Arizona
Tuesday 24th
Where to start? What a fantastic day. We set off quite early for Acoma Pueblo (Sky City)
Google it, because there's just eons of history about the place. The ride there was a little chilly but beautiful blue sky's, we picked up some of the original but now defunct Route 66, there are still some of the old signs painted on the Tarmac but it has all been re numbered, re routed or bypassed by interstate highways. In some parts county's are making use of its history to attract tourists and they have added signs beside the new ones stating "historic Route 66" after the tour of Acoma Pueblo we headed for Arizona El Malpais national monument /conservation area and rode for nearly 200 miles through more fantastic scenery on a mixture of twisty almost deserted mounting roads and the typical straight roads, it became quite cold again towards the end of the day due to the elevation. When we eventually found civilisation and a place to fuel up, we then went in search of food and wifi at good old Mc Donald's. We passed by a Motel with about 20 bikes outside so after eating we decided to check this one out first. We were happy with the price so booked a room for the night, We were made very welcome by the other bikers who were a bunch of Canadians who had transported there bikes all HD's except for 1 Indian down from Canada to escape the snow. They invited us to join them for a drink that evening and it was a pleasure to join them even though we were both knackered and all we felt like doing was a shower and bed, we had a great night drinking and chatting with these guys. So many names I will struggle to remember but faces I will never forget. Greg and his wife Carol (an ex pat) were fascinating to talk to and I ended suffering from information overload on top of our scenic overloaded day. We also found out that in USA I am an OAP at the young age of 55 and we can claim discount on motels and all sorts of stuff.

Wednesday 25th March
After Breakfast we headed off to Flagstaff and had another great day of riding through Stitgreaves and Conconio national forests, the weather was fantastic again but temperatures would go up and down with the altitude and there was often ice warning signs and I imagine at night there was a strong chance of ice on the roads.
We reached Flagstaff at about 3:30 and headed off to visit Walnut Canyon. When we arrived we decided it was not worth doing the trek today as they closed the park at 5 so went in search of food and lodging. Back on to the Route 66 and checked in to a motel in Flagstaff.

Thursday 26th March
Walnut Canyon has a pathway built so you can walk part way down and view some of the remains of dwellings built in to the sides.

Took a walk into Flagstaff town in the afternoon and tried some beer from a local brewery that was not to bad but fizzzier than lager and splashed out on a restaurant meal with real vegetables.

Friday 27th March
Another fantastic ride in perfect weather. We left early this morning heading for lake Havasu City passing through Sedona through tight and twisty mountain roads that went on for miles. The town itself looked worth stopping in as there looked like there would be plenty to do there for a day so we looked at prices then thought again. We set off again to be met with even more twisty roads. Now we had got to the other side of the mountain range the cool breeze disappeared and the heat started to rise. The 89A was a beautiful twisty road that was just not long enough and ended up straitening out. Then we came upon another set of tight twisty roads leading us up to a town at the top called Jerome. We stopped at the top to take in the view then headed off down the other side, well I thought I had died and gone to heaven. It was even better down the other side and we were scraping the panniers round the bends. They did not go on for ever but I have never been on a ride where I have come across as long a twisty mountain section as these with so little traffic as well. Also most of the cars would pull over at the first opportunity to let us pass. The complete opposite of UK drivers who would nearly kill them selves before letting you pass.