Winkelman Loop Ride

[cactusjack]

I took a ride today. The forecast was for temps in the "one hundred teens" but I didn't let that stop me. I left home a little after 07:00 AM and it was already in the high 80's. I took US 60 east out of the valley and passed through Superior, then started up the hill toward Globe. Once I hit the 4000' elevation mark, it cooled down considerably and was very comfortable. I stopped in Globe for fuel and then continued east, turning onto Hwy 177 toward Tucson. This road takes you over a 4900' pass and then you drop straight into the bowels of hell. Things got noticeably hotter at the 3000' mark, where saguaros start to appear. (rule of thumb: if there are saguaros in the area, it's going to be hot) Between Globe and Winkelman is some big time road construction and the road is closed on weekdays. On weekends, they have 2 portable traffic lights and since there is only one lane open, they let traffic go in one direction for 15 minutes, then switch it around. I got to the light at the east end of the work zone just after it turned red, so I shut my bike off and sat there, roasting like a bratwurst for 15 minutes. The light turned green, I started my bike up and rode the loose dirt and gravel for about a mile before getting back on asphalt again. The car tire is much more stable on loose footing than the motorcycle tire was.

A few miles after the work zone, I passed the town of Winkelman. This is mining country so you see smelters and processing mills all over the place. Next I passed through Dudleyville and then Mammoth. I stopped at a park in Mammoth for shade, to drink a bottle of water, and take some pictures. This park has a monument to the miners who helped build the area. Here are pictures of the monument:

This is a depiction of a miner using a drill:


These skeletal sculptures were kind of cool:


Here's the entire monument from a distance:


Of course, I have to take a couple of pics of the bike:



Past Mammoth, you go up over another pass which takes you near Oracle, and then just 12 miles past Oracle is Oracle Jct, where I turned onto Hwy 79 (the Pinal-Pioneer Parkway) which took me to Florence, proud home of a number of correctional facilities.

By the time I got to Florence, it was up around 110 degrees and my enthusiasm for the ride was diminishing. After filling up I hauled butt the 32 miles back to my house. Total distance for today: 232.2 miles. This ride is much more fun in the spring or fall or in December, when the weather is more accommodating.

[nomad561]

Nice pictures CJ.
It rained all day here so I didn't get the bike out at all. Even took the truck to church,which I normally ride to.

[billz410]

You are a dedicated man!

[cactusjack]

Originally Posted by billz410

You are a dedicated man!

Thanks Bill. That sounds better than the expression my wife had for me - "fool".

[blowndodge]

Your wife is very intuitive CJ!!!!

[skeeter]

Thanks for posting CJ. Nice tour.