+ model airplanes were extremely realistic including the sound of the engines (at times, I felt like I was at LAX). And in the hands of experienced pilots, the aerial acrobatics were fascinating to watch.

Battle Axe To Coke Ovens

We trailered the ORVs to Battle Axe road south of Superior and then followed a track Don had downloaded to my GPS to the Coke Ovens where we crossed the Gila River and then looped back to our entry route. I believe we all have a better understanding of what Don means when he says "we had to blaze a trail part of the way". It appeared no one had been on the section along the railroad tracks since he was there two years ago (a machete would have been a nice accessory). All in all it was a great ride with lots of variety and beautiful scenery which everyone seemed to enjoy.

Manly Men

Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum

One of my favorite places to visit in Tucson is the Desert Museum, particularly, when they are having the raptor free flight demonstrations. This time I had the good fortunate to have Carolyn, a Tucson native who I met in Kalispell, Montana this summer, join me (it's always nice to have someone to share the experience with).

"Photo of the Day"

"Ride Now" Demo Event

Dave B, Dave H, and I took in the Ride Now dealership demo event where they test drove the new Can-Am Maverick. The general consensus was it was too loud and not right for the kind of riding we do in the desert. There was also a boat drag race next door but we decided not to attend as it looked a little boring after the first few minutes.

When D&D told me they were there to look at the new models, I thought they meant machines

Then, they kept asking this young lady to lean over and help them with the forms

And finally, they got around to looking at the new machines

The engine is almost as big as the boat

Desert Rattlesnake

You never know what you are going to find in the desert...

Click on photo to enlarge

Dave & Jim's Excellent Adventure

Dave "No Fear" Haugen and I took the machines south of Highway 60 to explore some new trails. I say "No Fear" Haugen because as we are coming down a series of rock ledges that would make most riders poop in their pants, I look back and there is Dave with one hand on the steering wheel, the other on his new camcorder, and a big grin on his face.

Later, Dave did try to get me to poop in my pants by taking his Can-Am up the most difficult route at the "Waterfalls" where he just powered his way right through it. It's always a pleasure watching a professional at work. All in all a great day of riding.

Here's a cute critter that met us at the back gate...

It was a perfect weather day with nary a cloud in the sky...

At one point we came across a group of huge mines...

Here's a video of me going up a series of rock ledges...

A video of me going up the infamous "Waterfalls"...

And a video of Dave going up the "Waterfalls" the hard way...

Desert Scorpion

Here's what greeted us before our morning ride...

There is not much in the desert that does not bite, sting, or prick you

Afternoon Ride

Dave, Jimmy, Ellen, and I went for a short ride out back of the RV park...

Wide open spaces

A rose between two thorns

Fortunately, this blog has a "don't ask, don't tell" policy

Back At The Arizonian

It has been a great summer. I got to see some new places, met some interesting people, and rode some of the best ORV trails in the country. It was just what I had hoped to do when I set out last Spring.

I have returned to the Arizonian RV Park in Gold Canyon, Arizona where I will spend the winter. Am looking forwarding to seeing friends from last year and riding in the desert again. I am sure we will find some new areas to explore.

Lake Powell

Lake Powell has to be one of the most beautiful lakes in the world. That dark blue water surrounded by those incredible, multi-colored rock cliffs makes it a delight to the eyes. If I ever come back to this area, it would probably be to rent a houseboat and explore the lake.

Glen Canyon Dam

"Houseboat Heaven"

If you choose to camp here, I would recommend the Wahweap RV Park. It's a little more expensive but in my opinion, the view makes it worth the price.