Two Years Living On Two Wheels...And Counting

[Judoka]

I had underestimated my range on the bike and had to stop and put in 89 octane at the only gas station in 60 miles or so. The guy assured me that it would be fine as this was Ethanol free. I never noticed an difference is the way the bike ran but I also filled it up with Super at the next station.

This place was the RIGHT place to put a sticker and I liked what it said!

 

[Judoka]

On to PIE TOWN!
I love this little place. it is just one of those out of the way must see places in the middle of nowhere. I wanted some coffee but this day they were closed.

 

[Judoka]

This was probably the greenest I had ever seen this part of New Mexico.

 

[Judoka]

Remember how I started this journey with no motorcycle license after 9 years off two wheels? I was about to be able to take a deep breath and a long sigh of relief! I still had a Motorcycle endorsement in Arizona! All I needed to do was just get my license switched back quickly.

Finally "HOME"!

 

[Judoka]

The good thing about crossing into Arizona is that I know it well ! I have literally camped in hundreds of places here and I know just where to go. The only issue though is that I am on a ROAD bike now and most of my places are off pavement!
At least my first night would be on dry dirt roads though.

 

[Judoka]

I would soon find out that many...well most of my favorite campsites were no longer accessible on this bike.

 

[Judoka]

To this point I had used WAY more money in fuel than I had planned. I was completely broke by the time I hit Show Low AZ. I put the last of the money I had in the tank and hoped it would get me to the Verde Valley where I knew I could earn a little cash helping a friend. I knew it was unrealistic to make it 200 miles on the fuel I had but what choice was there?

JUST ANOTHER $20.......

 

[Judoka]

Running on reserve I was now just hoping to make it into town at Payson. Maybe I could panhandle. there was plenty of wild camping in the entire area so at least there was hope.





When I stopped to take a picture at an overlook I usually stop at I saw a box truck with what was likely a deck on top. A stealthy #Vanlife rig no doubt! Then I saw the driver walking up and I had to ask about his rig. It was a very cool setup which he had built out long before #vanlife had become a thing. He had lived in it for almost 20 years!

 

[AbleGuy]

.

This place was the RIGHT place to put a sticker and I liked what it said!View attachment 881793

That’d make a great signature for your avatar here…

BTW, there’s a great travel narrative book that could come out of this adventure…a new Blue Highways

 

[Judoka]

After we had spent an hour or so talking and sharing our stories he had asked me a very personal question about my finances. I reluctantly told him where I was at and what was happening to me and why I was trying to eventually make it to the desert so I could camp super cheap and try to work things out. While I had no idea how I was going to do that, he did! After some words of encouragement he asked me if he could give me $20....


There it was! There was the $20 I knew I needed to make it to my first destination!

I thanked him and told him I was sure that it would get me where I needed to be. He thought about it for a moment and offered me more! I graciously declined and told him that all I had needed was $20 and that it had been provided. We shared a bite to eat and I was off.

Another gift for the night !

 

[Judoka]

That’d make a great signature for your avatar here…

BTW, there’s a great travel narrative book that could come out of this adventure…a new Blue Highways

I am not familia with Blue Highways. Feel free to PM me if you would like to share that info.

 

[Judoka]

My intention of returning to Cottonwood was to be able to help an old friend for a little cash. this was the last place I had lived with my family in Arizona. My youngest son was born here. I had no idea the flood of emotion which was about to overtake me! It was absolutely brutal!
I took this time I had to change my license to AZ where I had a motorcycle endorsement so I could be "legal". I was not going to be able to get new plates for the bike as I could not afford that at this time.
Thankfully there is a lot of cheap camping in the area and there was a LOT of rain which meant the dirt roads would be impassible on my bike so I stayed a couple of days in a developed campground and rested.

 

[rruff]

This was probably the greenest I had ever seen this part of New Mexico.

When was that?

 

[Judoka]

In all my Years living in Arizona, never have I seen it this green!

I hiked all over that mountain this couple of days.

 

[Judoka]

Upon returning to the Valley below I ran into a guy who was brand new to motorcycling and I agreed to be a sort of "Tour Guide" if you will. So, we set out to ride the area knowing full well we would encounter storms. I told him that the best way to get comfortable on the bike was to just do it! Of course I would ride slow and responsible and pull off if it got too much. The next morning we knocked down a couple hundred miles of some of the best riding in AZ! Miles of twisties from Camp Verde over Mingus Mountain through Prescott all the way down Yarnell hill and back! Epic riding despite any bad weather.

I did not get many pictures this day. Oh to have a GoPro that day!