Thursday morning started early with all of us
meeting at Starbucks about 7am. We started out with 11 bikes and 4
trailers. After some coffee and discussion we headed off in two groups
down the 57 with Scott Hamilton leading group 1 and Dan Dobler leading group
2. It was a little chilly and cloudy – OK by the time we got onto the 91
out to the 10 it was downright freezing. We arrived at the Farmhouse for
breakfast along with Chapter 500 who had joined us on the freeway just at the
exit. Everyone rushed to get into the building and try to warm up a
little. As always they were really great to us at the Farmhouse; setting
us up in the back room and working really hard to get us all served. Once
we all warmed up it was time to get back on the road.
From the Farmhouse
we continued down the 10 to the 62 toward Twenty-nine Palms. The wind was
really blowing at us on our way out past all of the windmills. I swear I
could see my trailer out to the side and we were leaning way over to compensate
for the gusts. It finally calmed down a bit when we got into Yucca
Valley. We made our first gas stop in Twenty-nine Palms and everyone was
ready to remove at least one layer. The cold that we had experienced in
the morning was gone and it was warming up nicely. Once we were gassed up and
everyone got to the restroom, we were on our way out through Amboy and up onto
the National Trails Highway.
Our last gas stop on the way out was in
Needles where we said goodbye to Keith and Stacy Limbach who were headed to their
house on the river – we would see them again on Friday morning.
We
pulled into our hotel in Kingman and were greeted by several members who had
ridden in earlier in the day. It’s always good to get to the Days Inn in
Kingman. We are always in the same rooms and same parking spots
lol. Trailers and bikes were unpacked and chairs were setup in the
Handicap spot – just as they always are every year. We all rested and
relaxed and rehydrated (at least that’s what I am calling it).
After a
little rest we all made our way down to Dambar & Steakhouse for
dinner. There we were met by Alan and Ginger Cease – nice surprise!
And we were joined by Bob Barbano’s sister Gina (she drove in from Bullhead
City) and members from Chapter 500 and 434. Dambar’s is a rustic place
with lots of charm and good food. We stuffed ourselves with lots of ribs
and steak and salads and biscuits. Once we were full we returned to the
Days Inn and to our chairs still in the parking lot, lol. Alan and Ginger
came back to the hotel with us and had so much fun they decided they should
join us – they changed hotels! It was a nice warm evening and everyone
hung out and chatted.
Friday morning we all gathered at 6:30 am for the ride
into Laughlin. If you don’t know, every year Star/Yamaha puts on a
breakfast for us, and we ride together into Laughlin in one large group - it is
really amazing to see. As is tradition, we rode up to the top level of
the Aquarius Hotel and Casino parking garage. We were met by Keith and
Stacy who had come in for the day. The breakfast was very nice and there
were many raffle prizes won by our group. Myself, Susan Palaoro, Richard
Von Luft, Paul McInerny, Dan Dobler, Howard Montgomery, and Ken Indorf won some
great Star stuff (hats, patches, skull caps, etc.). Paul McInerny was the
big winner though – he won the Invicta Reserve watch and case.
Congrats!
After breakfast everyone split up and walked Laughlin looking
for deals. It wasn’t too warm (it was under 100) so it was a nice day to
walk. T-Shirts and bike parts were purchased by various members.
Mostly I think we all go for the people watching which was great as
always. I know we walked to the Pioneer and then took the water taxi back
to the Aquarius – if you have done this you should. $4 each for the ride
and it’s worth every penny. The river is incredible and the view is
great.
Everyone eventually made their way back to the Days Inn.
We setup our chairs and broke out the cold beverages. Pizza was ordered
and delivered right to our parking space. Later on someone went to
Basha’s for ice cream (thanks Bob!). Another great night sitting with
great friends.
Saturday the group went over to Cracker Barrel for
breakfast before our ride out to the Grand Canyon Caverns and Seligman.
The weather was perfect (in the mid to high 80s). We rode out the 40
east. Lots of scenery - wild horses, cattle, and
snakes. We stopped at our traditional bathroom stop, the Hualapai
Information Center, then back on the road to the Caverns. A few who had been
to the Caverns before waited for those of us “brave” enough to take the
tour. A group of us climbed into the small elevator and rode the 200 feet
down into the Caverns. If you haven’t been there, you really should
go. It’s a very large dry cavern with absolutely no humidity. Its
air comes in from the Grand Canyon, 40 miles away. You can actually sleep
there overnight. The only thing to note is that there are a lot of steep
inclines and stairs, we were all wheezing a little.
After our tour, we grouped
up and continued on to Seligman where we had lunch at Westside Lilo’s.
Really great food in the middle of nowhere. A few walked across the
street to the Road Kill Café to see if they had t-shirts. After lunch we
were back on the road to Kingman.
After a little rest and hydration, a
group gathered to take the annual ride up to the Hualapai Lodge for
dinner. The Hualapai lodge is at the top of the mountain, with a rough
parking lot and lots of trees. Out the back of the restaurant there is a
large glass window where you can sometimes see the Elk graze – really
cool. We started out from the hotel up Andy Devine Ave and right on
Hualapai Mountain Road. The road has a lot of nice twists and turns and a
lot of wildlife. As we approached one section of the road we saw several
cows and calves along the roadside – this was tricky as at any time one or more
of them could bolt across the road….lucky for us this did not happen.
They just stared at us. We arrived at the restaurant right before
sunset. We were seated in a large room off the side of the restaurant
with great views all around. Several deer were spotted while we waited
for our meal. Dinner was great as always. While we were eating the
sun set, and the sky got dark. After dinner we made our way through the
parking lot in the dark thanks to the light of a few cell phones, we saddled up
and started down the mountain. The best thing about this ride is when you
come up over the rise and out of the dark see the lights of Kingman in front of
you. Really great ride.
Once we all made it back to the hotel it was time
to start packing up and getting ready to start home in the morning.
Trailers were hitched and filled.
Sunday morning we apparently slept through a
member of a bike club who was staying on the back of the hotel get arrested for
breaking into the hotel office and stealing the monitor from the desk – he also
broke a bunch of furniture in his room too. Who knew!
Breakfast was again at the Cracker Barrel.
Once we were all fed, we were back to the hotel and finished packing.
Several members had departed the day before or early Sunday morning so we were
one group going home with Scott leading. Thanks Scott! We started
our way down the 40 to the 62, around Lake Havasu and stopped for gas in
Parker. From there it just got hotter and I think hit about 99 to 105
degrees by the time we made our way through Twenty-nine Palms. We stopped
in Yucca Valley for gas and lunch at Carl’s Junior. Then it was off down
the 62 and through the wind again. We merged onto the 10 to the 91 and
then everyone broke off on their way home. Another successful Chapter
overnighter!!!
