In the morning we packed up and headed out, all except Rob. His bike wouldn't start. He claims it was not his fault but throughtout the trip he constantly left his lights on. Fortunately some guys were able to jump it. They were loaded up with guns and the 16 yo in the truck was drinking a beer at 8am. Joe tried to jump it ourselves by starting it in gear while the others pushed but that was unsuccessful, unless you count looking hilarious, then it was very successful.
We followed the rim NW towards heading due N up to highway 87
When we got to 87 instead of following the offroad route N to Winona, we went West on 87 to Clint's Well for Gas and lunch.
At the gas station was an old guy in overalls just sitting by the pump like I am sure he does all day everyday. He didnt work there but that didnt stop him from asking us questions about who was paying and in what manner. You know it is a small backwoods town when they tell you the bathroom is behind the stuffed wolverine around back. I asked the guy where a good place to eat was and he responded with, "What does that sign say over there?" I responded. "cafe". He said, "now what do you think that means?" I had about enough of this jackass. We got lunch at the cafe and headed up north on Lake Mary Road and reconnected with the trail by dipping through Walnut Canyon.
We filled up in Winona and headed into crater country. The dirt roads were not marked and we just bounced from one random set of tire tracks to another.
Me below
Rob Below
Joe Below
Chris Below
I thought to myself, "These idiots are following me and I dont have a clue what we are doing. I could be leading them into the middle of nowhere to die and they would just keep on making these erratic moves to keep up."
We came upon a rocky hill and this is where those big bikes that were some comfortable on roads became death traps. Joe and Chris bounced off one rock and into the next like a game of pinball until they inevitably hit a rock that wouldnt budge so easily and would redirect them into the ground
We made it out of that stretch, but if we knew now what we were about to run into we would have taken those rocks all day long
Black Sand. It is enough to make us wake up in cold sweats. We hit a patch of loose, deep, volcanic sand and it was tough going to say the least
Rob was the last one of the group to fall, but even he was no match for the sand of death.
Here is a video where we are taking a break trying to determine if there was another way around this hell
By the time we got through it the sun was starting to set and we had lost tons of time. The real tough part about deep sand is that if you go slow you are never going to get in a groove and get on top of it, but if you go fast and slip out of the track you are following it will make the crash that much worse. So you pick your poison.
We stopped at Sunset Crater Park but it was closed so we pushed on to a clearing just East of HWY89
Here is a shot of Joe. It is one of my favorites as it shows how beaten down he was from the afternoon ride
He had not reached his breaking point yet, but don't worry, that would come later.
Until Tomorrow,
Darren
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