The Mystery Tour Ride Review & Slideshow

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The Mystery Tour

 Third Saturday Ride Review

 Having delayed our ride for a week due to really horrid weather on the 19^th, the weather finally cooperated nicely for our ride on the 26^th. Unfortunately, there was enough uncertainty that quite a few riders and passengers were last minute no-shows due to the threat of afternoon dampness. They missed out on an absolutely lovely riding day: Temperatures in the high 50s and low 60s with almost no wind at all. In fact, the sun even broke through just for us as we were enjoying the lunch outdoors, making it warm and toasty!

 42 members and guests on 34 bikes and trikes met at the Chevron station on Via de Ventura at the Loop 101 at 9:00 to hear ride host Tom Clements finally reveal the destination of the Mystery Tour: The Desert Rose Bar and Grill in Arlington, Arizona. Tom proceeded to give a through briefing on the route and gave the three Ride Captain Lead and Sweep teams both written directions of the entire 107-mile route as well as computer-generated maps of the two tricky turns. Although originally planning for six riding groups, the courageous stalwarts that attended were merged into three groups. As always, a big “Thank You!” to the Lead/Sweep teams: Tom Clements and Bob Handelman, Phil Jensen and Ed (& Jeanette) Graham, and Bill Diem and Ron (& Vickie) Small.

 One challenge presented itself: That the planned Loop 101 exit 61A onto Price Road was totally closed for construction, so the Leads needed to make a last-second modification to find their way back on the route.

 After a bio/gas stop at a new Quik Trip station in Maricopa, the bikes continued westbound on Highway 238, through the Sonoran Desert National Monument to Gila Bend, then north on Old US 80 past farm fields and across the long, old, Gillespie Dam bridge spanning the Gila River, and finding the Desert Rose shortly thereafter. Built in 1932 when the old Highway was humming, it’s seen a lot of business! 

The owner and staff did a good job of getting all of us fed expeditiously, cooking bratwurst, hamburgers, and hotdogs over a charcoal grill out back. You bought your $7.50 lunch ticket inside at the bar and then got to eat as much as you’d like. 

The return ride was on your own, with a couple of routes taken. Some went direct via Highway 85 and I-10, while a few others took the scenic route up Salome Highway and Vulture Mine road, through Wickenburg, and back into town on Highway 74..

We wish to thank Ride Host Tom Clements for coming up with his clever new idea, keeping us guessing, and then so thoroughly solving the mystery of the Mystery Tour! Thanks also go to Roddy Levy for the photos.