March 2000
Here you will find the reports for the Arizona trip as well as our rides from the shop.

Saturday 3/4: We arrived in Phoenix safe and sound after a long flight from Hartford. It was 10:00 and soon after we touched down at Sky Harbor airport it began to rain. Wayne and I set off to get the RV and the mini-van. After quite a bit of rental car shuffle we returned to the airport at 11:30 to pick up the baggage and the rest of the crew. At this point I was driving a 31 foot RV and Wayne was following me in the mini-van. From the airport our plan was to head for Stewart Mt. to spend the night. I had also planned to stop at an Albertson's grocery store to stock up the RV. I know the route, having driven it many times, but because of some recent construction and the heavy rain I missed the exit. We ended up on one of the many Phoenix area freeway loops and soon we were heading towards Fountain Hills. This was Ok because I knew that we could stay at McDowell Park and that there were a couple of grocery stores in town. Well, when we got there the "all night" convenience store was closed (we never did find out why it was closed) as was Basha's, so we headed for Scottsdale. By this time it was really raining and I was getting tired. I had Matt on the lookout for a store, but by the time we saw an entrance to one that was open, I was already past it. Since there was no other option, I did a four lane crossover on a road that was a virtual RT. 91. It was quite a show as I wheeled this huge RV across traffic (Most drivers had the good sense to not argue with the procedure) and into the parking lot. We quickly loaded up on essentials and soon we were headed for the campground. When we arrived we found the main campsite full, so we had to stay at the un-improved site. This meant no running water or electricity, but at this point we were quite tired and so we just parked the unit and all of us got ready for bed.

Sunday 3/5: We awoke to pounding rain and began the process of getting the camper set up. We had the bikes in their shipping boxes in the mini-van and we needed to get them set up so that we could get ready to ride. I helped Matt and the other guys get their bikes together and after the bikes were all set, everyone except me, left for a ride on the Pemberton trail. I stayed behind because my bike was completely disassembled in order to get it into my bike box and it was going to take too long to get together to make the others wait.  It was really raining hard when the group left and the trail that they were planning to ride is 17 miles long, so I knew that they would not be back any time soon. As I was getting my bike together the park ranger came over to tell me that if we wanted a spot in the main area, I had to get up there right now. So I threw my partially assembled bike into the RV and headed for the main camp area. I was fortunate to get a spot right across from the restrooms. This would be a blessing because as anyone who has lived with men knows, bathroom etiquette is not high on the priority list. Also the now driving rain had turned the camp area into a mud bowl and the less we had to use our facilities, the better we were going to be. The riders out on the trail came back to the camp area were surprised to find that the van was gone and had to ask the ranger for directions to the new site. When they arrived, they were quite a sight. Covered in mud from head to toe, each member spent about ten minutes just getting the gooey mud from themselves and the bike. Everyone talked of how the trails were sometimes covered in deep mud and other times the ground was hard and easy to ride on. The bikes were caked in the most tenacious mud I have ever seen. Most of the riders said that the mud was very challenging to ride through. After everyone cleaned up we made dinner and put the bikes in the van for the night. 

Monday 3/6: We were again awoken by a pounding rain that seems like it will never end. After yesterday's ride, none of us we willing to go back out on the trails. So we all packed into the mini van and headed for Mesa. We spent the day doing laundry and going to many of the local bike shops. It was a fun day and a good recovery for the guys who rode yesterday. 

Tuesday 3/7: The dawn came this morning with cloudy skies and rain pelting the roof of the RV again, and Josh swearing at the sounds of the torrent. The weather was predicted to improve, so everyone was hopeful that the rain would stop soon. We sat in the RV and ate our breakfast and after a couple of hours the rain began to let up. At this point I suggested that we head out for a ride on the Cactus Cup course. We all got dressed to go out and for the most part everyone put on all the clothes that they had with them because it was still pretty chilly. I put on shorts and my heavy jacket and went out to spin around the parking lot to check out my bike. After everyone got ready we left the campsite in a chilly mist. I had my glasses on, and after a few hundred feet, all I could see was the back of the lenses. After ditching the glasses, we all headed off for the Cactus Cup course, which was about a mile away. After I made a wrong turn I got the group going on the correct trail.  By this time the mist had stopped and the skies we beginning to clear. It does not take much time for the trails to dry out after the rain stops. In fact we rode for quite a while on fairly dry trails, but as soon as the trail headed down into the lower part of the park, we hit the mud. It was the same gooey muck that the guys had gotten into on Sunday. We rode out of the area and due to my quick "goat thinking" I recalled a water faucet nearby and we rode over to it. I washed everyone's bike for them and soon we were heading back to the camp area. After we got back to the RV we got all the bikes ready stowed away, we all took showers. One of better aspects of visiting the recreation areas out west is the quality of their facilities. By that I mean their bathrooms are clean and there is always plenty of hot water. They have real toilets with paper that did not contain the previous days news. They also are clean and do not have the sprayed on decor that New York is famous for. After everyone was finished with their various grooming chores, we headed off for the bright lights of Scottsdale. We traveled to the center of town where the Mardi Gras festivities were just beginning, and we stopped at the Acme Roadhouse to get some dinner. As we sat at our table we partook of the sights, which included some of the local ladies, in various costumes of the season. We also took notice of the decor of the establishment, which featured a "full dressed" Indian Chief motorcycle, perched on the shelf behind the bar. There were also several women working there that, if the need should arise, could clear the joint of troublemakers in two minutes flat. I should also mention that in addition to all of the above, we were treated to one of the best meals I have had on a road trip. The when we got the bill, I couldn't believe it. $8.00 for lemon chicken and $4.00 for a beer! Now that is good eating!! After we finished with our meal we headed out in search of some of the local dance talent for Matt. It seems that the dear boy had found a advertisement for an establishment near the campus of the University of Arizona. I pulled up in front of the building and was quick to note the stretch limo's parked in front, a steady stream of exuberant young men entering the front and the curious lighting on the building. Alex and I left the other four at the door and he and I headed  off in search of ice cream. We came back to pick up the foursome in about an hour and a half and the we all headed back to our campsite.

Wednesday 3/8: The sun came over the horizon and we were treated to a beautiful cloudless morning. After we ate breakfast we decided to head over to Stewart Mountain to try out the trails there. When we arrived there were a few people camping in the area, but we noticed that there was little supervision and that the area was littered with beer and alcohol bottles. We got out of the camper and we got ready for the ride. I had driven over to the Butcher Jones Park and a couple of the rangers had hooked me up with a trail map which I shared with everyone. After a discussion of the relative dangers of riding in the washes, we all headed out for the #13 trail. We stopped several times to take some pictures and I noticed that there was an increasing number of motor vehicles on the trail going in the opposite direction. After the last photo, Tim had a problem with his gears and I stopped to help. A truck with two very skanky looking guys in it drove up from the direction that we came and after stopping to check us out, they sped of back to the parking area. At this point I decided to head back and keep an eye on the vehicles. This was fortunate, because the truck had pulled up near our RV and when I arrived, they took off. I think we narrowly avoided be a victim of a robbery. I waited in the RV for the others to return. After everyone had returned we rested for a couple of hours and then Matt, Alex, Josh and I went out to try to find a way to get to the ridge that we could see from our parking spot. We rode down into the wash and then up the other side to the ridge. The ridge was a very steep series of hills that seemed to go on forever, but after an hour of climbing Josh was getting a little weary of that so we decided to head back to the RV. We loaded the bikes into the van and then we headed for the campground next to the river. We found that there was plenty of space and soon we settled. We decide to eat out at the Saguaro Lake Restaurant. We had a great meal at the lake and afterwards we headed back to the RV and got ready for bed.

Thursday 3/9: We slept in a little later than usual today, but when we did arise, we were greeted to another beautiful sunny morning. Everyone took their time eating breakfast and afterwards most of us took a walk down to the Salt River. We made a plan to do a ride here at the river and then move the vehicles to the parking area near the canal. From there we could take a ride on the Hawes Rd. trails and then we planned on driving up to Usury Mountain to camp for the night.  
    As we were getting ready to do the river ride, Matt and Josh said that they were not feeling up to it, so the rest of us headed out for the trail. Alex led the way as we followed the river bank down towards the Salt River Bridge. We saw quite a bit of wildlife that includes many Blue Herrings, some coyotes, lots of gecko's, and numerous species of songbirds. The trails we really in great shape after the rains and although the rocks were somewhat of a challenge, we did not encounter too much of the mud that made the earlier rides so difficult. After we got to the bridge, we found a spot to cross the river and soon we were back on the trails again. We stopped a couple of times to take pictures and look at the views. It is certainly a great place to ride. After we got to the end of the trail, we had to walk up to the top of the bluff, because of the steepness of the path. Once we got to the top of the bluff we took some more pictures and then we headed back to the campsite on the blacktop road. (to be continued)

Tuesday 3/14: Tonight I rode to the Coke Plant with MPM at 6:00. We took the trails behind Stop&Shop and then we headed over to the trails on Gill Rd. I found the trails to be muddy, but otherwise in good shape. I followed MPM onto the trails behind the plant where we found the trails to be muddy but very ridable. We rode to Five Points and then up the Ridge Trail to Luke. We found the trail to be snow covered and somewhat difficult. MPM rode most of the way up while I had to walk up some sections. After we got to the top, we rode past the water tank and out to the power lines. When we got to the power lines we found that the snow was quite deep and we took a shortcut across the top. We rode down the power lines to Red Rock and then down the road to Jack's Pond. These trails were almost snow free and although somewhat muddy, they were very ridable. We continued around the bottom trails to the Streambed Trail, which we found had been hacked up by one of the four wheeled morons that use the area. We crossed over the middle of the hill and then we rode down towards Double Death. MPM rode up double death while I took the trail around the bottom and we both met up at the junction of the Secret Trail. We then rode down the Ridge Trail and past Five Points on our way over to the trails behind Lillian Street. We found these trails to be snow free and easy to ride and we made our way back across RT2 to Gill Road. We took our time as we headed back to the shop on a warm early spring night. I am now ready to get the season under way, and I look forward to another great year of rides.

Sunday 3/19: Today's ride was a last minute affair, because I wasn't sure if the trails would be open and dry enough to ride. I was joined by Cathy, Ken, Patrick and Tommy Heider as well as Shawn Kelly for a ride to the Coke Plant. Our group split up with Shawn, Pat and I riding out on the trails behind Stop&Shop, and the rest of the crew heading straight down Gill Rd. After exiting the tails on Canada Hill we headed for Gill Rd where we crossed over RT. 2 and then we regrouped at the truck turnout. After a timeout to fix Shawn's chain; Pat, Shawn and I headed out through the swamp, with Ken leading the rest of the bunch on some of the drier trails. On our way through the brook we encountered Chris Dejoy, Chris Kalanowski, and Matt Ruggeri. We stopped to talk with them briefly and then headed out to Five Points. We arrived at FP where Ken was waiting. He rode with us up the Ridge Trail to where Cathy was waiting. Also waiting was Rob and Lyle Lapointe and they joined our group and we all headed off for Luke Skywalker. We found the trails above the swamp to be mostly dry and very ridable. We rode up Luke Skywalker to the water tank and regrouped there. We rode down the power lines to Red Rock, where I made the climb on the second try. When everyone had arrived we decided to split up again with my group heading down the Chute Trail and Ken took the rest down the road. Kyle, Rob, Pat and I rode up the Hill of Doom and we then caught up with the others and we all headed for the Streambed Trail. I found the trail a little easier to ride up in daylight and also because the water has washed some of the ruts caused by the four wheelers last week. We then rode the Crossover Trail to Double Death. I tried several times to ride up the hill but my chain kept sucking up. After riding through a large puddle to clean my chain, I managed to make it half way up the hill. When everyone was at the top we then rode back down the hill to Five Points. Kyle and Robb then headed to their truck that was parked at the logs, while the rest of us headed out through the swamp. Pat, Shawn and I rode the Lillian ST Trails to the RT 2. crossover and then back to the shop. After everyone got back to the shop we washed our bikes (Ken actually washed mine) and we made plans for next weeks ride. It was a great early spring day and I really enjoyed the outing.

Tuesday 3/21: Tonight I was joined for the ride by Shawn Kelly, Matt C., Alex, and MPM. We rode over to the Coke plant on the trails behind Stop&Shop and then we headed over to Gill Road. We rode easily on a warm spring evening and soon after we crossed Rt2 we were on the lower trails at the Coke Plant. We rode over to Five Points and then up the Ridge Trail to Luke Skywalker. We found the trails to be generally in good shape and though there was some mud it was not too much of a factor. After we got to the water tank, we paused for a moment and then we headed over to the power lines. The trails on the power lines we pretty muddy and there has been a lot of the 4x4 knuckleheads running around up there, so the road is pretty rutted. We rode down to Red Rock and then down to the Chute Trail. I managed to hop the log on the trail while most everyone else climbed over. We rode down the Messed Up Trail and then over to the Hill of Doom. I made it up but Shawn and Alex did not. We left the top of the hill and rode over the Double Dip and then we rode up the Streambed Trail. The trail is now a muddy brook that the 4x4 drivers have just about destroyed. I had no trouble following the group up the muddy trail and after we turned to the crossover trail I decided to try Double Death. I made the first hill but then lost traction on the second one and ended up walking the rest of the way. We stopped briefly at the top of the hill and then we headed back down to Five Points. I did not want to get into any more mud, so we took the short route back to the RT. 2 crossover and then we headed back to the shop on Gill Road. It was a great night to be out and I really like the fact that we really did not have to deal with too muck mud.

 Thursday 3/23: I had scheduled a ride with my good buddy Jaybird for today at 1:00 and right on schedule he arrived at the shop. Patrick Bell also arrived and joined us  as we headed out for a trip to South Deerfield. We rode down to Deerfield St. and then onto the Cheapside Bridge which put us on RT 5&10 in Deerfield. We cruised down to Old Main St at 20 mph and soon we were out on Mill Village Rd. It was here that we encountered the headwind that would ultimately slow the pace to 17 mph. Jaybird and I sprinted up the hill on Mill Village Rd. and then we were hit with the headwind and this slowed us up again. We crossed RT 5&10 and rode down N. Main St to Sugarloaf St. where we turned left. As we headed down Sugarloaf St. we felt a few drops of rain. I looked like it was going to rain hard so we picked up the pace a little. When we got to the intersection of RT. 116 we turned left and rode across the Sunderland Bridge. When we got to the Center of Sunderland we made a left turn onto RT 47 and headed north. It was nice to have a tail wind and we made good time out to Falls Road where we turned left. We followed Falls Road out to Meadow Road in Montague and we were again hit with a headwind. This persisted all the way to the turn onto Greenfield Road. We rode to Ferry Road and turned right and headed up the hill to Montague Road. When we got to the top we saw another rider and we sprinted to catch up with him. The four of us rode together for a couple of miles and then the other rider turned off at Hatchery Road. Our trio continued on to Millers Falls Road and then we turned left and headed down the hill to the center of Turners Falls. After crossing the White Bridge we headed up Greenfield Road to French King Highway where we turned left and headed back to the shop. it was great to get out on the road bike again and I am looking forward to another season of rides.

Thursday 3/23: As I recall, there were three of us tonight. Matt C., Shawn, and me (MPM). We decided on a quick Coke plant loop as I wasn't feeling too ambitious, even though Matt was eager to have his revenge from Tuesday! The trails are drying out pretty good, except for the swamp, naturally, but it's magnetic pull drew us in anyway. Bob must have made a deal with the "Swamp Spirit"! Must be a good margin on chains and brake pads! ;-) Anyhow, instead of heading up Luke, we climbed up Secret Trail. This is a good alternative when it's wet. We passed the water tower and down power line to Red Rock. At this point Shawn's lights were dimming, so we headed out via Double Death to Secret Trail to...what a surprise...the swamp again! We then went towards Lillian then out through "Stink Hole". Pew! After arriving at the shop safely (Bob and Matt still working) Shawn and I headed to Sabroso for a meal befitting muddy mountain bikers! Note: Don't you think it's time Matt C. got that Schwinn nice and muddy?!