Tom Clements invites you to join him for the

 250-Mile East Loop Ride

 February 18, 2012

Meeting at 8:30 a.m.

Gather at the Chevron Station on the southwest corner of Loop 101 and Via De Ventura (Exit 43) at 8:30. Following a Ride Captain briefing and an all-riders briefing, the first group will depart at 9:00. The total ride will be about 250 miles, 130 before the lunch stop and 120 after. The route will follow 101 South to the Loop 202 East, which we will take until it intersects with Highway 60. We follow 60 to Superior, with a bio-break there, 65 miles from the start. We turn right, south, on Az-177 until it intersects with Hwy 77, where we will turn left, heading towards Globe. When we come to Hwy 70 we turn left again, west, and go about a mile to our lunch stop at La Casita East. Bring your Mexican food appetite!

After lunch, we will take time for a fuel stop in Globe, then turn right on Hwy 188 for the ride past Roosevelt Lake and Jake’s Corner, up to Hwy 87, the Beeline. A left turn there, back towards Phoenix, and you should be in your respective garages by 4:00 or so.

For those who wish to get back even earlier, they can continue on Hwy 60 from Globe straight back through Superior to the Valley, saving about 30 miles. For the more adventurous, dual-sport riders, another option is to turn left off of 188 onto Apache Trail and ride the dirt to Tortilla Flat, then the pavement on homeward.

Although much of this ride is in the low country, it does reach elevations where the winter weather could still be a bit chilly. Please dress appropriately.

Except for a bit a freeway “slab” riding at the start, this is one of the very best, scenic, easy, one-day loop rides that we Valley-dwellers get to enjoy. If you haven’t yet done this loop, you’re in for a treat. And if you already have ridden it, you know why you’ll do it again!

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