Smile, It's Halloween!

 

Colorado River valley

This is the last hill on the "short" MS-150 tour, and it's just no fun. This view doesn't show the steepest part, and the climb continues for another quarter mile or so from here. The good point is that there's one last fun downhill on the other side. 

Climbing the sand hills

Closing in on Parker the road goes through a few miles of ancient dunes. 

Bouse Rest Stop

Medical tent, food and beverages, bike repair, people who will hold your bikes while you hit the port-a-potties... Bunch of nice people! 

Sunrise, Centennial Park

Another beautiful day in Arizona. 

End of the trail

The first day's ride ended with all sturdy mounts corraled, and some of them strung up as a warning to the rest... 

And we'r off!

Heading out on AZ-74 toward Wickenburg. 

MS-150 start, Lake Pleasant

Wind's kind of catching that arch!

Balloons, meet ocotillo.

Ocotillo, meet balloons.

Sunrise, Lake Pleasant

 

Down the wall

I like the subtle colors... 

Climbing out of the canyon

I think this is the third time I've taken this shot. It's the top end of Oak Creek Canyon. I keep trying to capture how twisty the road is. 

Bell Rock

This is one of Sedona's most famous formations. The sky was cloudless and the view was as clear and sharp as we've seen it. 

Barrel cacti

They look golden from a distance. 

Hummer in flight

Beautiful bird. 

Mariposa Monarca

The Desert Botanical Garden butterfly house is filled with Monarchs. 

Superstition Mountain from the south

 

Looking over the valley of the Salt River

Four Peaks in the distance. 

Mountain lights

The mountain was lit up for just a minute before the clouds rolled in and the rain started. 

Westward toward the Valley

This shows the decent into the valley north of the Superstitions. It's a blast heading down this road on a bike. I had to brake hard on some of the curves since I was going so fast.

Four Peaks

A closer view of Four Peaks on the way to Canyon Lake. 

Apache Trail east of Apache Junction

One of the few downhill sections of the Trail before it climbs toward the Superstitions. On a bike, that sort of thing is noticed! 

Goldfield Ghost Town and Tourist Site

ON t The ride this morning I rode out toward Canyon Lake along the Apache Trail.

South end of the Superstitions

Clouds, shadows, desert. 

Sunrise

Heading out this morning I was greeted with a nice sunrise... 

The Loop 202 to be

This is right next to the CAP canal. The new highway is still a couple years from completion here, but they're already lowering the roadbed.

I hadn't seen bridge construction like the technique that's used on the bridges for this project. They dig down and rough contour the area where the bridge will go and then build the bridge supports more or less as I would expect from other construction I've seen. However, they then pack the dirt back in around the supports until it's to the level of the bridge. Then they construct the bridge supported on the dirt. When it's done, they remove the dirt again. Pretty cool. Maybe I've not seen it because this is new road and most of my experience is around existing bridges and highways...